Peer Support Specialist

This position is located at our Crisis Center located in Dothan, Alabama

Week 2:
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (12:00 pm-8:30 pm)

Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) work from the perspective of their lived experience to help build environments conducive to recovery. They promote hope, personal responsibility, empowerment, education, and self‑determination in the communities where they serve. CPSs are trained to assist others in skill‑building, problem‑solving, setting up and maintaining self‑help mutual support groups, and building self‑directed recovery tools. A critical role of the CPS is supporting others in developing their recovery goals and the specific steps to reach those goals.

Travel will be required, specifically if needed to go out with the Mobile Crisis Team.

• Utilizing recovery experience, the peer support specialist will:
  • Teach and role model the value of every individual’s recovery experience.
  • Model effective coping techniques and self‑help strategies.
  • Assist individuals in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self‑advocacy. Utilize regular meetings, individual, and/or group sessions.
  • Articulate with individuals what has been helpful and what has not been helpful in his/her own recovery process.
  • Identify beliefs and values an individual holds that work against his/her recovery.
  • Discern when and how much of their recovery story to share with individuals.
• Using a formal goal‑setting process, the peer support specialist will:
  • Assist individuals in articulating personal goals for recovery and wellness. Support individuals in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals.
  • Assist individuals in working with the treatment team in determining the steps he/she needs to take in order to achieve these goals and self‑directed recovery.
• Utilizing their specific training, the CPS will:
  • Lead as well as teach individuals how to facilitate Recovery Dialogs.
  • Support individuals in creating a wellness plan.
  • Utilize and teach problem‑solving techniques with individuals and groups.
  • Teach individuals techniques for identifying and combating negative self‑talk.
  • Teach individuals techniques for identifying and overcoming fears.
  • Support the vocational choices individuals make and support them in overcoming job‑related anxiety.
  • Support individuals in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure.
  • Support individuals in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery; lend their unique insight into mental illness and what makes recovery possible.
  • Attend treatment team meetings to promote individual’s use of self‑directed recovery tools.
  • Assist in establishing support systems and interfacing with agencies, organizations, and groups.
• Maintain proper documentation in a timely manner as required by Spectra Care Personnel Policy, Spectra Care Clinical Policy, including but not limited to the Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
  • Ensure privacy and confidentiality of all individual records in accordance with HIPAA, 42 CFR and all other applicable state or federal laws.
  • Ensure all written documentation is completed accurately and in a timely manner to include but not limited to documents that support:
    • Assisting individuals in identifying strengths,
    • Assisting individuals in identifying recovery and wellness goals,
    • Assisting individuals in identifying barriers and setting objectives,
    • Supporting individuals in determining recovery and wellness interventions based on their life goals,
    • Recognizing and reporting progress individuals make toward meeting objectives,
    • Understanding and utilizing specific interventions necessary to support individuals in meeting their recovery and wellness goals.
  • Ensure that all records are staffed within standard time frames.
  • Ensure that all progress notes are completed promptly, written in a professional manner and in accordance with policies and procedures.
  • Ensure that goals are appropriate, specific,…