Registered Peer Recovery Specialist

The Registered Peer Recovery Specialist is responsible for providing peer-to-peer support services to individuals enrolled in the Outpatient Behavioral Health Adolescent Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). The Registered Peer Recovery Specialist performs a variety of paraprofessional duties in support of wellness and recovery by utilizing their lived experiences of recovery and mental health disorders. Peer Support Specialists offer emotional support, share knowledge, teach skills, provide practical assistance and connect individuals with resources, opportunities, communities of support and other people. Services are non-clinical, person centered, strengths based, wellness focused, and trauma informed. Peer support services help to ensure the individual’s wellness-recovery plan reveals the needs and preferences of the individuals being served to complete their measurable and personalized goals. All services are provided as part of a comprehensive treatment team, and the incumbent will be a vital member of this team.

This position involves weekday daytime and evening program coverage for the Outpatient Behavioral Health programs, as well as assists in the development, implementation, and maintenance of these mental health services. Participates in interagency planning and service coordination activities as directed to improve and enhance service continuity and effectiveness for patients. Provides face to face interactions that support an individual achieving their self-identified level of recovery, wellness, independence or personal strengths. Serves as a role model of recovery and wellness and self-advocacy. Assists an individual or family receiving services with writing and communicating their personal recovery-wellness plans and to identify ways to reach those goals using a person-centered, individual recovery-wellness plan.

Provides trained peer-to-peer support in groups encouraging and supporting participation and self-directed participation, such as WRAP, Dual Recovery, etc. Facilitates non-clinical peer to peer recovery education and wellness coaching through group activities in topics such as health leisure activities, community involvement strategies, etc. Mentors community integration activities by providing community networking and linkage with social, recreational, spiritual, volunteer, educational or vocational resources. Assists the person in identifying community-based supports that sustain a healthy lifestyle. Supports, encourages, and enhances the development of natural support systems. Provide emotional support during the acquisition, exploration and sustaining of employment and/or educational services. Attends treatment team and program development meetings. Participates in regular group supervision and individual supervision as a means of enhancing professional growth, reviewing the provision of clinical services, and addressing administrative issues. Documents all service contacts within 24 hours of contact including face-to-face, collateral and networking contacts. Demonstrate appropriate & complete documentation of treatment – related information including treatment plans and reviews, progress notes, correspondence, releases of information, etc., in compliance with agency standards and in accordance with all application regulations. Actively communicates findings, progress and other needs with the rest of the Outpatient Behavioral Health team. Maintains collaborative relationships and communication with community referring agencies to formulate appropriate collaborative intervention strategies.

Attends mandatory trainings as required by the management team. Shares their unique perspective on recovery from mental illness with non-peer staff. Develops and maintains a positive working relationship with community resources, treatment providers, mental health providers, health care providers, shelter providers, landlords, detox centers and other community programs which may support participants. Acts in a collaborative and respectively manner while carry out functions of the program.