Lead Crisis Behavioral Health Peer Advocate

Memorial Regional Health•Craig, CO

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This role provides trauma-informed, recovery-oriented peer support to patients in crisis, drawing on lived experience with behavioral health, substance use, or related recovery. The position involves engaging patients and families with empathy, active listening, and non-clinical emotional support during acute crisis presentations. It also includes assisting patients in identifying personal strengths, coping strategies, and community/recovery resources, and supporting warm hand-offs and continuity of care during transitions. The Lead Crisis Behavioral Health Peer Advocate serves as the lead point of contact for the peer support team, coordinating scheduling, coverage, and day-to-day workflow. This role also involves mentoring and onboarding new peer advocates, modeling adherence to scope-of-practice boundaries, facilitating regular team huddles or debriefs, and participating in ongoing program development, including refinement of peer support workflows and referral pathways. The position requires tracking and reporting basic program metrics to support program evaluation and assisting with training staff across departments on the role and boundaries of peer support services. Additionally, the role includes managing and maintaining the Safety Support Specialist Program, including scheduling.

Requirements

Colorado Certified Peer Specialist credential, or eligibility to obtain with a year from hire date.
Minimum 1-2 years of experience in a peer support role, with demonstrated leadership or mentorship experience preferred.
Strong understanding of trauma-informed care principles.
Ability to work effectively with a hospital/ED environment alongside clinical staff, EMS, and providers.
Obtain DT4EMS certification within a year from hire date.
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Must successfully pass a background check.
Must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen and breath alcohol test (if applicable).
Must complete an Employee Health meeting prior to starting employment.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated leadership or mentorship experience.

Responsibilities

Provide trauma-informed, recovery-oriented peer support to patients in crisis, drawing on lived experience with behavioral health, substance use, or related recovery.
Engage patients and families with empathy, active listening, and non-clinical emotional support during acute crisis presentations.
Assist patients in identifying personal strengths, coping strategies, and community/recovery resources.
Support warm hand-offs and continuity of care during transitions (e.g., discharge, transfer, follow-up scheduling).
Serve as the lead point of contact for the peer support team, coordinating scheduling, coverage, and day-to-day workflow.
Mentor and onboard new peer advocates, modeling adherence to scope-of-practice boundaries.
Facilitate regular team huddles or debriefs, particularly after high-acuity or difficult encounters.
Participate in ongoing program development, including refinement of peer support workflows and referral pathways.
Track and report basic program metrics (e.g., encounters, referral outcomes) to support program evaluation.
Assist with training staff across departments on the role and boundaries of peer support services.
Manage and maintain Safety Support Specialist Program, including scheduling.
Oversees departmental operations through effective communication and in accordance with the employee handbook, policies, procedures, and applicable laws.
Plans, coordinates, assigns, and monitors departmental performance while coaching, counseling, mentoring, training, and advising staff to achieve both departmental objectives and employee career development goals.
Interprets, develops, communicates, updates, and monitors departmental policies, procedures, and standards in compliance with applicable laws and organizational objectives.
Assists with budget preparation.
Develops and implements short- and long-term goals, objectives, and strategies for the department, projects, and programs to ensure efficient operations and timely completion of work.
Ensures adherence to quality standards and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Maintains and enhances professional knowledge and skills through seminars, training programs, and ongoing review of industry publications and resources.
Serves as a liaison and/or active member of committees, boards, and teams, collaborating, persuading, presenting reports, and negotiating with individuals and groups outside the department to coordinate efforts and maintain cooperative, productive relationships.
Demonstrates full commitment to the CHOICE values of MRH and consistently represents the organization in a positive, professional manner.
Establishes and maintains effective verbal and written communication, fostering positive working relationships with patients, staff, and vendors.
Adheres to the MRH attire and dress code in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
Exhibits initiative and self-motivation; maintains a consistent level of productivity and manages time and responsibilities effectively.
Completes all required annual education, training, in-services, and licensure/certification updates; actively participates in departmental and organizational meetings or reviews meeting minutes as required.
Maintains strict patient confidentiality at all times.
Reports to work punctually and completes assigned duties within established timeframes.
Actively contributes to departmental and organization-wide performance improvement and continuous quality initiatives.
Ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements, maintaining adherence to departmental, hospital, state, and federal standards and policies.
Follows all infection control, safety, and risk management procedures to maintain a safe environment for patients, the public, and staff.
Performs other duties as assigned.