Certified Peer Support Specialist - Charlotte, NC

Certified Peer Support Specialist - Charlotte, NC

Since 2006, Securing Resources for Consumers Inc. has been dedicated to empowering individuals throughout the Durham area. We specialize in providing consistent, person-centered support to individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental health diagnoses—whether they live with family, in group homes, or other residential settings.

As the needs of the individuals we serve continue to evolve, our organization grows alongside them—meeting new challenges with compassion, dedication, and respect.

We are currently seeking a Peer Support Specialist who is compassionate, dependable, and committed to making a meaningful impact in the lives of others.

Position Overview

Peer Support services are designed to promote safety, self-worth, personal growth, community connection, boundary setting, self-advocacy, and social support. These services focus on helping individuals acquire and strengthen rehabilitative skills essential for recovery.

Peer Support Specialists draw from their lived experience with a Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) or recovery from addiction (as defined by federal standards) to guide, mentor, and inspire others on their recovery journey.

Key Responsibilities

Self-Help:

• Empower individuals to make informed, independent choices and develop supportive peer networks using your personal recovery experience.

System Advocacy:

• Support individuals in sharing their mental health experiences publicly or within groups.
• Assist clients in communicating concerns related to mental illness or recovery through letters, phone calls, or advocacy efforts.

Individual Advocacy:

• Help clients discuss medication, treatment, or diagnosis questions with healthcare providers upon request.
• Assist with scheduling psychiatric and medical appointments and encourage active engagement in care.

Pre-Crisis and Post-Crisis Support:

• Guide individuals in developing personal crisis plans and Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs).
• Assist with Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAPs), recognize early signs of relapse, and promote the use of crisis plans.
• Advocate for the least restrictive, most supportive interventions when hospitalization is considered.

Housing Support:

• Assist clients in maintaining stable housing through budgeting, organization, and household management.
• Help locate improved housing options and provide guidance on meal preparation aligned with personal, cultural, and medical needs.

Education and Employment:

• Share resources on returning to school, vocational training, and workplace accommodations such as flexible scheduling or mental health days.

Meals and Social Activities:

• Facilitate peer-based social interactions and skill-building activities that foster community engagement and inclusion.

Whole Health Integration:

• Support clients in setting and achieving health and wellness goals, managing co-occurring conditions, and participating in integrated care.

Wellness and Recovery Support:

• Encourage community participation and social connection through activities that reduce isolation and promote wellness.

Training & Competency Requirements

Peer Support Specialists may not provide paid services to family members.
All Peer Support Specialists must complete competency-based training within 90 days of hire, including but not limited to:

• Principles of Recovery, Resiliency, and Empowerment
• Wellness Management and Recovery
• Self-Advocacy and Coping Skills
• Effective Communication and Active Listening
• Ethics in Dual Relationships and Professional Boundaries
• Client Rights, Confidentiality, and HIPAA
• Crisis Planning and De-escalation Techniques
• Infection Control and Communicable Disease Awareness
• CPR, First Aid, and Seizure Management
• Person-Centered Planning and Goal Setting
• NCI A/B Techniques and Use of Protective Devices
• Cultural Competency and Diversity Awareness
• Overview of Service Delivery Systems
• Medication Education (as applicable)

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required
• North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) credential required
• Must meet all provider qualification standards established by the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA)
• Compliance with policies and standards of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS)
• Approval as a provider within the PIHP (Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan) network
• Fulfillment of requirements under 10A NCAC 27G regulations
• Completion of the state-approved 40-hour Peer Support Specialist training program to achieve certification in North Carolina
• Ongoing supervision by a Qualified Professional (if not credentialed as one)

Join us in transforming lives through connection, understanding, and shared experience. Use your story to empower others on their journey of recovery as a Certified Peer Support Specialist with Securing Resources for Consumers Inc.

Job Type: Contract

Pay: $18.00 per hour

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18