Certified Peer Specialist

Are you someone who is looking for a new career? Do you want to help others without years of formal education?

Do you have a past history of mental health struggles or drug and alcohol addiction and are looking to make a difference?

The Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) provides peer support services; serves as a consumer advocate; provides consumer information and peer support for consumers in emergency, outpatient or inpatient settings. The CPS performs a wide range of tasks to assist consumers in regaining control over their own lives and over their own recovery process. The CPS will role model competency in recovery and ongoing coping skills.

This is a non-clinical role. CPSs are directly supervised by Certified Peer Specialist Supervisors and the Clinical Director (Mental Health Professional).

Mission The Mission of Unity Family Service's Peer Support Program is to:

• Inspire the hope and recovery of wellness
• Reduce the anxiety of the individual seeking help
• Promote empowerment and self-determination
• Increase understanding through self-discovery
• Support community integration
• Increase positive attitudes towards recovery
• Decrease negative stigmas towards mental illness
• Increase employment opportunities for participants
• Partner with community resources
• Reinforce the goal that: “I can do it, too!”

• The CPS will work collaboratively with Peer Support Supervisors and Clinical Director, to provide Peer Support Services to individuals who are eligible in a variety of settings, i.e. group homes, provider service agencies, drop-in centers, community settings, and the home environment.
• Initiate, establish, and maintain positive relationships with clients while developing trust and building rapport.
• In collaboration with Program Supervisor and Clinical Director, establish what CPS’s role will be in supporting peer recovery.
• Provide advocacy on behalf of clients and help them to navigate the health and social service systems.
• Work closely with clients to address problems, answer questions, gather and provide information and advice, and connect client to resources and the community.
• Act as a coach and mentor, and help clients to set goals and develop skills. This includes the creation of a Wellness Recovery Action Plan which will outline personal goals for recovery, as well as identify and plan for challenges.
• Consistently review personal goals for recovery and generate new goals as needed.
• Share and discuss common experiences and build a collective sense of community.
• Display respect and patience for each person’s unique recovery journey and celebrate successes and goal achievement.
• Help participants utilize resources to meet their basic needs, such as access to services, obtaining safe housing, or energy assistance.
• Support vocational choices and assist participant success. This might include activities such as regularly checking in at the end of the work day, reviewing social skills needed on the job, or practicing ways to handle job-related anxiety.
• Review various skill-building tools and provide handouts on topics of interest to participants, i.e. overcoming negative self-talk, symptom management, building positive relationships, etc.
• Assist Peer Support Supervisor and Clinical Director with the creation of ISP and Strength Based Assessments.
• Ensure that services provided are individualized and in accordance with the objectives listed on the Strength Based Assessment and ISP.
• Ensure sessions times are depicted accurately and in compliance with medical necessity.
• Support peer with enhancing communication and social skills.
• Assist peers with setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups.
• Teach peers how to identify and overcome fears.
• Assist non-peer staff in identifying…