Position Summary
Agate Integrated & Behavioral Healthcare Services, Inc. is seeking a compassionate, recovery-oriented Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) to join our Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Care Coordination Team.
The Peer Recovery Specialist is a core member of the multidisciplinary AOT Care Coordination Team and plays a vital role in engaging participants, promoting recovery, supporting treatment adherence, and helping individuals successfully navigate behavioral health services and community resources. Working collaboratively with the AOT Program Director, Psychiatrist, and Case Manager, the Peer Recovery Specialist helps ensure each participant receives person-centered, coordinated care that promotes recovery, stability, and successful community integration.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Participant Engagement
- Engage respondents throughout the development of their individualized AOT Treatment Plans by building trusting, recovery-oriented relationships.
- Utilize lived experience to promote hope, resilience, self-advocacy, and participant engagement in treatment.
- Encourage participant involvement in treatment planning and shared decision-making whenever clinically appropriate.
- Support participant engagement with behavioral health treatment, recovery services, and community supports identified within the AOT Treatment Plan.
- Offer emotional support, encouragement, mentoring, and practical guidance that promotes recovery and community integration.
- Assist participants in identifying personal strengths, wellness goals, and recovery objectives.
- Encourage development of independent living skills, coping strategies, self-advocacy, and wellness self-management.
- Model recovery-oriented behaviors and maintain appropriate professional boundaries consistent with Maryland peer recovery standards.
- Collaborate closely with the AOT Program Director, Psychiatrist, Case Manager, and other members of the multidisciplinary Care Coordination Team.
- Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences, treatment planning meetings, and care coordination activities.
- Communicate participant progress, engagement barriers, and recovery goals to the Care Coordination Team.
- Assist the Case Manager in connecting participants with community-based behavioral health, housing, employment, educational, vocational, transportation, and recovery support resources.
- Encourage participants to actively participate in services recommended by the Care Coordination Team.
- Engage participants in developing a plan for continued treatment upon expiration of an AOT Order.
- Assist participants in identifying ongoing community supports and recovery resources that promote long-term stability.
- Support successful transitions to ongoing behavioral health providers and community-based recovery services through warm handoffs and participant engagement.
- Complete timely, accurate, and compliant documentation in accordance with organizational policies, HIPAA, and applicable federal and state regulations.
- Maintain confidentiality of participant information at all times.
- Participate in required trainings, supervision, quality improvement activities, and team meetings.
- Adhere to the ethical standards, Code of Conduct, Principles, and Service Guidelines established by the Maryland Board approving Peer Recovery Specialists.
Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications established by the Maryland Department of Health AOT Request for Applications:
- Hold a current and active certification as a Peer Recovery Specialist from the Board approved by the Maryland Department of Health.
- Meet all Board requirements, including:
- Completion of required education and training within the four competency domains established by the Board.
- Adherence to the Board's Ethics, Code of Conduct, Principles, and Service Guidelines.
- Have at least two (2) years of experience providing direct services to individuals with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI).
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working within community mental health, psychiatric rehabilitation, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), mobile treatment, crisis services, or outpatient behavioral health programs.
- Knowledge of serious and persistent mental illness, trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented systems of care, motivational interviewing, and person-centered planning.
- Familiarity with Maryland behavioral health resources and community support systems.
- Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary treatment teams.
- Strong understanding of community integration, recovery planning, and participant engagement strategies.
- Proficiency with electronic health record (EHR) systems preferred.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Ability to utilize lived experience to establish trusting, supportive relationships.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and active listening skills.
- Ability to motivate and engage individuals experiencing serious mental illness.
- Knowledge of recovery principles, peer support ethics, and person-centered care.
- Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
- Strong organizational, documentation, and time management skills.
- Commitment to culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented services.
- Proficiency in electronic health record (EHR) systems required.
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation
- Paid Time Off for holidays after 90 days
- Collaborative multidisciplinary team environment
- Administrative support to allow greater focus on participant care
- Opportunities for professional growth and leadership
- Meaningful work serving individuals living with serious mental illness throughout the community
Pay: $20.00 per hour
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Work Location: In person
