Job Description:

Job Title: Certified Peer Specialist
Location: Serving Cooper & Howard County areas
Department: Adult Community Services
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary:
The Peer Specialist has the responsibility of emphasizing the acquisition, development, and expansion of recovery skills to enable individuals to fully engage in their recovery journey. The interventions they provide are based on the therapeutic relationship they build with the individual and their family. As part of the team, the Peer Specialist helps clients develop essential skills, access recovery tools and community support, and motivates them to achieve and maintain recovery.

The Certified Peer Specialist position offers:

• Mileage Reimbursement (when applicable)

• Employee Assistance Program – 24/7 counseling services, legal assistance, & financial consultation for you and your household at no cost

• Workplace Culture - An environment cultivating employee wellbeing, valuing each individual's humanity, and actively promoting a healthy, joyful workforce.

• Additional Perks & Benefits - Scroll down to bottom of this post to learn more

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with individuals to develop personalized treatment plans that address their specific needs.

• Maintain regular communication with referral sources and guardians to discuss progress, transition planning, and relevant clinical matters.

• Participate in meetings to ensure continuity of care for individuals.

• Assist in researching and referring individuals to outside resources when necessary.

• Schedule treatment appointments and provide transportation to and from Recovery Support Services and community-based services.

• Accompany clients to appointments when permitted, representing the agency professionally.

• Support clients in accessing medical services and document all services in accordance with state and CARF standards.

• Offer crisis intervention and facilitate group education sessions as scheduled.

• Pursue professional development through training to meet required hours every two years.

• Utilize peer support to foster recovery and resilience in individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.

• Help individuals build connections with others, their overall community, and Recovery Supports within their community (transportation of clients may be required).

• Assist individuals in accessing information and support for mental health and substance use disorders.

• Support individuals in making independent choices and taking an active role in their treatment.

• Help individuals identify their strengths and resources for recovery.

• Assist individuals in setting and achieving recovery goals through mentoring, advocacy, and coaching.

• Provide emotional, informational, and instructional support to help clients feel connected and develop recovery skills.

• Encourage clients to live a healthy, productive, and sober lifestyle during and after their time in the facility.

• Aid participants in creating personal treatment plans to actively engage in their own recovery.

• Adhere to ethical and confidentiality standards of the facility.

• Show interest in the long-term and short-term goals of the company.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to offer personal, unique knowledge and experiences of recovery while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

• Ability to share recovery skills that have worked and help the client identify skills that will work for them.

• Ability to serve as a source of hope for the client by demonstrating the ability to maintain recovery.

• Knowledge of basic case management and rehabilitation methods, principles, and techniques related to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

• Knowledgeable about the challenges faced by individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders and how to access various community resources available.

• Familiarity with methods, modalities, legal requirements, and court procedures associated with treating mental health and substance use disorders.

• Knowledge of training techniques and practices used in a substance use disorder/mental health treatment setting is desired.

• Capable of effectively communicating ideas verbally and in writing to produce clear and concise reports.

• Ability to connect clients/patients to recovery resources, including mutual aid support groups, in the communities they serve.

• General knowledge of computers.

Experience, Education, and/or Credential Qualifications:

• Must be willing to self-identify as a present or former client of mental health and/or substance use services or as a person in recovery from mental health and/or substance use disorder. Evidence of a sponsor and participation in a 12-step program may be required.

• Requires one year of direct and personal experience with the mental health system as a primary consumer of services.

• High school education or equivalent.

• Two (2) years of responsible employment history

• Able to complete a state-approved Certified Peer Support training program and other required training within six months of employment.

• If required, complete a 5-Day Basic Training Program; must pass a State of Missouri approved certification examination within six months.

Employment Requirements:

• Current driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and current auto insurance.

• Must be 21 years of age or older.

• Minimum one (1) year of recovery.

• Within the first year of employment, receive training on:

  • Signs and symptoms of disability related illnesses

  • Working with families and caretakers of clients receiving services

  • Rights, roles, and responsibilities of clients and families

  • Client self-help skills

  • Individual treatment plans

  • Basic principles of assessment

  • Special needs and characteristics

  • Philosophy of community support approach

  • Suicide awareness/precaution

  • Quality assurance

  • Infection control

  • Philosophy, values, and objectives of CPRC

  • Behavioral management/crisis intervention

  • Issues/involuntary hold

Position Perks & Benefits:

Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package to balance your work and personal life

Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more

Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive

Career mobility: advancement opportunities/promoting from within

Welcoming, warm, supportive: a work culture & environment that promotes your well-being, values you as human being, and encourages your health and happiness.

Brightli is on a Mission:

A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance user care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients.

As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we prioritize fostering a culture of belonging and connection within our workforce. We encourage applications from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences, as we believe that a rich tapestry of perspectives strengthens our mission. If you are passionate about empowering local communities and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization dedicated to cultivating an authentic workplace.

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Burrell Behavioral Health is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.