Peer Support Specialist - SUD Residential

About the role

Zepf Center has been serving the Lucas County community for over 50 years as the leading provider of behavioral health and substance use disorder services in Northwest Ohio. Services include adult and child psychiatric, substance abuse, case management, residential, Crisis Care, and therapy programs, as well as career development and wellness services. Zepf Center also offers primary care medical services to contribute to patients’ continuum of care. Zepf Center is a trauma-informed agency and environment for both patients and staff.

General Summary

The Peer supports individuals in recovery from mental illness and/or substance use disorders by serving as a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator to help prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery. The Peer must be able to share personal recovery experiences and develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide recovery education across every phase of the recovery journey—engagement, recovery planning, treatment, stabilization, and sustained maintenance.
• Co-facilitate groups focused on recovery and skill-building activities (e.g., AA, WMR, WHAM), and assist with the Recognition of Rewards component of group.
• Model recovery to people in recovery, family members/friends/supporters, and staff by demonstrating that recovery is possible.
• Assist individuals in identifying personal interests, goals, strengths, and weaknesses to inform treatment plan development through the integrated service team.
• Help individuals develop their own recovery plans to improve functioning in home, community, workplace, and/or school environments.
• Promote self-advocacy by assisting individuals in expressing their voice, needs, goals, and objectives.
• Identify and support linkages to community resources aligned with the individual’s goals and interests, with focus on all eight dimensions of wellness.
• Support connections to community-based, mutual self-help groups.
• Identify barriers to successful participation in community resources and develop strategies to overcome them.
• Maintain professional boundaries between self, staff, and peers.
• Ensure timely and accurate electronic/written documentation of services provided as required by the designated program.
• Regularly monitor and update client safety/recovery plans.
• Maintain effective working relationships and communication with integrated care teams to ensure successful integrated care.

Specific/Individual Competencies

• Lived experience of mental health and/or substance use disorder.
• Working knowledge of the recovery process and ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.
• Ability to assist individuals in addressing symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk and other techniques.
• Demonstrate knowledge of how to establish and sustain self-help (mutual support) and educational groups by soliciting input from individuals on their strengths and interests.

Organizational Competencies

• Demonstrate knowledge of the agency mission, vision, goals, and philosophy, as well as policies and procedures.
• Strive for high client satisfaction by providing leadership and/or assistance to coworkers and clients through the integrated care process.
• Demonstrate consistent professionalism and teamwork.
• Abide by the agency’s and/or professional code of ethics.