Peer Support Specialist

Renown Health•Sparks, NV

About The Position

The Peer Support Specialist combines administrative and patient-registration responsibilities with direct peer support and care in behavioral health settings. Drawing on lived experience and a personal recovery journey, the specialist provides empathy, emotional support, encouragement, and practical guidance to individuals facing mental health and/or substance use challenges. The role works collaboratively with behavioral health professionals and community resources to promote recovery, autonomy, self-advocacy, and access to care. The position performs patient registration and reception functions, including collecting and verifying demographic, insurance, and financial information; confirming eligibility and benefits; obtaining payer authorizations or notifications; and accurately documenting information in the electronic health record. The specialist also explains and obtains required clinical and financial consents and supports timely, respectful registration and verification processes. This position provides patient care. It includes individual and group peer support, monitoring patients and conducting routine rounds, participating in care planning, supporting crisis prevention and de-escalation, connecting individuals with community resources, and documenting behavior, progress, interventions, and incidents. The specialist maintains a safe, clean, therapeutic environment and adheres to confidentiality, safety, infection control, and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA and Joint Commission standards. Candidates must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English sufficiently to perform job duties safely and effectively. A high school diploma or equivalent and prior behavioral health or healthcare experience are required. The specialist must be able to obtain and maintain Nevada PRSS certification within one year of hire, RENOWN AVADE certification within 90 days of hire (excluding department 515316), and AHA-standard BLS certification within 30 days of hire. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and computer-based learning and documentation systems is required.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English sufficiently to perform job duties safely and effectively.
Prior behavioral health or healthcare experience.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate calmly and effectively under stress.
Ability to prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced environment, anticipate customer needs, handle unexpected situations, and adjust work style as needed.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and Word, and ability to use computers for job-specific online learning, forms, policies, and benefits enrollment.
Ability to obtain and maintain State of Nevada Peer Recovery and Support Specialists (PRSS) certification within one year of hire.
Ability to obtain and maintain RENOWN-provided AVADE crisis prevention intervention certification within 90 days of hire, excluding department 515316.
Ability to obtain and maintain BLS certification to American Heart Association standards within 30 days of hire.
Ability to comply with HIPAA, Joint Commission, confidentiality, safety, infection control, and organizational requirements.

Nice To Haves

Above-average computer skills and experience with EPIC are strongly preferred.
Experience in a hospital, clinic, or social service agency working with adults who have mental health and/or addiction issues is preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform patient registration, reception, ordering entry, and related departmental tasks.
Collect and verify demographic, insurance, and financial information; confirm payer identification, sequence, eligibility, and benefits; and obtain required authorizations or notifications.
Explain and obtain signatures for clinical and financial consent forms, ensuring intake paperwork is complete and compliant with applicable policies.
Document collected information accurately and promptly in the electronic health record and other required systems.
Provide one-on-one and/or group peer support to individuals in recovery, using lived experience to encourage recovery, autonomy, self-advocacy, and self-determination.
Monitor patients in the mental health facility and conduct routine rounds.
Assist with crisis prevention, crisis intervention, and de-escalation to support the safety and well-being of clients and staff.
Participate in care planning with psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, case managers, and other team members.
Advocate for the rights and needs of individuals receiving mental health and/or substance use services and support their participation in treatment planning and decision-making.
Help individuals access community resources, social services, and support networks.
Share recovery insights with staff and community partners and provide mentorship and guidance to individuals interested in recovery or peer support work.
Maintain a clean, safe, and therapeutic environment and follow safety and infection-control protocols.
Monitor and document client behavior, progress, and responses to treatment interventions; document security-related incidents, observations, and interventions accurately and thoroughly.
Maintain confidentiality and professional and ethical standards in interactions with clients, families, providers, and colleagues.
Meet departmental documentation and data-accuracy standards, attend mandatory training, and maintain required certifications.
Participate in ongoing training, workshops, and professional development opportunities.