Certified Peer Support Specialist

About the role

The Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) will serve as a vital member of the Burke Emergency and Addiction Response (BEAR) team. The CPSS will use their lived experience with substance use and recovery to provide compassionate, non-judgmental support to individuals and families affected by overdose. This role focuses on connecting individuals to treatment services and recovery resources while reducing stigma and preventing future overdose fatalities.

Responsibilities

• Partner with EMS, law enforcement, and community paramedics to provide immediate and follow-up support to individuals who experience non-fatal overdose.
• Conduct outreach within 24-72 hours of an overdose event to engage individuals and families in supportive services.
• Offer peer counseling, recovery planning, and resource navigation including linkage to MAT, detox, inpatient/outpatient treatment, housing, employment, and social services.
• Provide harm reduction education and distribute naloxone and other supplies.
• Assist with referrals, follow-ups, and coordination of care among community providers.
• Participate in community education and outreach events to promote awareness, reduce stigma, and support prevention efforts.
• Document all contacts, services provided, and referrals in accordance with HIPAA, County policies, and grant requirements.
• Attend team meetings, case reviews, supervision, and required training.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required (Associate degree in human services or related field preferred).
• Certification as a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist (NCCPSS) required upon hire.
• Lived experience with substance use and sustained recovery.
• Valid North Carolina Driver's License
• Standard vision requirements, with or without corrective lenses
• Occasionally lifts up to fifty (50) pounds
• Occasionally spends time walking, sitting, and engaging in repetitive motions
• Routinely spends time standing
• Regular exposure to inside and outside environmental conditions
• Frequently spends time speaking or hearing, and using hands and fingers to handle, type, feel, or text
• Must be able to express and exchange ideas through verbal communications
• Must be able to operate motor vehicles or other machinery
• Must be able to observe general surroundings and activities
• Must be able to prepare and analyze written or computer data

Skills

• Proficient in spoken and written English
• Knowledge of harm reduction principles, local treatment options, and community resources.
• Comfort with flexible work hours, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal