Certified Peer Support Specialist

Description

• Provide recovery education to service recipients for every phase of the recovery journey from pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance. Provide a model for both people in recovery and staff by demonstrating that recovery is possible.
• Assist recovering persons to identify their personal interests, goals, strengths and weaknesses regarding recovery.
• Assist/coach recovering persons develop their own plan for advancing their recovery; for “getting the life they want.”
• Recovery Planning – facilitate (via personal coaching) the transition from a professionally directed service plan to a self-directed Recovery Plan. The goal should be to transition from professionally assisted recovery initiation to personally directed, community supported recovery maintenance.
• Promote self advocacy by assisting recovering persons to have their voices fully heard; their needs, goals and objectives established as the focal point of rehabilitation and clinical services.
• Support connections to community based, mutual self-help groups. Link individuals to appropriate professional resources when needed. Provide vision-driven hope and encouragement for opportunities at varying levels of involvement in community based activities (e.g., work, school, relationships, physical activity, self-directed hobbies, etc.).
• Develop relationships with community groups/agencies in partnership with others in the agency.
• As recovery specialist position evolves and knowledge increases, visit community resources with recovering persons to assist them in becoming familiar with potential opportunities.
• Identify barriers (internal and external) to full participation in community resources and developing strategies to overcome those barriers.
• Maintain contact by phone and/or e-mail with recovering person after they leave the program to insure their ongoing success and to provide re-engagement support in partnership with others in the agency if needed. Long-term engagement, support, and encouragement.
• Other duties as directed by Executive Director and/or Management Staff.

• High school diploma, GED or equivalent.
• Peer Specialist Certification.