Certified Peer Support Specialist

JOB SUMMARY

The Peer Support staff provides support, advocacy, and assistance to clients in the treatment program. This position draws on lived experience and peer support principles to foster recovery, resiliency, and empowerment among clients. Working closely with the multidisciplinary treatment team, the Peer provides feedback and perspective to improve the effectiveness of behavioral health services while modeling positive recovery practices.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Client Support & Advocacy

• Communicate, represent, and promote the perspectives of clients and their families/caregivers within the behavioral health system
• Facilitate self-help groups for clients, family members, and caregivers
• Shadow and support individual and group therapy sessions, demonstrating knowledge of substance use, co-dependence, and group dynamics
• Support discharge planning activities, including employment, housing, and community reintegration
• Maintain respectful, professional interactions while supporting client recovery goals
• Transport clients to offsite appointments, community resources, and recovery-related activities while maintaining a safe, supportive, and professional environment

Program Engagement & Participation

• Attend and participate in special events, conferences, workshops, and trainings
• Actively participate in case conferences, utilization reviews, and staff meetings
• Engage in ongoing in-service and other required training activities

Team Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate with clinical staff, family members, probation officers, and social workers
• Maintain timely and professional communication with team members, family, and referral sources
• Report client issues and concerns to supervisors as required
• Support organizational policies, procedures, and goals established by leadership
• Assist with administrative tasks as assigned by the supervisor

Administrative & Operational Duties

• Ensure compliance with attendance requirements and training completion (e.g., Relias)
• Support and uphold safety standards, including risk management and facility procedures
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Must hold current CPR and First Aid certification or obtain certification within 30 days of hire (training provided by employer)
• Crisis intervention training (preferred)

COMPETENCIES

Adaptability

• Adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, accepts criticism and feedback, and changes approach or method to best fit the situation

Communication

• Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally and in written form. Exhibits good listening and comprehension, keeps others adequately informed, and selects and uses appropriate communication methods

Conflict Resolution

• Identifies and addresses conflicts in a timely manner, facilitates open communication, seeks mutually beneficial solutions, and maintains a positive working environment

Customer Service

• Displays courtesy and sensitivity, manages difficult or emotional customer situations, meets commitments, responds promptly to customer needs, and solicits customer feedback to improve services

Dependability

• Responds to requests for service and assistance, follows instructions, responds to management direction, takes responsibility for own actions, commits to doing the best job possible, keeps commitments, and meets attendance and punctuality guidelines

Job Knowledge

• Competent in required job skills and knowledge, exhibits ability to learn and apply new skills, keeps abreast of current developments, requires minimal supervision, displays understanding of how job relates to others, uses resources effectively

Judgment

• Uses good clinical judgment and professional boundaries when assessing, counseling, and consulting.

Problem Solving

• Identifies problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully, develops alternative solutions

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• Lived Experience Requirement: Minimum of 1 year of lived experience in behavioral health or substance use disorder (SUD) recovery, either through personal recovery or direct involvement in the recovery journey of a close family member. Candidates must demonstrate meaningful engagement with the recovery community and a willingness to share their recovery story when appropriate, in a way that supports and inspires others.
• Sobriety Requirement (for those in personal recovery): If the candidate is in personal recovery, a minimum of 2 years of continuous sobriety is required . The candidate must also demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required

Certifications

• Valid certification by a state approved Peer Support credentialing program

Other Requirements

• Valid California Driver's License (required), and insurability under company policy
• FBI/DOJ fingerprint clearance, negative TB test, and drug screening prior to hire
• Bilingual in Spanish (preferred)
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings or weekends as needed

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong knowledge of evidence-based practices in SUD and co-occurring disorders
• Familiarity with addiction treatment resources, relapse prevention, and recovery support systems
• Ability to work with diverse populations with sensitivity and professionalism
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and basic computer use
• Must be able to perform CPR and respond to medical emergencies as needed

PHYSICAL, SENSORY, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALIFICATIONS

The physical and environmental conditions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Physical Requirements

This position primarily operates in an office or clinical environment. The role requires sufficient physical ability and mobility to:

• Sit, stand, and walk for extended periods, including walking between buildings and up and down stairs
• Frequently lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 50 pounds
• Assist with client mobility and repositioning as needed
• Perform repetitive hand movements including keyboarding, grasping, and reaching to operate standard office and medical equipment (e.g., computer, mouse, telephone, blood pressure cuffs)
• Occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist
• Must be physically capable of performing CPR, including kneeling, applying chest compressions, and using emergency response equipment

Vision Requirements

• Ability to see at close range, at a distance, peripherally, and to adjust focus
• Depth perception required for tasks such as reading, computer use, and navigating the workspace

Communication Requirements

• Ability to clearly communicate verbally with coworkers, supervisors, clients, and medical professionals
• Ability to hear within normal audio range, with or without corrective devices

Work Environment

• Work is performed in a standard office or clinical setting with frequent client interaction and occasional interruptions
• May be exposed to bodily fluids, odors, cleaning agents, and other environmental elements on an occasional basis
• Must be able to respond to emergencies in various areas of the facility, including those accessible only by stairs

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

A.B.C. Recovery Center, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. It is our policy to abide by all federal, state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on a person's race (including hair texture and hairstyles), color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status, veteran status (including protected veterans), marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer related or HIV/AIDS related), genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other protected status.