Peer Recovery Supporter (CORE Guide

Overview

firsthand supports individuals living with serious mental illness (SMI) through a holistic, peer‑led approach that includes peer recovery specialists, benefits specialists, and clinicians. The organization focuses on meeting each individual where they are and walking with them side by side as a trusted guide and partner on their journey to better health.

The Firsthand Guide is a blended CPRS and Community Health Worker role responsible for outreach, engagement, and ongoing support of individuals living with serious mental illness to achieve and maintain behavioral and physical health and wellness.

• Perform community outreach to individuals with serious mental illness, including visiting their homes and other locations within the local community where they spend time, such as clubhouses, drop‑in centers, homeless shelters, hospitals, and emergency departments.
• Empower individuals to identify and pursue their personal recovery goals by modeling and teaching safe and healthy coping strategies.
• Engage in care coordination to identify health‑related social needs and connect individuals with local resources to address those needs.
• Assist with gathering information required for obtaining benefits and services and facilitate warm hand‑offs to other team members for assistance in navigating SSI/SSDI benefits and self‑management support.
• Assist in successfully attending and completing clinical visits and assist with telehealth access.
• Address immediate follow‑up needs identified by care team providers such as hospital post‑discharge follow‑up and support.
• Promote and monitor individuals' success in adhering to their personally approved care plan and provide motivational interviewing support for adherence to their informed medication and treatment choices.

• Empathy, compassion, and approachability.
• A flexible, growth mindset. You embrace change and new ways of trying things.
• Excellent listening, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Personal knowledge of recovery.
• Patience and persistence.
• Desire to help people in need and support their path to wellness.
• Comfort working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Intermediate computer skills.

• Lived experience with SMI and/or SUD.
• Qualified as a Community Health Worker OR eligible and willing to complete coursework within first 3 months and pursue certification as soon as possible but no later than 1 year of employment.
• Ability to operate a vehicle including a driver’s license that is active and in good standing; must be eligible to drive under company insurance policy.
• Intermediate working knowledge using Google Workspace Programs specifically Gmail, Sheets, and Docs.
• Exceptional communication & interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport with internal and external customers and stakeholders.
• Decision making skills regarding own work approach/priorities, work assignments, standards and resources.
• Ability to multi‑task and work in a very fast‑paced environment.
• Strong understanding and respect of all cultures and demographic diversity.

• Prior experience performing direct in‑person outreach and engaging individuals with SMI.
• Currently holds Peer Recovery Specialist Certification.
• Expertise in recovery education and coaching.
• Knowledge of a whole‑health approach to peer support.
• Knowledge of a trauma‑informed approach to peer support.
• Knowledge of local community resources, behavioral health system, and criminal justice system, including mental health and drug courts.
• Desire to learn more about a broad range of health conditions.

• While performing the essential duties of this job, employees are required to frequently stand, sit, walk, crouch and use their hands to type, feel, handle and pick up objects.
• Employees are occasionally required to climb stairs and balance; reach with their arms; stoop, bend, kneel, and lift up to 15 pounds.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

$20 – $20 USD

For full‑time employees, the compensation package includes base pay, equity (or a special…