Peer Support Specialist

Job Summary

The Peer Support Specialist serves as a vital member of the Recovery team at WestCare Tennessee, working collaboratively with the Project Director, Treatment Counselor, Case Manager, and Employment Specialist. This role provides peer leadership, recovery support services, advocacy, coaching, and outreach to individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD)/Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) who are seeking to sustain their own recovery path.

Key Responsibilities

• Embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, and goals of WestCare Tennessee.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of individual information.
• Assist participants in establishing or re-establishing support systems within their community.
• Advocate on behalf of participants to improve access to needed services, information, or treatment.
• Provide support and assistance to participants during program activities in group or individual settings.
• Offer recovery support, coaching, mentoring, education, intervention, empowerment, and advocacy to participants.
• Assist participants with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and/or mental health diagnoses.
• Help participants develop skills and competencies for a successful support network.
• Conduct skill-building groups and other activities as assigned by the Project Director.
• Act as an appropriate role model, inspiring hope.
• Serve as a family/individual representative and advocate in program/agency activities.
• Assist in the facilitation of individual/family support and educational groups.
• Provide peer support to participants by using personal and professional life experiences.
• Work in partnership with the case manager to link participants to needed services.
• Assist program participants to identify and build natural supports as well as self-advocacy and self-efficacy skills.
• Help participants identify strengths and recognize successes to promote self-esteem and empowerment.
• Assist participants to develop a Wellness Recovery Action Plan when needed.
• Document one-to-one sessions, telephone calls, and/or visits with families/individuals to reflect their supportive role.
• Provide peer support services to additional populations, as needed.
• Participate in staffing to provide peer understanding regarding a participant's current strengths, workplace performance, and need for additional resources.
• Complete documentation of services on provided forms and inputting work activities in required data tracking software platforms promptly and according to deadlines.
• Perform participant follow-up interviews to document recovery progress, make additional referrals to needed services, and maintain active communication throughout the duration of the participant's enrollment in the program.
• Attend necessary monthly integrated staff team meetings.
• Maintain strong professional relationship boundaries with individuals served.
• Maintain strong professional relationship boundaries with organizations/community agencies who refer individuals to WestCare Tennessee.
• Submit weekly reports to the Project Director.
• Work closely with the Project Director, Research Assistant, and WestCare Foundation Evaluation team regarding the collection of data and reporting of program outcomes.
• Attend in-person and virtual program conferences and meetings, community meetings, and events as deemed necessary.
• Perform additional tasks that support a productive office workflow as deemed necessary by the Project Director.
• Engage and complete the required WestCare Tennessee eLearning and any other program-related trainings.

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the duties and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Experience and Competencies

• An individual with a similar lived experience and has successfully sustained a crime and drug-free life for two (2) consecutive years or longer is preferred. (Proof required)
• Experience collaborating with individuals in a clinic or mental health setting is preferred.
• Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to the population served.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others in a professional manner.
• Ability to engage in both individual and group settings.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion.
• Ability to operate a computer and complete documents in Microsoft Word and Excel program formats.
• Ability to respond as needed to crises in an efficient manner.
• Ability to complete work tasks within scheduled work hours.
• Possess excellent verbal, written, and electronic (email) communication skills.
• Familiar with searching for community resources.
• Willing to seek out new work tasks within scheduled times.
• Adherence to the highest standard of ethical conduct, especially to standards governing confidentiality.
• Professional appearance and demeanor.

Education and/or Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent

Licenses/Certifications

• Valid driver's license with the ability to obtain and maintain WestCare's vehicle insurance.
• Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) preferred.

Working Conditions

• Work is primarily performed in a combination of an office and outdoor setting.
• Some travel will be required to trainings and conferences.
• Local travel is associated with participating in stakeholder meetings and other potential meetings to fulfill the requirements of the Next Chance Workforce program.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

Physical Demands

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment, including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to fifty pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required, which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files). Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations using approved physical de-escalation techniques.
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee's essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility.
• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids, or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public, and employees at all levels to exchange ideas, information, instructions, and opinions.

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