Updated: Aug 4, 2024 - The Certified Peer Specialist reports to the Peer Support Supervisor, coaches consumers in personal goal plans and provides peer support through various means including community outings, home visits, and phone calls. This role involves teaching self-help skills, sharing personal recovery experiences, facilitating support groups, and ensuring compliance with Medical Assistance regulations. Additionally, the specialist participates in the Peer Support advisory committee, assists with administrative tasks, and meets ongoing training requirements to maintain certification.
Tips for Certified Peer Specialist Skills and Responsibilities on a Resume
1. Adult Certified Peer Specialist, Horizon Health Services, Buffalo, NY
Job Summary:
- Engages new admissions upon entrance into the facility to engage and build rapport
- Provides support to persons in crisis and natural supports as seek psychiatric stabilization or detoxification services
- Provides education and skill-building to individuals presenting and/or admitted to the behavioral health crisis center
- Provides first-hand experience about the recovery process, symptom management and persistence required to have a satisfying life
- Assists clients in developing the skills to advocate for him/herself in the recovery process
- Provides support for the client during the client’s engagement in the treatment planning and discharge planning processes, upon the client’s request
- Acts as a consumer advocate
- Participates in treatment team meetings and shift change meetings
- Works collaboratively with members of the treatment team to ensure the best possible outcomes for the persons served
- Provides post-discharge follow-up calls to determine the effectiveness of services and promote engagement in aftercare services
- Provides a warm hand-off, when requested, to assist individuals in transitioning to the next level of care
- Participates in performance improvement committee meetings and local community collaborative meetings
- Completes required documentation in the Electronic Medical Record.
Skills on Resume:
- Engagement and Rapport Building (Soft Skills)
- Crisis Intervention (Hard Skills)
- Education and Skill-Building (Hard Skills)
- Recovery Process Knowledge (Hard Skills)
- Advocacy Skills (Hard Skills)
- Client Support in Treatment Planning (Soft Skills)
- Consumer Advocacy (Soft Skills)
- Team Collaboration (Soft Skills)
2. Certified Peer Specialist, Beacon Health Options, Boston, MA
Job Summary:
- Reports to Peer Support Supervisor.
- Coach consumers of the Peer Support program in following the action steps on personal goal plan
- Provide peer support, such as through community outings, home visits or phone calls
- Provide support in learning self help and wellness skills, such as how to use public transportation, advocate for oneself, cook, scheduling appointments, apply for a job and more
- Share personal Recovery experience to assist others in mental health recovery
- Facilitate, or co-facilitate, recovery oriented support groups
- Participate on the Peer Support advisory committee
- Obtain continuing education to maintain active certification as Peer Specialist
- Provide accurate and timely documentation of services to ensure compliance in service provision with all applicable Medical Assistance regulations
- Work well with, and collaborate with, the behavioral health department and each consumer's Person Centered Planning support team
- Assist the supervisor with various administrative tasks to support department operations
- Perform tasks which are supportive in nature to the essential functions of the job, but which may be altered or redesigned depending upon individual circumstances.
- Meet on-going training requirements
Skills on Resume:
- Peer Support and Coaching (Soft Skills)
- Teaching Self-Help and Wellness Skills (Soft Skills)
- Recovery Experience (Soft Skills)
- Facilitation of Support Groups (Soft Skills)
- Committee Participation (Soft Skills)
- Continuing Education and Certification (Hard Skills)
- Documentation and Compliance (Hard Skills)
- Collaboration and Administrative Support (Soft Skills)
3. Certified Peer Specialist, Community Healthlink, Worcester, MA
Job Summary:
- Advocate for client needs.
- Assist clients in obtaining community services including but not limited to healthcare, social services, housing, employment training and employment.
- Support clinical staff in the provision of clinical services and support clients' pursuit of recovery activities.
- Utilize life experiences and training to provide hope and encouragement for recovery to individuals receiving behavioral health services.
- Interact with community partners in support of treatment.
- Adhere to professional and ethical standards for Chemical Dependency Professionals and/or Mental Health professional organizations.
- Provide professionally written documentation and correspondence.
- Integrate knowledge by thinking through and planning the most professional, therapeutic response or intervention in any given client care situation
- Provide opportunities for individuals receiving integrated services to direct own recovery process.
- Reinforce and support acquisition and utilization of skills needed to facilitate individual recovery.
- Promote the knowledge of available service options and choices.
- Promote the utilization of natural resources within the community when appropriate.
Skills on Resume:
- Client Advocacy and Support (Soft Skills)
- Collaborative Care Support (Soft Skills)
- Use of Personal Experience (Soft Skills)
- Community Engagement and Liaison (Soft Skills)
- Adherence to Ethical Standards (Hard Skills)
- Professional Documentation Skills (Hard Skills)
- Strategic Thinking in Client Care (Hard Skills)
- Empowerment and Skill Reinforcement (Soft Skills)
4. Certified Peer Specialist, Meridian Health Services, Muncie, IN
Job Summary:
- Assist, encourage and empower individuals using mental health services.
- Assist clients with activities of daily living, structuring time and employment activities, housing support, leisure activities and substance abuse and symptom management.
- Provide support and education around self-management of illness, assist with goal acquisition and organize and lead peer support activities.
- Possess the skills and competence to establish supportive and trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses.
- Assists the other members of the team to understand the client's perspective and subjective experiences.
- Manage mental illness and be well along in recovery.
- Respect diverse views and approaches, demonstrate Standards of Respect
- Contributes to creating and maintaining an environment of professionalism, tolerance, civility and acceptance toward all employees, patients and visitors.
- Facilitate the development of a sense of wellness and self-worth.
- Support the recovering person.
- Provide supportive services during times of patient crisis/relapse
- Teach and reinforce personal care/self-help, substance abuse recovery and relapse prevention skills, as indicated in the treatment plan.
Skills on Resume:
- Client-Centered Support (Soft Skills)
- Illness Self-Management (Hard Skills)
- Peer Support Facilitation (Soft Skills)
- Relationship Building (Soft Skills)
- Team Collaboration (Soft Skills)
- Crisis Intervention (Hard Skills)
- Skill Development Instruction (Hard Skills)
- Cultural Competency and Professionalism (Soft Skills)
5. Certified Peer Specialist, Pathways Inc., Ashland, KY
Job Summary:
- Support and promote the mission statement and values of the Prevention Space program.
- Maintain a safe, supportive and recovery-focused environment that fosters growth and rehabilitation as well as facilitates the development of natural supports and self-help skills.
- Maintain the environment in accordance with acceptable community standards for cleanliness by assistance in performing household maintenance tasks and partnering with residents to provide life skills training.
- Engage residents in a trusting and supportive relationship, providing emotional support within the professional boundaries
- Support the individualized recovery plans of the resident to achieve and maintain physical health, mental health and emotional well-being as well as participation in the recovery processs.
- Assist the resident in obtaining the goals she or he has set in recovery plan.
- Coach program participants on how to develop and practice skills needed to achieve goals outlined in recovery plan and for maintaining personal wellness.
- Teach self-advocacy skills.
- Willing to share his or her own recovery experience while being aware that each person's road to recovery is unique.
- Participate in team meetings and promote a recovery perspective.
- Keep team and supervisors informed of problematic issues, obstacles, and accomplishments experienced by individuals in working toward respective recovery goals.
- Initiate and complete WRAP plans
- Support individuals in the performance of ADLs
Skills on Resume:
- Supportive Communication (Soft Skills)
- Recovery Support (Hard Skills)
- Life Skills Training (Hard Skills)
- Goal Setting and Coaching (Soft Skills)
- Self-Advocacy Teaching (Hard Skills)
- Team Collaboration (Soft Skills)
- Crisis Management (Hard Skills)
- WRAP Planning (Hard Skills)
6. Certified Peer Specialist, Riverside Community Care, Dedham, MA
Job Summary:
- Provide a strength-based review of an individual's abilities, strengths, and assets.
- Encourage the development of a symptom management toolkit for individuals providing recovery-based education and support.
- Assist the individual in the development and implementation of a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).
- Provide observation of the individual's capacity and functioning and report any changes to the treatment team.
- Responsible for accurate documentation and maintaining case files by agency policy, government regulations, and applicable local, state, and federal codes.
- Participate in visits with the individual as necessary to engage him or her in the recovery process.
- Assist individuals in the process of stabilization and recovery.
- Provide educational discussions with small groups.
- Facilitate psycho-social or other self-help, recovery-based groups to engage adults in recognizing and understanding early triggers or signs of usage, and assist in the development of prevention strategies.
- Attend and participate in staff meetings.
- Attend in-service training and conferences
Skills on Resume:
- Strength-Based Assessment Skills (Soft Skills)
- Educational and Supportive Skillset (Soft Skills)
- Wellness Planning (Soft Skills)
- Observational and Reporting Abilities (Hard Skills)
- Documentation and Compliance (Hard Skills)
- Engagement Techniques (Soft Skills)
- Recovery and Stabilization Support (Soft Skills)
- Professional Development and Team Collaboration (Soft Skills)
7. Certified Peer Specialist, Thresholds, Chicago, IL
Job Summary:
- Provide support through the phases of the recovery journey, from pre-recovery engagement and recovery initiation to recovery stabilization
- Identify recovering persons' abilities, strengths, and assets, and assist them in recognizing and using them to achieve goals
- Link individuals to the appropriate community resources when needed
- Provide transportation for clients for program outings and appointments
- Develop daily progress notes and communicate information to staff as an advocate for the clients.
- Complete all required documentation according to state guidelines
- Maintain data privacy of client records and information.
- Able to assist with intake calls.
- Assist with appropriate interventions for patient problems with substance abuse
- Facilitate didactic groups and recovery groups
- Ability to explain major recovery models (12 steps, Intentional Peer Support, SMART Recovery, Women for Sobriety, Celebrate Recovery, etc).
- Individual and Family meetings to provide support and education regarding substance abuse issues
- Recording on the medical chart
Skills on Resume:
- Client Assessment and Engagement (Soft Skills)
- Resource Linkage (Soft Skills)
- Transportation and Mobility Support (Hard Skills)
- Documentation and Advocacy (Hard Skills)
- Privacy and Data Protection (Hard Skills)
- Crisis Intervention and Supportive Counseling (Soft Skills)
- Educational and Family Engagement (Soft Skills)
- Record Keeping and Reporting (Hard Skills)