Peer Support Specialist - Portland Office

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

In Person | 20–24 Hours Weekly

Portland, ME

Join a Team that Values Recovery, Connection, and Lived Experience

Have you used your own recovery journey to build resilience, hope, and connection? Your lived experience can help others navigate their path toward wellness and recovery.

Alternative Wellness Services (AWS) is seeking compassionate and recovery-oriented individuals to join our Behavioral Health Home (BHH) team as a Peer Support Specialist. In this role, you will use your personal experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery to support individuals in building meaningful goals, increasing independence, and strengthening community connections.

This is a community-based position serving members throughout the Portland and Biddeford regions, with regular travel required.

Position Summary

The Peer Support Specialist provides recovery-oriented support services to individuals receiving Behavioral Health Home services. Peer Support Specialists use lived experience to provide encouragement, advocacy, mentoring, and connection while helping members navigate services and build self-directed recovery goals.

This role is not clinical in nature and does not provide therapy services.

Key Responsibilities

As a Peer Support Specialist, you will:

• Utilize lived experience to provide hope, encouragement, and peer-based support
• Build supportive and therapeutic relationships with members
• Assist members in identifying strengths, goals, and recovery supports
• Help members navigate mental health, substance use, medical, and community-based systems
• Connect individuals with community resources and support networks
• Encourage independence, self-advocacy, and wellness planning
• Facilitate peer connection and promote community engagement
• Participate in team meetings and collaborative care coordination
• Complete timely and accurate documentation within the Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• Maintain professional, ethical, and trauma-informed interactions with members and community partners

Additional Expectations

• Participate in required trainings and maintain compliance with state licensing, CMS regulations, agency policies, and HIPAA standards
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings based on member or program needs

Schedule

• Part-Time Position
• 20–24 hours weekly
• Flexible scheduling based on program and member needs
• Some evening availability may be required

Benefits

AWS values and supports our employees by offering a comprehensive and flexible benefits package for eligible part-time employees, including but not limited to:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid holidays
• Additional voluntary benefit options
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Supportive and recovery-oriented team environment

Physical Demands & Work Environment

This position is community-based and requires regular travel to member homes, community locations, meetings, and trainings throughout the Portland and Biddeford regions.

The role requires the ability to:

• Stand, walk, bend, kneel, crouch, and navigate various community environments
• Climb stairs and enter buildings that may not have elevator access
• Lift and carry materials, files, laptops, and supplies up to 25 pounds
• Utilize computers and electronic documentation systems regularly
• Maintain awareness of surroundings and respond appropriately in community-based settings
• Drive safely in varying New England weather conditions, including snow, ice, rain, fog, heat, and humidity

Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Why Join AWS?

At AWS, we believe lived experience is powerful. We are committed to creating a supportive, recovery-focused environment where peer professionals are respected as valued members of the care team.

If you are passionate about supporting others in their recovery journey and want to make a meaningful impact in your community, we encourage you to apply today.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; Associate Degree preferred
• Personal lived experience with mental health services and/or substance use recovery
• Willingness to appropriately self-disclose recovery experiences in peer and community settings
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a team environment
• Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office, Outlook, and Electronic Health Records
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and acceptable driving record
• Ability to travel regularly throughout the service area and work in community-based settings

Certification Requirements

• Current State of Maine Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialist (CIPSS) certification preferred
• Candidates who are not yet certified must be willing and able to obtain provisional certification within 9 months of hire and maintain certification requirements thereafter