Peer Specialist - Peers Empowering Peers

Job Responsibilities

• Engage people through a strength-based, trauma-informed, person-centered, and culturally intelligent approach.
• Provide comprehensive care to meet the person’s needs as outlined in the treatment plan, which may include treatment needs, medical/dental, housing, legal, financial, benefits, food/clothing, and social needs.
• Document all interactions, collateral contacts, and activities specific to the individual’s care and treatment in the electronic medical record.
• Facilitate completion of the Brief Addiction Monitor (BAM) assessment tool at both enrollment and disenrollment.
• Uphold and promote a positive, strength-based, and supportive culture.
• Maintain confidentiality within all written and verbal communications.
• Link individuals to a variety of self-determined supports and services, including traditional mental health services such as case management, psychiatry, and individual therapy, mutual aid support groups, natural supports, and other healing activities.
• Provide transportation and attend appointments with the person. Advocate with the person to meet identified needs.
• Have contact with individuals enrolled in the program a minimum of four times per month; ideally, all four contacts are weekly face-to-face contacts.
• Provide 1:1 peer support services to people in the community (including their home and other community-based locations).
• From a recovery perspective, provide a strength-based review of an individual's abilities, strengths, and assets.
• Encourage individuals to become the experts of their own lived experiences and develop voice and choice around service participation to be empowered in their recovery.
• Utilize active listening and positive communication skills.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and weekly or bi-weekly clinical supervision.

Job Qualifications

• A high school or GED/HSED degree is required; a graduate of state Certified Peer Specialist training is preferred.
• A minimum of 1 year of experience serving individuals with substance use, mental health, and/or co-occurring needs is required.
• A valid driver’s license, automobile, and insurance sufficient to meet agency requirements is necessary.
• Meet all the employee requirements including references, criminal background check, drug test, and driver’s license check.
• Program-specific knowledge: personal experience with being in recovery and having lived experience with mental health and/or substance use needs; comprehensive knowledge of recovery principles; general knowledge of substance use treatment resources in Milwaukee County, Medication-Assisted Treatment, and evidence-based practices; knowledge, skills, and abilities: communication, technological aptitude, managing priorities/deadlines, problem-solving skills, adaptability, teamwork, motivation, professionalism, multicultural sensitivity.

Other Job Information (if applicable)

• Physical Demands: Work is performed in an office and community environment. Travel is required. Must be able to go up and down stairs. Must be comfortable being around and/or interacting with adults who have significant substance use needs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Work Environment: Noise levels range from low to medium. Work is performed in an office and community environment. Work is performed in the community including going into homes, and other locations to serve adults enrolled in the WCS programs. Travel is required. A flexible work schedule is required to meet the needs of staff and the people being served.