Peer Support Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Full-Time | Non-Exempt | Helena - Crisis

Peer Support Specialist  

Position Overview: Peer Support Specialist provides crisis-based peer support services that are designed to promote recovery, empowerment, and community integration of individuals who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Will facilitate opportunities for individuals receiving the crisis service to direct their own recovery and advocacy process, by teaching and supporting individuals. Promoting the knowledge of available service options and choices of natural resources in the community and help facilitate the development of a sense of wellness and self-worth. Utilizes own lived experience of recovery to support individuals in crisis, providing hope, emotional support, advocacy, and connection to long-term services. 

Job Duties: 

• Works as part of a multi-disciplinary team to help clients to develop a personal recovery plan and identify opportunities to provide support as clients work to achieve their recovery goals.
• Listens and encourages clients to talk about their lives, struggles, and goals. 
• Must make themselves available to all clients who enter the crisis facility to support wellness recovery through direct service care.
• Promotes client self-determination and decision-making.
• Coaches and supports clients who are developing the necessary skills for integration into the community.
• Advocates for clients working in recovery that are developing life skills and building confidence to attain goals.
• May interact with referral contacts within the community.
• Ability to maintain boundaries and role identity and remain person-centered for quality clinical care. 
• Demonstrate strong communication during high stress circumstances.
• Links clients to resources identified within the crisis recovery plan.
• Models’ competency in recovery and maintaining on-going wellness.
• Liaison with other members of the treatment team to develop an effective support system for the client.
• Monitors and supports client through consistent interactions and peer support. 
• Report concerns, records progress notes on clients; completes incident reports and calls to multidisciplinary team as needed.
• Must complete and pass medication training test within initial probation period and provide medication transport. 
• Works independently within the facility and cooperatively with the team.
• Maintains records, reports, and statistics necessary for program functioning and in accordance with MWRH policies.
• Must self-identify as a consumer of behavioral health and be in recovery.
• Must pass Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist (BHPSS) certification within one (1) month of employment. 
• Must participate in peer support training consisting of one week of 40 hours of initial training, any additional provided and requested by MRWH, and 20 CEU’s annually. 
• Clinical supervision requirement of 1 hour required for every 20 hours worked. 
• May work varied shifts including holidays.   

Minimum Qualifications:   

• GED or High School diploma required.

• 1-2 years’ experience in dealing with mental illness issues and related mental health services.  

• Must have a personal recovery experience for mental health and/or substance use.  

• Must be in recovery for 2 years.

• Without incarceration, hospitalization, or inpatient admission exceeding 72 hours in the last 2 years.  

• Must have some knowledge and experience of severe mental illness and treatment, and its impact on consumer/survivors and their families.  

• Computer skills are preferred.

• Must obtain Certification within 1 month of hired date.   

Hourly Rate: $16.50 + DOE

Shift Differential 

Day shift $1.00 an hour.  

Evening and night shift $2.00 an hour.

Weekend hours are Friday from 11:00 pm until 9:00 am on Monday, $2.00 an hour.