Certified Peer Support Specialist

Pathways to Life, Inc.
Location: 2808 S. Croatan Highway, Suite D, Nags Head, NC 27959
Schedule: Full-time, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with flexibility based on member needs
Work Setting: Office, community, and members’ homes

Position Overview

Pathways to Life, Inc. is seeking a compassionate and dependable Certified Peer Support Specialist to join our Nags Head team.

The Peer Support Specialist uses personal lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery to provide hope, encouragement, education, and practical support to members. This position may provide services through the agency’s Peer Support Services program or as part of a Community Support Team.

The Peer Support Specialist helps members recognize their strengths, develop recovery skills, access community resources, and take an active role in their treatment and recovery.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group peer support services in members’ homes, the community, and office settings.

• Use personal recovery experience appropriately to model hope, wellness, resilience, and meaningful change.

• Help members identify their strengths and establish personal recovery goals.

• Provide recovery-focused interventions using Wellness Management and Recovery (WMR) and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) principles.

• Teach and reinforce coping skills, symptom-management strategies, relapse prevention, self-advocacy, wellness, and independent-living skills.

• Help members recognize triggers, identify natural supports, and create plans for maintaining stability.

• Support members in developing WRAP plans and using wellness tools in their daily lives.

• Assist members with accessing behavioral health, medical, housing, employment, educational, transportation, and community resources.

• Encourage members to take responsibility for and actively participate in their recovery.

• Participate in Person-Centered Plan development, implementation, and updates.

• Provide services and interventions consistent with each member’s Person-Centered Plan.

• Monitor members’ progress and communicate relevant updates to the assigned supervisor or treatment team.

• Participate in team meetings, care coordination, transition planning, and discharge planning.

• Support members during crisis situations under the direction of the assigned supervisor and according to agency procedures.

• Complete accurate service notes, progress updates, incident reports, and other required documentation within agency timelines.

• Maintain member confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, agency policies, and applicable service requirements.

• Meet established productivity and service-delivery expectations.

• Participate in supervision, required training, and quality-improvement activities.

Required Qualifications

• Current North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist certification.

• Personal lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery and the ability to use that experience appropriately to support others.

• Ability to maintain clear professional boundaries.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to complete accurate electronic documentation within required timelines.

• Basic computer skills and the ability to learn an electronic health record system.

• Ability to work independently in community settings and collaborate with a treatment team.

• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the ability to travel throughout the assigned service area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience providing peer support or community-based behavioral health services.

• Training or experience using WMR or WRAP.

• Familiarity with Person-Centered Planning, motivational interviewing, and recovery-oriented care.

• Knowledge of community resources in Dare County and the surrounding area.

Skills and Abilities

The ideal candidate will be:

• Compassionate, hopeful, and nonjudgmental.

• Comfortable sharing recovery experiences in a purposeful and professional way.

• Dependable and consistent with appointments, documentation, and follow-up.

• Able to build trust while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

• Respectful of each member’s choices and individual recovery journey.

• Organized and able to manage a community-based schedule.

• Comfortable working both independently and as part of a team.

• Committed to helping members build confidence, independence, and lasting recovery skills.

Additional Requirements

• Successfully complete and maintain required CPR and NCI-B certifications.

• Complete all required agency training.

• Be able to regularly walk, stand, or stoop.

• Be able to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull up to 25 pounds.

• Be able to drive regularly to provide services in office, home, and community settings.

• Maintain flexibility to accommodate member needs, which may occasionally include evening or weekend hours.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Paid time off

• Paid holidays

• Retirement plan

About Pathways to Life, Inc.

Pathways to Life, Inc. provides community-based behavioral health services designed to support individuals and families in achieving stability, independence, and meaningful recovery. Our team is committed to person-centered care, respect, collaboration, and the belief that every member has the ability to grow and build a meaningful life in the community.

Pathways to Life, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.