Certified Peer Specialist

GATEWAY CSB PEO LLC•Brunswick, GA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Certified Peer Specialist has progressed in their own recovery journey and uses lived experience to promote recovery, self-determination, empowerment, hope, and resilience for individuals receiving behavioral health and substance use disorder services. The role provides structured peer support that encourages socialization, wellness, self-advocacy, natural supports, community integration, and recovery-oriented living skills. The specialist serves as a recovery role model and collaborates with interdisciplinary treatment teams to support positive consumer outcomes. The position operates in office, clinic, and community-based environments, with moderate travel between Gateway sites and throughout the community. It routinely uses computers, telephones, printers, photocopiers, and other office equipment. The role requires maintaining timely and compliant documentation, meeting productivity and caseload expectations, completing required training, and following agency policies and professional standards. The employee may need to remain at or return to work during agency incidents or emergencies and may work non-traditional schedules as necessary to support agency operations.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Current Georgia Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) certification required within six months of employment.
Completion of at least 40 hours of Certified Peer Specialist training.
Lived experience with recovery and the ability to use personal recovery experience appropriately in peer support services.
Knowledge of serious mental illness, substance use disorders, recovery principles, and peer support practices.
Knowledge of consumer rights and applicable federal, state, and agency policies and procedures.
Knowledge of client-record documentation requirements and service plan implementation.
Knowledge of crisis intervention procedures and protocols.
Knowledge of peer support group facilitation and recovery-oriented service delivery.
Ability to observe, document, and report consumer progress and functioning.
Ability to understand assessments, evaluations, observations, and service plans.
Ability to empower consumers to explore resources, opportunities, relationships, and support systems and to build independence, self-confidence, and self-esteem.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with consumers, families, caregivers, and community partners.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
Ability to work independently under general supervision, establish priorities, and manage assigned responsibilities.
Strong interpersonal, engagement, and active listening skills.
Maintain applicable certifications, licenses, continuing education, competency validations, and required annual or recurrent training throughout employment.

Responsibilities

Provide peer support and recovery-oriented services that promote recovery, wellness, self-determination, and personal responsibility.
Share lived experience appropriately to instill hope and encourage recovery.
Facilitate structured peer support activities that foster socialization, self-advocacy, and community integration.
Help consumers build natural support systems, independent living skills, confidence, and self-esteem.
Support consumers in identifying strengths, setting goals, and achieving recovery and wellness objectives.
Provide information about community resources, support services, and recovery opportunities.
Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning and team meetings and collaborate with treatment providers.
Meet established direct service productivity standards, billed-hour targets, attendance requirements, caseload responsibilities, staffing ratios, and program service expectations.
Record services accurately and promptly in accordance with treatment goals, authorization requirements, agency standards, applicable laws, and regulations.
Complete CareLogic service notes within 24 hours of service delivery and maintain documentation quality and satisfactory audit scores.
Correct documentation deficiencies, resolve failed activities and claims, and keep treatment plans and service orders current and compliant within required timelines.
Maintain compliance with mandatory training, including Relias, Human Resources training, and other required training.
Collaborate with behavioral health, substance use disorder, and community providers to support consumer engagement and continuity of care.
Assist consumers with transitions among inpatient, outpatient, and community-based services.
Promote awareness of recovery-oriented services and community resources and maintain positive relationships with consumers, families, caregivers, and community partners.
Connect consumers with income supports, entitlement benefits, healthcare coverage, housing, healthcare, vocational, educational, and recovery resources.
Treat consumers, coworkers, supervisors, and community partners with dignity and respect and provide customer service focused on positive health and recovery outcomes.
Perform job responsibilities competently, ethically, and professionally; use organizational resources responsibly; and contribute to teamwork, creativity, innovation, and recovery-focused services.
Follow work schedules, report anticipated tardiness or absence, observe meal and break policies, use work time appropriately, request leave appropriately, maintain a professional appearance, and observe health, safety, and sanitation policies.
Keep required licensure and certification current, complete required training and orientation, and comply with agency rules, policies, standards of conduct, and employee ethics requirements.
Do not engage in non-business activities during work hours or report to work under the influence of alcohol or drugs; comply with mandatory pre-employment drug testing.