Certified Peer Specialist - CPS

PATH People Acting To Help•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

The Certified Peer Specialist is an effective member of PATH’s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) multidisciplinary team and advances PATH’s mission to help individuals achieve more independent and fulfilling lives. The role supports participants in regaining control over their lives and recovery processes by promoting self-determination, personal responsibility, and empowerment in self-directed recovery. In collaboration with the interdisciplinary recovery team, the specialist provides peer counseling and support, contributes lived-experience perspectives to the team, and helps develop peer support groups and leadership. The position requires Pennsylvania Certified Peer Specialist certification, a valid driver’s license, and access to a vehicle. The specialist must be available or scheduled for emergency on-call service, carry a mobile phone during scheduled work and on-call hours, and may be required to report to work during emergencies, including inclement weather.

Requirements

Pennsylvania Certified Peer Specialist certification.
A valid driver’s license and vehicle.
An associate degree; or a high school diploma or GED and at least one year of paid or volunteer work; or a combination of experience, education, or training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Availability for or scheduling on emergency on-call service.

Nice To Haves

Internship or other supervised practical experience in a clinical or rehabilitation setting with people with mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders.
Experience working in social services.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the interdisciplinary recovery team to provide participants with peer counseling and support in identifying self-determined goals.
Act as an informal educator to other team members to promote understanding and empathy for each participant’s unique and subjective experiences and perceptions.
Work with the team to foster a culture that supports self-determination and participant decision-making in recovery planning.
Help participants identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness, and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma.
Collaborate with the team to protect participants’ rights and improve participants’ knowledge of their rights and grievance or complaint processes.
Work with the interdisciplinary team to teach and support the development of peer support groups, including promoting peer group leadership.
Carry a mobile phone during regularly scheduled working hours and scheduled on-call service, and report to work during emergencies when required.