Living Room Peer Support Specialist (Wheelhouse)

332098 Cumberland River Behavioral Health•Harlan, KY

20h

About The Position

The Living Room Peer Support Specialist provides peer counseling and support by drawing on lived experience with mental health services and/or substance recovery services. The role encourages clients to take responsibility for and actively participate in their recovery, while working with the team to ensure clients’ perspectives, experiences, and preferences are recognized and respected. The specialist helps clients address stigma and discrimination, supports participation in consumer self-help and advocacy programs, and connects the team with consumer-run programs such as self-help groups and drop-in centers. The position also assists with intake and triage paperwork, identifies and engages CCBHC services as appropriate, and helps facilitate telehealth services by supporting on-site technical needs and communicating necessary information to off-site providers. The position is 40 hours per week; hours may be flexible or irregular according to service needs, and additional hours may be required or adjusted by a supervisor. The role may involve travel within the region and occasional work outdoors or away from the normal office location. Compensation is $14.50 per hour.

Requirements

Experience as a recipient of mental health services and/or substance recovery services, and willingness to use and share personal practical experience, knowledge, and firsthand insight to benefit the team and consumers.
Must be certified or registered and have completed approved peer support training for the discipline.
Must submit to and pass a criminal background check and drug screening test.
Willingness to work flexible hours and travel within the region served.
Good communication and writing potential, including the ability to communicate and relate well to parents, children, and professionals; listen well; negotiate; and remain objective.
Ability to work with families from diverse cultural, religious, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Flexibility and problem-solving skills, including the ability to handle situations as they arise.
Physically able to reach, push, pull, bend, stoop, stand, walk, and lift up to 20 pounds.
Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and the minimum vehicle insurance required by the State of Kentucky if required for job performance.
Must become certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation within one month of employment and maintain certification.
Successful performance evaluation rating of 3 or above; an unsuccessful performance improvement plan after two attempts results in termination.

Nice To Haves

First Aid training may be required.

Responsibilities

Provide peer counseling and support using lived experience.
Encourage clients to take responsibility for and actively participate in their recovery.
Collaborate with the team to recognize and respect each client’s point of view, experiences, and preferences.
Help clients identify, understand, and address stigma and discrimination associated with mental health and substance use disorders, and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma.
Increase awareness of and support client participation in consumer self-help programs and consumer advocacy organizations that promote recovery.
Serve as the liaison between the team and consumer-run programs, including self-help groups and drop-in centers.
Assist with intake and triage by completing initial paperwork required to begin treatment.
Identify and engage CCBHC services as appropriate.
Facilitate telehealth services by assisting with on-site technical needs and providing necessary information to off-site providers.
Travel within the region served as needed.
Participate in required annual training on infection control, environmental safety, hazardous waste, and bloodborne pathogens.
Attend required training on handling threats, violence, and potentially dangerous situations, and on medication and self-administration policies.
Obtain CPR certification within one month of employment and maintain certification.
Meet the required job performance standard, with a performance improvement plan initiated for ratings below 3.