Employee Classification: Non-Exempt/Hourly
Department: Residential or Outpatient
Total hours required per week: 40
General Purpose
The Peer Specialist provides hope and encouragement to participants in the various Meta House Programs.The Peer Specialist will act as a peer mentor and model to women in recovery to inspire hope, share life experiences and lessons learned as a person in recovery.
Essential Functions of the Job

• Assist Meta House clients to make healthy decisions that directly affect their own lives, build relationships based on respect and dignity, encourage individuals to take responsibility for themselves and others, assure clients that they will be treated with respect and dignity and foster the understanding that individuals/families are valued and do have skills and strengths
• Model/mentor recovery process and demonstrate coping skills

• Accompany clients to appropriate community appointments and advocate as needed
• Facilitate and assist with groups and activities.
• Communication with coworkers and collaborative staff via phone and email
• Work closely with direct supervisor to ensure coverage of all services, including co-facilitation of group curriculum and individual client sessions as assigned and coverage for colleagues' PTO
• Uphold, understand, and review all policies, procedures as outlined by Employee Handbook
• Engage in, attend, and complete all required supervision, staff meetings, training, in-service, and health regulations deemed necessary by policies and regulations
• Perform all required record keeping and paperwork related to treatment and work at Meta House
• Assist with the safe, timely, and organized transportation of clients
• Assist with other duties to support general program operations and occasional special programs

Marginal Functions of the Job

• Shopping assistance and community errands, as needed
• Participate in community resource meetings as assigned
• Participate in agency-wide committees and activities.
• Other duties as may be periodically or permanently assigned

Qualifications and Requirements

• Self-identified person in recovery from a substance use disorder for at least two years
• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Peer Specialist Certification required
• Driver’s license, safe driving record
• Able to work independently and as a member of a team

Other Skills Required

• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work and communicate within a team-oriented workplace
• Knowledge of community resources
• Able to work cooperatively with other agencies
• Able to work with a culturally diverse client population; to understand and respect family dynamics from many cultural viewpoints
• Flexibility and problem solving skills
• Computer skills including proficiency in Word, Excel, and other applications
• Ability to demonstrate a mature approach to problem solving
• Able to work independently
• Good organizational skills and ability to meet specified deadlines
• Attention to detail

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• All Meta House staff are required to provide proof of vaccination for MMR, Varicella, and annual flu shot.
• Adherence to a non-smoking work environment.

Able to:

• Tolerate occasional hot or cold days.
• Sit or stand for extended periods of time including alternating sitting or standing at will.
• Lift and up to 25 pounds on a regular basis and 40 pounds on occasion.
• Ascend and descend stairs using feet and legs.
• Bend, stoop, twist, squat, and kneel to perform essential functions.
• Reach overhead, and at or below shoulder level.
• Read and enter text or data into a computer or other system.
• Seize, hold, grasp, turn, or otherwise work with hands.
• Touch, pick, punch or otherwise working with fingers.
• Hear, understand, and distinguish speech and/or other sounds in order to communicate with clients and/or colleagues.
• Express or exchange ideas by means of spoken word to impart oral information to clients or the public and convey detailed spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• See clearly at approximately 20 inches or less including use of computers or tablet.
• Visually identify clients and others for reasons including, but not limited to security, presence in the building, and medication dispensing.

• Valid Wisconsin driver’s license required.
• Ability to operate agency vehicle for work related duties.
• Ability to operate agency 15 passenger van.
• Access to personal vehicle for work purposes, preferred
• Ability to use personal vehicle for work related duties, preferred
• Ability to use personal vehicle for work related duties including transportation of clients, preferred
• Auto insurance coverage with the following limits: 100k per person bodily injury/300k per accident bodily injury limit/100k property damage liability (required for employees using their personal vehicle for work or for employees transporting clients in their personal vehicle).

• Able to work evenings and weekends as may be required