Peer Support Specialist

Are you ready to turn your experience into a uniquely impactful role that can help others?

The Peer Support Specialist is a trained and experienced individual who provides support, guidance, and encouragement to others experiencing similar challenges, particularly in mental health, substance abuse, or other behavioral recovery-related areas. Working under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, the Peer Support Specialist will work as an important and impactful member of the Pamlico County’s Post Overdose Response Team to assist individuals with Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders move from dysfunctional, crisis
-centered lives towards a recovery lifestyle of restoration and robust functioning in their homes, communities and workplace.

The Peer Support Specialist will work within a cohesive team and strategy to utilize their training, recovery and lived experience to provide clinically effective interventions, while fostering hope and recovery among individuals facing mental health challenges, substance use disorders and other related issues. This is a dynamic and active outreach role embedded within a Post Overdose Response Team. This crucial and highly impactful role involves interfacing with clients who have experienced a drug overdose event that has been stabilized by medical professionals and moves the effort towards an evidence-based intervention, via the Peer Support Specialist’s active engagement.

This includes providing support through building a therapeutic alliance, sharing personal experiences, helping clients access resources, enrolling them into a service plan and promoting independence and self-advocacy.

• Respond to overdose events post medical stabilization to provide a rapid response, moving the situation from a stabilized crisis to an immediate action plan.
• Provide case management, crisis management, individual, group support and resource allocation to individuals seeking recovery or support.
• Document stakeholder interactions and progress according to program standards.
• Work with the PORT Team’s therapist to assist clients in setting and achieving personal goals.
• In conjunction with the therapist-Work with client’s family aregivers ignificant others to educate and empower them to therapeutically disengage from enabling patterns and to be a resource for the client’s recovery.
• Attend community health, wellness and recovery-oriented events to represent the PORT Team’s services.
• Facilitate support groups and workshops focused on recovery themes.
• Support & collaborate with first responders, healthcare providers, social workers, and community organizations to promote wellness, recovery and treatment accessibility, while educating the public and reducing stigma.
• When clinically appropriate, share personal experiences to inspire hope and encourage.
• Maintain timely documentation within an Electronic Medical Record and other data base tools as required.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical guidelines.
• Participate in ongoing training, recertification and education to enhance skills and knowledge.

• High School Diploma or Equivalency. Prefer Associates Degree or additional 1 year of college with training in psychology or human services certificate iploma.
• Lived experience and demonstrated recovery (minimum 18 months) from mental health or substance use challenges.
• Demonstrated posture of professionalism in the workplace and when interfacing with internal xternal stakeholders.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and serve as part of a team.
• Empathetic, non-judgmental, and supportive demeanor.
• Possess a working knowledge of community resources and support services.
• Ex…