Peer Support Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary

The Peer Support Specialist provides peer-based support to individuals experiencing mental health challenges, with a focus on promoting recovery, independence, and self-advocacy. Drawing from personal lived experience, the Peer Support Specialist offers guidance, encouragement, and insight to help clients navigate their recovery journey.
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Note : This position works 3 12-hour shifts per week, including working every other weekend (Saturday and Sunday)

Essential Functions

• Support clients in managing symptoms and pursuing recovery through shared experiences and role modeling.
• Encourage client engagement in treatment and personal growth.
• Promote self-advocacy and help clients build natural support systems.
• Assistwith daily living skills, vocational goals, housing access, and financial stability.
• Facilitate social and recreational activities to enhance socialization and community integration.
• Connect clients toadditionalresources and peer support networks.
• Participate in team meetings and provide consultation to providers from a consumer perspective.
• Maintain awareness of client rights, cultural sensitivity, and relevant social service regulations.
• Use American Sign Language and other communication tools to support clients effectively.
• Travel to various community settings to provide direct support.

Job Requirements and Qualifications

Education:

High school diploma or GED required; Associate degree or higher preferred.

Training Requirements (licenses, programs, or certificates):

• Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS)
• BLS
• RecipientRight’s
• Completion of agency-specific onboarding and crisis intervention training.
• Ongoing professional development in trauma-informed care and recovery coaching.

Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of two (2) years' experience in the healthcare industry within ina patientsafety, patient relations, and/or risk management role accepted in lieu of college degree.

Preferred Experience:

• Experienceincustomer service
• Experience in crisis de-escalation
• Experience working withadultswithseveremental illness, substance use disorder orintellectual/developmental disabilities
• Background in recovery-oriented or trauma-informed care environments
• Experience in working with Electronic Health Record systems

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Job Specific Competencies/Skills:

• Ability to remain calm and supportive in high-stress situations
• Flexibility to adapt to evolving needs and schedules.
• Strong Organizational Skills
• De-escalation and conflict resolution
• High emotional intelligence and empathy
• Clinical knowledge of mental health and suicide prevention
• Strong time management
• Strong critical thinking and decision-making abilities

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Knowledge Requirements:

• HIPPA
• Microsoft 365
• RecipientRight’s
• Mental Health Code
• Medicaid Manual

Oakland Community Health Network’s Core Competencies:

• Interacting with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization; demonstratingloyalty to the organization and its mission and values;maintainingsocial, ethical, and organizational norms; firmly adhering to codes of conduct and ethical principles. (Integrity/Building Trust)
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  • Making customers and their needs a primary focus of one’s actions; developing and sustaining productive customer relationships, recognizing that the ultimate customer is the person served. (Customer Focus)
  • Activelyidentifyingnew areas for learning; regularly creating and taking advantage of learning opportunities; using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learning through their application. (Continuous Learning)
  • Settinghigh standardsof performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence in addition to consciously adopting organizational standards of excellence. (Work Standards)
  • Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand andretainthe message. (Communication)

Additional Information

(Travel required, physical requirements, on-call schedules, etc.):

Must be available for meetings and events which may occur outside of standard office hours.

• Work performed primarily in acrisis centerenvironment.
• The ideal candidate must be able to complete allphysicalrequirements of the job with or withouta reasonableaccommodation.

OCHN is committed to building a diverse team and fostering an inclusive and equitable culture. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that embraces and encourages our employees’ differences. This includes (but is not limited to) ability, age, color, family type, gender expression and identity, individual expression, medical conditions, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, and all other diverse and wonderful characteristics.