Join our dedicated team as a Certified Peer Specialist, where you will play a vital role in empowering individuals navigating mental health challenges and co-occurring disorders. This paid position offers an exciting opportunity to utilize your lived experience and professional skills to foster hope, resilience, and recovery. As a key member of our behavioral health services, you will provide peer support, crisis intervention, and mentorship to help clients achieve their personal goals and improve their overall well-being. Your compassionate approach and active engagement will make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
Responsibilities
- Provide peer support and mentorship to individuals experiencing mental health conditions and substance use issues, fostering trust and encouraging recovery.
- Conduct crisis intervention and crisis management to de-escalate situations safely and effectively, ensuring client safety at all times.
- Utilize behavioral health knowledge to assist clients with developing coping strategies, harm reduction techniques, and relapse prevention plans.
- Engage in motivational interviewing to motivate clients toward positive change and reinforce their strengths and goals.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams using electronic health record (EHR) systems to accurately document client progress, treatment plans, and incident reports.
- Support clients with co-occurring disorders by integrating addiction counseling principles into peer support activities.
- Advocate for clients’ needs within the community and connect them with appropriate resources for ongoing support.
Minimum Qualifications:
1. Completion of high school or a general equivalency diploma. AND one of the following:
2. Certification by the GA Council on Substance Abuse as CARES (CPS-AD) in accordance with training and certification of peer specialists, 01-123 (CPS)
3. Completion of standard training requirement for peer specialists approved by the Department of Community Health (DCH) (includes training provided by the organization and online training).
4. Under supervision of an appropriately licensed/credentialed professional.
5. Person can have a minimum of 1-year experience working with clientele suffering from MH/SA issues and their families.
Skills:
- Strong experience in crisis intervention and crisis management within behavioral health settings.
- In-depth understanding of mental health counseling techniques, including motivational interviewing and harm reduction strategies.
- Proven ability to work effectively with individuals with mental health conditions and co-occurring disorders.
- Excellent mentoring skills with a compassionate approach to supporting recovery journeys.
- Knowledge of addiction counseling principles and social work practices relevant to behavioral health care.
- Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) systems for documentation and communication purposes.
- Effective communication skills combined with the ability to handle sensitive situations professionally and transparently.
This role is an exciting opportunity for passionate individuals committed to making a positive impact through lived experience, professional expertise, and compassionate support!
Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
