Certified Peer Specialist – FACT

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) is an individual who self identifies as having direct personal experience living with mental illness and/or substance use and/or personal lived experience caregiving for children with mental health conditions.
The CPS skillfully uses personal lived experience to provide support to consumers and/or guardians. This position is required to hold a certified peer specialist certification to include Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS), Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS), and/or Certified Family Partner (CFP).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist consumers and/or families navigate mental health and recovery systems by presenting options and empowering choice in the recovery process.
• Assists with data collection and surveys.
• Assists consumers to court, doctor appointments, intake appointments and other service appointments as needed.
• Conducts home, clinic, and community face-to-face sessions
• Provides both group and one to one services.
• Ensures clinical documentation is submitted in accordance with CHCS’s standards and meets all designated requirements.
• Shares lived experience as a tool to motivate recovery.
• Assists with the design, development, and implementation of peer support services.
• Performs other related duties as required.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience
• High School diploma or equivalency
• One (1) year of lived experience with mental illness, and/or substance use, and/or parenting a child with mental health needs.
• One (1) year of experience working on recovery and able to manage own wellness.
• Transparency in disclosure of personal experience for the purpose of educating, role modeling, and providing hope to others about the reality of recovery.

Licenses or Certifications
o Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) supports those working in Recovery Support Peer within the field of chemical dependency, mental health and/or co-occurring disorders.

Other Requirements
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license and automobile insurance coverage, be able to travel as needed, and be able to meet on a consistent basis the driving record requirements of the Company’s auto insurance carrier if you drive your vehicle during company business
• Must maintain required credentials and mandatory training requirements to ensure compliance with all State regulations and CHCS policies
• Must be able to meet the physical requirements to complete SAMA and CPR training including lifting up to 12 lbs. and supporting up to 55 lbs.; bending, stooping and getting on and off the floor without assistance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Bilingual (English / Spanish)
• 1 year experience working in social support services.
• Additional peer certification such as Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) or Re-Entry Peer Specialist (JI-RPS).

SUPERVISION
• Job has no responsibility for the direction or supervision of others.

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES
Knowledge of:
• Community resources
• Individual Disability Education Act
• Child services available
• Applicable software application
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment
• Case management
• Recovery techniques

Skilled in:
• De-escalation
• Organization and time management
• Performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of different nature
• Performing basic mathematical functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and ratios
Ability to:
• Comply with required contractual and center policies and procedures
• Effectively communicate and understand, both written and verbal language
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Maintain accurate and complete records
• Meet schedules and deadlines of the work
• Maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries.
• Provide advocacy with a non-judgmental approach to working with families