Peer Support Specialist

We are seeking Peer Support Specialists for our Adult Community Clinical Services Program (ACCS)! As a Peer Specialist for North Suffolk, you’ll build supportive relationships that promote empowerment and self-learning. The Peer Specialist position is designated for a person who has lived experience and wants to help guide others through the recovery process.

Salaries start at $47,500 for non-certified applicants and $51,300 for Certified Peers.

What you’ll do

• Support persons served through Life and Care transitions, including visiting a hospital or other restrictive setting in order to provide connection and transition planning.
• Help clients establish goals to aid in their recovery
• Educate non-peer staff about self-directed care and how to best support a person through risk and crisis situations.
• Use peer-supported Evidence Based Practices including WRAP, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness exercises, Stages of Change, and others
• Commit to becoming an Agent of Change through presenting regular trainings and periodic in-service trainings for non-peer staff
• Provide support through self-disclosure of one’s own experiences and the tenets of Recovery to develop the skills for self-advocacy
• Facilitate and co-facilitate skill-building, mutually supportive groups, and emphasize the importance of quality of life activities and community membership.
• Actively participate in North Suffolk peer team membership through recovery events
• Seek Continuing Education in the Peer Support field to ensure that best practices are upheld and that emerging evidence is incorporated into the work.

What You’ll Need

• Education:
• Must possess or be willing/eligible to obtain one of the following Certifications within the first six months of employment: Certified Peer Specialist (CPS), Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC) or Family Partner
• Experience:
• Must identify as having Lived Experience of a Mental Health Diagnosis, a Substance Use Addiction, Extreme States, or Trauma that has caused significant life disruption
• Possess a desire to share those experiences in a purposeful and intentional way to influence the mental health system and provide recovery oriented support to those in ACCS services.
• Skills:
• Driver’s license preferred but not required.
• Must be CPR/first aid certified within five months of hire (training provided).
• Bilingual language skills a plus! Spanish and American Sign Language skills needed.

Competitive & Comprehensive Benefits

• Paid Time Off – Two weeks’ Vacation per year (three weeks after 1 year of service), 12 Sick Days per year, and 11 Paid Holidays per year
• Eligible employer for the PSLF program
• Health & Dental Insurance, with generous employer contribution
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• 403 (b) Retirement Plan with employer matching
• Voluntary Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Medical & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Access to Credit Union Banking
• Access to State Tuition Remission Program (Worksite Specific)
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• Discounted Movie Tickets
• Comprehensive Training Program
• Internal Advancement Opportunities