SUMMARY: The Peer Support Specialist provides support for our clients as they look to overcome substance abuse and mental health disorders. Peer Support Specialist responsibilities include conducting support meetings, developing recovery strategies, and responding to patient emergencies as needed. Ultimately, you will work directly with our residence to help them address substance abuse and mental health disorders while they are at our facility.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide individualized, ongoing guidance, coaching and support.
• Provide training in the use of personal and community resources.
• Assist in developing formal and informal community supports.
• Assist the person served in increasing social support networks of relatives, friends and/or significant others.
• Offer encouragement in times of crisis.
• Advocate on behalf of persons with behavioral health problems to protect the client’s rights and to assist in reducing associated stigma.
• Work in cooperation with other providers, family members or significant others involved in the client’s recovery plan.
• Attend Agency staff meetings, Case Conferences and Individual and Group Supervision.
• Attain established standards of productivity.
• Observe all rules of confidentiality relating to clinical information and treatment, both internally and when dealing with external agencies and/or individuals.
• Responsible for understanding clients rights policy and procedures.
• Participate in staff training and development.
• Serve on designated committees within the agency.
• Maintain professional standards at all times.
• Observe the guidelines established within the Code of Ethics and Conduct.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Proven work experience as a Peer Support Specialist or similar role
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• High School Diploma or GED required
• Highly compassionate and attentive to details
• The ability to be on call for emergencies and work on weekends and public holidays
• Relevant training and/or certifications as a Peer Support Specialist
• Excellent computer skills, including the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills
• Familiarity with Chrysalis House, Inc. or other non-profit organizations and the financial/wealth management industry is a plus
• Excellent organization and time-management skills

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Past or present consumer of mental health or substance abuse services with a history of managing one’s own illness. Awareness of the importance of recovery in living with a mental illness or addictions problem. Past experience working directly with people in a service oriented field is beneficial. Active membership in a consumer advocacy or self-help group.
• Ability to work well with others.
• Ability to interact with various types of people.
• Sound understanding of mental health and/or substance abuse problems and treatments. Personal traits which
• Patience, tolerance, caring, mature and understanding.
• Must demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must demonstrate understanding of special treatment needs of women substance abusers in a residential treatment setting and show evidence of empathy, sensitivity, and maturity.
• Must demonstrate highest professional ethical standards and adhere to Chrysalis House Core Values and Code of Ethics.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; sit and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Chrysalis House, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability or any other protected class.