Peer Support Specialist

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY:
To engage and encourage mental health and/or substance abuse peers in recovery, sense of 
community and belonging, supportive relationships and valued roles. To promote wellness, 
self-direction and recovery focus, enhancing the skill and ability of peers to meet their chosen 
goals. View and engage peers as equals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Supports Behavioral Health Consumers to self-determination and advocate for their 
needs and desires by providing an environment of recovery, wellness and hope.
2. Encourages peers to become self-directed, focus on their strengths, exercise use of 
natural supports, develop their own recovery goals, and strengthen valued roles within 
their community.
3. Encourages peers to construct their own recovery and wellness plans which also include 
proactive crisis plans.

ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
1. Partners with Behavioral Health consumers to identify and connect with resources.
2. Support Behavioral Health consumers who seek to identify goals, dreams and desires 
for their wellness, recovery and/or futures.
3. Explores with peers their experiences and support these individuals in getting 
appropriate resources for help.
4. Supports peers in crisis to explore options that may be beneficial to returning to 
emotional wellness.
5. May accompany or provide transportation to behavioral health consumers to 
appointments, meetings or community resource settings in an effort to support the 
consumers goals.
6. AppliesTrauma Informed Care principles and practices, with a strong commitment to 
fostering a positive healthy work culture.
7. Performs other duties as may be assigned.
WORK RELATIONSHIPS:
1. Reports to CSP/CCS Supervisor.
2. Works with consumers, CSP and CCS-Team Case Mangers, Mental Health 
Technicians.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, AND CERTIFICATION:
1. Certified Peer Specialist Training and Certification and familiarity with recovery values 
and principles.
2. Lived experience with psychiatric and substance use disorders, strong emotional 
distress and/or trauma. 
3. Experience in providing peer support.
4. Must have the ability to freely move in the community. (Such as through the possession 
of a valid driver’s license or other means.) Access to a vehicle is desired.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
1. Willingness to facilitate groups and engage in advocacy.
2. Knowledge of community resources. 
3. Ability to work independently but utilize supervisor for advice, direction and general 
consultation when necessary especially about ethics, boundaries and confidentiality. 
Ability to effectively plan and organize work. 
4. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff and 
agency resources. 
5. Possesses effective and strong written and verbal communication skills including 
listening skills.
6. Knowledge of computer applications helpful. 
7. Ability to access transportation on a regular basis. 
8. Assist with delivery of medications to peers if necessary.
9. Working knowledge and understanding of Trauma Informed Care preferred. 
10. Ability to effectively address and resolve conflict and to manage stress in a professional 
manner. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Ability to access persons served and their support services. Residential settings may 
include steps.
2. Ability to perform most work from a sedentary position, sit for extended periods of time, 
frequently stand and walk.
3. Ability to function in situations encountered in a normal office setting.
4. Ability to use standard office equipment including telephone, computer, printer, 
photocopier, and scanner.
5. Ability to travel to other County departments and locations.