Peer Support Specialist

Remote

💊 Health

Peer Support Specialists use their own experiences to assist people struggling with issues they’ve overcome. Often, their clients have recently been released from inpatient substance use rehab or mental health care facilities. They also may be participating in an extensive outpatient treatment program.

What does a Peer Support Specialist do?

A Peer Support Specialist, also known as a Peer Specialist or a Peer Recovery Specialist, draws on their own experiences and other resources to assist people with a history of substance use and mental health conditions. The most common duties you may add to a Peer Support Specialist job description include conducting one-on-one coaching sessions, leading support groups and maintaining accurate records.

Responsibilities

A Peer Support Specialist should be able to fulfill various duties and responsibilities. The following are some duties and responsibilities a Peer Support Specialist should be able to execute:

Meeting with mental health professionals to establish treatment plans
Providing coaching and emotional support for clients, individually and during support group sessions
Connecting clients with resources related to housing, employment and additional treatment
Helping clients manage appointments with mental health professionals
Reporting concerns about health and safety to other members of the care team
Keeping accurate records of client encounters

Required Skills

A competitive Peer Support Specialist will have certain skills and qualifications, including:

Strong interpersonal skills to interact positively with clients and members of the treatment team
Observational skills to interpret demeanor and spot signs of distress or crisis
Active listening skills to engage in productive conversations and lead effective group sessions
Organizational skills to maintain complete, accurate records for multiple clients
Problem-solving skills to help clients overcome obstacles to their continued recovery
Computer skills to utilize email, word processing and records-management software

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