Peer Specialist (Behavioral Health

Overview

The Peer Specialist is a person who is currently in recovery from and has lived experience with mental health disorders or co‑occurring disorders and is able to provide support and act as a mentor to clients to make positive life changes to support the client’s own recovery journey. The Peer Specialist assists the client in developing recovery strategies, connecting to community‑based and mental health recovery‑oriented resources.

The role supports the outpatient clinical and care coordination teams, participates in treatment planning and recommends strategies to better engage clients in care.

• Outreaches to and supports the client to make positive life changes and develop skills to achieve and maintain recovery. Serves as a model and provides peer counseling to develop pro‑social behavior and self‑advocacy skills; assists in developing skills needed to repair and maintain healthy relationships.
• Works with treatment team to assess readiness for change and develop strategies to engage the client in the treatment process. Communicates progress toward goals to other members of the treatment team.
• Assists client in navigating health care, mental health and SUD treatment, and social support systems.
• Provides education regarding mental illness, addiction, and recovery, assist client in determining which level of care would best meet their needs.
• Functions as an advocate and liaison in preparing and accompanying the client to meetings with, for example, probation officers, social workers, PCP’s, DCF or other state or local agencies.
• Provides temporary assistance with transportation to referrals regarding connections to any community, self‑help or social services that align with the client’s needs and goals.
• Contributes expertise to treatment teams as related to mental health and SUD education, motivational enhancement, appropriate stage of change interventions, and application of evidence‑based mental health and substance addiction treatment.
• Implements recovery‑oriented, motivational interviewing, harm‑reduction, trauma‑informed, culturally competent and strengths‑based rehabilitation approaches.
• Assists the client in any care transitions through collaboration with the community provider staff and hospital staff to ensure a safe discharge plan and a well‑coordinated implementation of that plan.
• Monitors and reports on progress in the client’s electronic health record.
• Performs other duties, as required.

• Commitment to the right and ability of people served to live, work, have meaningful relationships, and receive the resources and supports needed in their community of choice.
• Extensive knowledge of substance use, co‑occurring and addiction treatment principles and techniques.
• Knowledge of recovery‑oriented, person‑centered, and strengths‑based values and modalities.
• Knowledge of evidence‑based practices for co‑occurring disorder services, including motivational interviewing, motivational counseling, stage of change and harm reduction techniques as related to substance addiction services.
• Knowledge of available community, hospital‑based, residential, day, and self‑help services for co‑occurring disorder treatment and support.
• Knowledge of health risks prevalent with adults with SMI/SUD.
• Knowledge of trauma‑informed and culturally responsive services.
• Sensitivity to cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender issues.
• Knowledge of empowerment and self‑advocacy techniques.
• Ability to triage/balance competing priorities.
• Ability to make independent judgments and decisions.
• Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

Established in 1977, Vinfen is a nonprofit, health and human services organization and a leading provider of community‑based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. Our services and advocacy promote the recovery, resiliency, habilitation, and self‑determination of the people we serve. Vinfen's 3,500 dedicated employees are experienced, highly‑trained…