Certified Peer Specialist

Description:

Certification is preferred but not required, training will be provided.

SUMMARY

The Certified Peer Specialist position contributes in a peer support capacity to facilitate recovery, resiliency, and enhance wellness. Serves as a role model for recovery, for staff and clients/consumers. Helps clients/consumers to develop self-help skills, build support networks and fosters the use of needed services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Assists clients/consumers with setting and attaining personal recovery goals.

2. Work with agency staff to identify community supports and help clients/consumers understand how to utilize these resources in the recovery process.

3. Provides support resources, information and assists family members/support systems to understand possible warning signs, triggers, appropriate supportive responses, wellness measures, and the overall recovery process.

4. Models coping techniques, self-help strategies and reinforces the potential for recovery to clients/consumers.

5. Advocates on the clients/consumers behalf to the psychiatrist/psychologist/nurse/therapist by disclosing information related to consumers health/treatment.

6. Complete all required documentation for every client/consumer encounter.

7. Develop and implement individual and group interventions.

8. Attend required trainings, in-services, staff meetings and peer support coaching sessions and meetings. Participates in required supervisory meetings; access to Clinical Director on a regular basis.

9. Utilize NTC’s Electronic Health Records (E.H.R.) during tenure of employment. Initial training, and on-going training, will be provided to employee by respective supervisor and/or assigned team member.

10. Employee will be proficient in their job position within six (6) months. If at any time an employee feels they need more training/education, employee is to submit a request for such through their supervisor, manager, and/or director.

11. Other duties and functions as assigned.

Requirements:

QUALIFICATIONS / EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

1. Be a self-identified individual with a mental health diagnosis and who has reached a point in their recovery pathway where they can positively support others in similar situations.

2. Be eighteen (18) years of age or older.

3. Have completed a Department approved peer services training.

4. Obtain and maintain the certification as a CPS through the Pennsylvania Certification Board. The certification process can be found on the following website https://www.pacertboard.org.

5. Current/Valid Driver’s License; Traveling Required; Reliable Vehicle and valid auto insurance; must have clean driving record

6. Criminal history checks and child abuse certification in accordance with 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 6301—6386 (relating to Child Protective Services Law) and 55 Pa.?Code Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services) required.

7. Demonstrated proficiency in reading and writing