Peer Support Specialist - Bowen Center : Job Details

The Peer Support Specialist in the Crisis Response and Stabilization (CRS) and Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) programs provide immediate and non-clinical support to individuals experiencing acute mental health or substance use crises. Utilizing their lived experience with mental health or substance use challenges, the Specialist contributes to the crisis intervention team, offering empathy, understanding, and practical assistance to promote stabilization and recovery. Duties/Responsibilities: Below are the primary duties and essential functions of an employee in this position. While not all tasks may be performed by every employee in this role, all employees are expected to perform related tasks as needed. These essential functions must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Welcome and engage with individuals in crisis, providing emotional support and understanding.
• Secure and document valuables, placing them in locked storage for safekeeping.
• Assemble and distribute basic needs items and meals to ensure individuals' well-being.
• Conduct room checks at the required frequency to ensure safety and address any immediate concerns.
• Share personal experiences of overcoming crises to instill hope and resilience.
• Assist in de-escalation techniques and crisis intervention strategies.
• Provide insights from a lived experience perspective to enhance the understanding of the crisis team.
• Assist with initial assessment to identify individual needs during a crisis.
• Advocate for patients and provide guidance and support that is self-driven for an individual to identify their own recovery pathway.
• Collaborate with the crisis team and individual to set short-term goals for crisis stabilization.
• Assist in developing and implementing crisis management plans, safety plans and coping strategies.
• Educate on decreasing isolation and promoting connection with others.
• Doc accurate and detailed patient progress notes regarding observations, interactions, and any notable incidents.
• Answer the crisis telephone, providing immediate support and appropriate interventions when necessary.
• Find, access, and offer community resources to address the diverse needs of individuals in crisis.
• Communicate with and foster positive working relationships with team members and external community organizations/resources.
• Attend scheduled team meetings to collaborate with colleagues, discuss individual cases, and contribute to overall program development.
• Attend weekly peer-to-peer supervisions to receive and provide support, share experiences, and engage in professional development.
• Safely transport individuals to necessary locations when needed.
• Perform billing tasks as needed, ensuring accurate documentation and compliance with relevant regulations.
• Handle laundry responsibilities as needed to maintain cleanliness and hygiene within the CRS facility.
• Keep the CRS room and common areas clean and organized, fostering a comfortable and therapeutic environment.
• Regularly check and restock room supplies to ensure the availability of necessary items.
• Maintain and restock the lobby coffee bar and snacks for individuals and visitors.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrates commitment to and practices in line with Bowen Health's core values of respect, integrity, mission and stewardship.
• Lived experience with mental help or substance use challenges.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced and high-stress environment.
• Ability to establish respectful and trusting peer-to-peer relationships.
• Strong crisis de-escalation and intervention skills.
• Ability to collaborate with patients and crisis teams to identify recovery goals.
• Effective communication skills.
• Knowledge of recovery and wellness planning.
• Knowledge of community resources for those in recovery.
• Ability to advocate for and empower patients to make informed decisions about their care.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of and the ability to comply with HIPAA privacy and security regulations.
• Understand ethical responsibility and practice appropriate boundaries in peer recovery support.
• Ability to provide empathetic, culturally competent, trauma-informed, and nonjudgmental support to individuals.
• Display a strong motivation to pursue total care, addressing not only immediate crises but also the holistic well-being of individuals.
• Possess basic computer skills for documentation, communication, and billing purposes.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: High School Diploma or GED.
• Experience: Minimum of one (1) year of providing peer support services required.
• Certificate or Professional License: Certified Peer Support Professional Certification (CPSP), Certified Addiction Peer Recovery Coach Certification (CAPRC) or Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC) required.
• Valid driver's license and active auto insurance coverage.
• Satisfactory results from criminal and driving record background checks
• Must be a minimum 21 years of age.

Promise of Equal Opportunity and Fostering a Fair and Respectful Workplace: Bowen Health is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse and respectful workplace. We comply with all applicable laws, including the ADA and OSHA regulations, and provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Safety is a priority for all employees. Bowen Health prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected statuses. Bowen Health is dedicated to creating opportunities for all employees to thrive and support our mission of compassionate care. Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.