Certified Peer Specialist

GATEWAY CSB PEO LLC•Savannah, GA

1d•$16 - $17

About The Position

The Certified Peer Specialist uses lived experience in recovery to promote recovery, self-determination, empowerment, hope, and resilience for people 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 includes peer support and recovery services, maintaining assigned caseload and productivity expectations, accurate and timely documentation, compliance with treatment and service requirements, and community outreach. Services are provided across office, clinic, and community-based settings, with moderate travel between Gateway sites and community locations. The position has no supervisory responsibilities. Employees may be required to work non-traditional schedules or remain at or return to work during agency incidents or emergencies.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Current Georgia Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) certification.
Completion of at least 40 hours of Certified Peer Specialist training.
Lived experience with recovery and the ability to appropriately use personal recovery experience in peer support.
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, service plan implementation, crisis intervention procedures, peer support group facilitation, and recovery-oriented service delivery.
Ability to observe, document, and report consumer progress and functioning; understand assessments, evaluations, observations, and service plans.
Ability to empower consumers, support their independence, and help them identify resources, opportunities, relationships, and support systems.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with consumers, families, caregivers, and community partners.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries; 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 mandatory annual or recurrent training throughout employment.
Meet mandatory pre-employment drug testing requirements and maintain compliance with workplace policies and standards of conduct.

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.
Assist consumers in building natural support systems, independent living skills, self-confidence, and self-esteem.
Support consumers in identifying strengths, setting goals, and achieving recovery objectives.
Provide information about community resources, support services, and recovery opportunities; connect consumers to housing, healthcare, vocational, educational, income-support, entitlement, and recovery resources.
Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning and team meetings and collaborate with treatment providers as appropriate.
Meet established direct-service productivity standards, billed-hour and staff-hour expectations, attendance requirements, caseload responsibilities, staffing ratios, and program requirements.
Record services accurately and promptly in accordance with treatment goals, service requirements, agency standards, and applicable laws and policies.
Complete service notes in CareLogic within 24 hours of service delivery; maintain documentation quality standards and address deficiencies, failed activities, claims, treatment plans, and service orders 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 engagement and continuity of care.
Assist consumers with transitions between inpatient, outpatient, and community-based services; promote awareness of recovery-oriented services and community resources.
Build and maintain positive relationships with consumers, families, caregivers, and community partners.
Treat consumers, coworkers, supervisors, and community partners with dignity and respect; provide high-quality customer service and perform duties competently, ethically, and professionally.
Use organizational resources responsibly and contribute to teamwork, creativity, innovation, and recovery-focused services.
Report to work as scheduled, follow workplace policies and safety requirements, maintain professional appearance, and keep required certifications and training current.
May be required to remain at or return to work during agency incidents or emergencies and work non-traditional schedules as needed for agency operations.