Peer Support Specialist
About The Position
The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) is an integral team member who uses training and lived experience with substance use recovery to provide patients with recovery support that promotes engagement, socialization, and resiliency, as well as improving access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. They are a member of Marshall CARES and Divide Wellness Center where they work in coordination with care teams and community service areas. They often serve as the first point of contact for patients, providing insight regarding their own experiences with SUD and recovery, creating trust and buy-in and supporting program legitimacy. The PSS utilize their own lived experience along with evidence-based, culturally competent, and trauma informed methods of intervention to introduce patients to treatment and recovery support programs, help patients navigate barriers to care, connect with community resources, and advocate for patients in alignment with the patient’s values and beliefs. The PSS will also support the clinic by assisting staff with day-to-day tasks. The PSS will be community-facing, supporting community outreach efforts and education to reduce stigma towards people who use drugs and improve knowledge of and access to SUD treatment services, particularly for underserved and marginalized communities.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED
- Minimum 6 months' experience in subject matter.
- Understanding of SUD as a medical condition and the role of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Proficiency in working with individuals recently released from incarceration, experiencing homelessness, and other historically marginalized populations
- Strong customer service experience
- Proficiency with productivity software is required, including word processing, spreadsheet, email and digital calendars
- Understanding of health equity, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care concepts
- Nonjudgmental, energetic, positive approach to assisting patients with SUD
- Able to interact with patients in a culturally relatable and competent manner
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work with minimal supervision, reprioritize workload, and multitask
- Ability to establish a positive rapport with patients, community partners, and non-patients
- Ability to engage in multidisciplinary county wide and regional collaboratives
- Ability to work in close collaboration with the care teams at Marshall CARES, Divide Wellness Center, and the hospital Substance Use Navigator team
- Respect for patient confidentiality and privacy
Nice To Haves
- Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification, strongly preferred
- Lived experience with substance use strongly recommended
- Strong knowledge of and connections to the local community preferred
- Knowledge of basic healthcare system structure and health insurance is preferred
- Knowledge of de-escalation strategies
Responsibilities
- Provide patients with recovery support that promotes engagement, socialization, and resiliency
- Improve access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment
- Work in coordination with care teams and community service areas
- Serve as the first point of contact for patients
- Introduce patients to treatment and recovery support programs
- Help patients navigate barriers to care
- Connect patients with community resources
- Advocate for patients in alignment with the patient’s values and beliefs
- Support the clinic by assisting staff with day-to-day tasks
- Support community outreach efforts and education to reduce stigma towards people who use drugs and improve knowledge of and access to SUD treatment services, particularly for underserved and marginalized communities.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Education Level
High school or GED
