Peer Specialist

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide opportunities for individuals receiving services to direct their own recovery process
• Teach and support acquisition and utilization of skills needed to facilitate individual recovery
• Promote the awareness of available services, options, and choices
• Promote the identification and utilization of natural resources and support systems within the community
• Facilitate the development of a sense of wellness, self-worth, and personal control over one’s life and recovery journey
• Act as a role model to persons in recovery to inspire hope; share life experiences and lessons learned as a person with lived experience
• Model/mentor recovery process and demonstrate coping skills
• Aid in the orientation process for persons who are new to receiving mental health and/or co-occurring treatment
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and competence in trauma-informed care, as relevant to the needs of individuals in recovery
• Identify recovering person’s abilities, strengths, and assets and assist them to recognize and use them
• Absorb individuals to identify their personal interests and goals
• Support the individual in seeking to connect/reconnect with family, friends, and significant others and in learning how to improve or eliminate unhealthy relationships
• As appropriate, foster spiritual connections with faith-based organizations, and/or participation in self-help and mutual support groups
• Assist individuals in developing and practicing the skills identified in his/her recovery/treatment plan. This may include coaching sessions while the individual is attending appointments or activities in the community
• Educate and engage individuals in the Wellness Recovery Action Plan process

Minimum Qualifications

• Have completed and passed a Peer Specialist certification program approved by the Department
• High school diploma or GED
• Maintain, within the last three (3) years, at least 12 months of successful full or part-time paid or voluntary work experience (not necessarily consecutive); OR one year post-secondary education totaling 24 credit hours

Necessary Special Requirements

• Be self-identified current or former user of mental health or co-occurring services who can relate to others who have not utilized those services
• Have personal experience and knowledge of recovery
• Have demonstrated proficiency in reading and writing
• Attend trainings on relevant topics such as behavioral health, substance use, and chronic health conditions

JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITY

• Ability to establish trusting relationships with peers
• Ability to work independently and also as an integral part of a multidisciplinary team
• Be able to recognize early triggers and signs of relapse
• Be able to use a computer to record services or be willing to learn

ETHICS

• Uses and accesses information in client’s health information record or about a client only as necessary to actual duties and then only in accordance with access levels assigned to this position by Gateway Healthcare Inc
• Comply with agency ethics and codes of conduct in all contacts with clients, coworkers, and the community
• Observe all agency policies and procedures

INTERPERSONAL FACTORS

• Must be able to appreciate the sensitive/private nature and legal status of information about individual clients obtained, maintained, or used by Gateway Healthcare Inc. and to not access, use, disclose, or request such information about a client unless necessary to the performance of his/her job

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the main duties and responsibilities of this job
• Gateway complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and analogous state statutes
• Therefore, to the extent required by law, Gateway will make reasonable accommodations to allow qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions, duties, and responsibilities of their positions

Pay Range

$18.00-$25.82

Location

GHI-Johnston-1443 Hartford Avenue - 1443 Hartford Ave. Johnston, Rhode Island 02919

Work Type

M-F 8:00 - 5:00 PM

Work Shift

Day

Daily Hours

8 hours

Driving Required

Yes