Certified Peer Specialist

GATEWAY CSB PEO LLC • Brunswick, GA

2d

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 involves computers, telephones, printers, photocopiers, and other office equipment. The role has no supervisory responsibilities. Gateway CSB promotes a drug/alcohol-free work environment through mandatory pre-employment drug testing. Employees may be required 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.
• 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 providing 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, peer support group facilitation, and recovery-oriented service delivery.
• Ability to observe, document, and report consumer progress and functioning and understand assessments, evaluations, observations, and service plans.
• Ability to assist consumers in building independence, self-confidence, and self-esteem and to empower them to explore 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 requirements throughout employment.
• Maintain current and active licensure and certification without suspension or revocation 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.
• Assist consumers in building natural support systems, developing independent living skills, and achieving recovery and wellness goals.
• Help consumers identify strengths, set goals, and achieve recovery objectives.
• Provide information about community resources, support services, and recovery opportunities.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning and team meetings and collaborate with treatment providers as appropriate.
• Meet direct service productivity standards, billed-hour and staff-hour expectations, attendance requirements, caseload responsibilities, service expectations, staffing ratios, and program requirements.
• Record services accurately and promptly, complete clinical documentation and service notes in CareLogic within 24 hours, and maintain documentation in compliance with treatment goals, laws, regulations, and agency requirements.
• Ensure services are authorized and documented appropriately; maintain documentation quality standards and satisfactory audit scores; correct deficiencies; keep treatment plans and service orders current; and resolve failed activities and claims within established timelines.
• Maintain compliance with mandatory training requirements, including Relias and Human Resources training.
• Collaborate with behavioral health, substance use disorder, and community providers to support consumer engagement and continuity of care.
• Assist consumers with transitions between inpatient, outpatient, and community-based services and connect them with community resources and support systems.
• Promote recovery-oriented services and build 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 consumer progress and functioning, maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries, and assist consumers in accessing income supports, benefits, healthcare coverage, housing, vocational, and educational resources.
• Follow work schedules, agency policies and safety requirements, professional appearance standards, and Gateway’s Standards of Conduct and Employee Ethics requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED