Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS)

Tennessee Voices Inc. is Tennessee’s collaborative leader in mental health and family well-being. Each year, we serve thousands of children, parents, and adults across all 95 counties with services that prevent crisis, heal trauma, and build long-term stability. Our model works because it’s whole-family, trauma-informed, and community-driven. By healing parents alongside their children, providing critical resources like housing and mental health support, and advocating for systemic change, TN Voices helps families thrive and communities grow stronger.

Summary:  The Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) provides direct support, advocacy, crisis intervention, transportation, and recovery-focused services to individuals with significant mental health and substance use needs in the community.

This role works closely with treatment teams to help clients achieve individualized goals, access resources, maintain stability, develop natural supports, and successfully transition from higher levels of care

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Conduct weekly and as-needed one-on-one Personal Support sessions with each assigned client.
• Assess the general needs of assigned clients and conduct appropriate groups that support client health and well-being.
• Provide on-call crisis support, including responding by phone, in person at the client's home, and/or in the community with supervision and community-based provider support.
• Complete required documentation within established timeframes.
• Instill hope in clients about their future by communicating with confidence and reassurance.
• Meet and engage with clients by communicating compassion, support, respect, and enthusiasm for them and your role as a support and advocate.
• Collaborate with the Treatment Team to determine specific roles and responsibilities needed by the client.
• Participate in regular team meetings and case reviews.
• Present case updates, including progress and barriers, during case reviews and contribute feedback and direction to other team members.
• Assist as needed in implementing the individualized plan of care for each case.
• Respond to crises in a prompt, effective, and collaborative manner.
• Assist in creating and implementing interventions and strategies to address client vocational issues.
• Assist the clinical team in creating and implementing specific, realistic, and strength-based behavioral modification interventions to address client behaviors and needs.
• Assist the clinical team in creating and implementing interventions and strategies to address client substance abuse issues.
• Assist the clinical team in creating and implementing interventions that build positive relationships between clients and natural supports.
• Assist in arranging a continuing care plan with the client, including professional and nonprofessional supports that meet ongoing needs.
• Meet with newly referred clients at RMHI prior to discharge to establish rapport and trust.
• Provide transportation for clients to and from community-based services.
• Provide advocacy and support for clients by participating in community-based service appointments.
• Serve as an authorized agent for an assigned Agency Credit Card to be used for program-related expenses.
• Complete an itemized monthly expense report for all Agency Credit Card purchases.
• Comply with all TNV policies and procedures.
• Comply with Federal Confidentiality Law to protect client rights.
• Perform all other duties as appropriate and necessary for the success of assigned clients not specifically outlined in this job description

Qualifications:

• Completion of crisis prevention training and universal precautions training required.
• Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) designation from the State of Tennessee, or ability to complete training and certification within 180 days of hire.
• Access to reliable home internet

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to evaluate, monitor, and support clients across life domains.
• Ability to act effectively in stressful or crisis situations.
• Ability to gather information to make informed referrals and recommendations.
• Ability to help clients identify their strengths, needs, and recovery goals.
• Ability to assist with development, implementation, and monitoring of individualized treatment goals.
• Ability to manage a complex caseload of high-need clients, including individuals with chronic mental illness.
• Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating compassion, respect, and advocacy.

Core Competencies:

• Instills hope in clients by communicating with confidence, encouragement, and reassurance while building meaningful relationships through compassionate, supportive, and respectful engagement. Demonstrates enthusiasm for serving as a strong advocate and support person, assesses the individual needs of assigned clients, facilitates appropriate groups that promote health and well-being, and maintains consistent weekly one-on-one support sessions to provide personalized guidance and coordinated care.
• Provide transportation, advocacy, on-call crisis support, in the client's home and to and from community-based services appointments.
• Assist the clinical team in creating and implementing specific, realistic, and strength-based behavioral modification interventions to address client’s behaviors and needs and arranging a continuing care plan with the client including professional and nonprofessional supports that meets their ongoing needs.
• Collaborate with the Treatment Team to determine specific roles and responsibilities that are needed by the client.
• Complete required documentation within established timeframes. Participate in regular team meetings and case reviews.  Present case updates including progress and barriers during Case Reviews and be willing to contribute feedback and direction to other team members.
• Interview clients at RMHI who have been referred to the adult services program. Collaborate with PD on program acceptance of referred clients.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Valid driver’s license, proof of automobile insurance,

Physical Demands: 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, push, pull and carry/lift up to 50 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to climb, bend or crouch. Specific mental abilities required by this job include continuous concentration to detail; ability to remember multiple tasks, oral and written communication; and an attention span of 1 hour(s) on a task. 

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Performance Evaluation: Employees are evaluated on an annual basis.  Performance Reviews are completed electronically by the employee’s direct supervisor then reviewed and approved by regional or program leadership.  Employees are given the opportunity to review their performance evaluation with their supervisor and will be required to acknowledge receipt of the annual review electronically. 

Core Values: V.O.I.C.E.

V – Vulnerability and Integrity.  We lead with truth and act with authenticity. We choose deeds over words and transparency over pretense. We hold ourselves and each other accountable by following through on our commitments. Trust is built through kind, honest, ethical, and clear communication. We know our strengths and share them with intention.

O – Openness and Connection. We foster belonging and celebrate one another. We promote an environment where everyone feels safe, included, and heard. We value diverse perspectives, invite honest feedback, and lead with a welcoming spirit. We celebrate our wins—big and small—and lift each other up through support, presence, and shared pride in our work.

I – Innovation and Growth. We cultivate curiosity and embrace change. We embrace lifelong learning and welcome questions, feedback, and growth. We keep an open mind and heart, recognizing there is always more to learn and new perspectives to consider. No idea is too small and no voice is too quiet. We lean into the unknown, explore bold ideas together, and support one another across roles because shared growth moves us all forward.

C – Compassion and Hope. We lead with heart and serve with purpose. We show up with dedication, warmth, empathy, and humility. We listen with care and assume the best in others. We stay present and grounded, even when things are difficult, because we believe in the future we’re building for every child, family, person, and community we serve.

E – Experience and Insight.  We believe in the power of lived and learned experiences. We rise by lifting others. We are driven by a deep passion for service and guided by the voices of those we serve. Our purpose is to help others flourish and build resilience and a better future. Grounded in joy, lifted by humor, and guided by vision, we stay focused on what matters to create lasting, meaningful change.

Promotion & Advancement: To be considered for promotion to a higher position, the

employee must have met the personal and professional development requirements established by the company and must have demonstrated strong on-the-job performance. Please see your supervisor or manager for additional details.

Job Accommodations: If you need to request reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of this job, please contact Human Resources at hr@tnvoices.org.

All employees are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct, comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies (including HIPAA and confidentiality requirements), promptly report compliance concerns, and actively participate in required compliance and ethics training to support a culture of accountability and quality care.