Peer Support Specialist
| Verified Pay check_circle | Provided by the employer$18 - $20 per hour |
|---|---|
| Hours | Full-time |
| Location | Lexington, Kentucky |
Compare Pay
Verified Pay check_circleProvided by the employer$19.00
$49.49
$82.58
About this job
Job Description
Organization Overview
Caritas Care Solutions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization delivering innovative behavioral wellness and crisis stabilization solutions to individuals throughout Kentucky. Through direct services and strategic community partnerships, we serve as a critical conduit to immediate safety net supports, housing stabilization, and essential care for individuals and families facing acute crisis—particularly those with high-acuity behavioral health needs.
The Certified Adult Mental Health Peer Support Specialist (PSS) provides recovery-oriented, person-centered services to adults experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges. Drawing upon their own lived experience, the Peer Support Specialist fosters hope, empowerment, and self-determination while assisting clients in navigating recovery, stabilizing during crisis, and connecting to essential supports.
This position plays a key role in Caritas Care Solutions’ crisis response and stabilization continuum, partnering closely with clinical and case management teams to ensure individuals receive holistic, compassionate, and effective care.
Core Responsibilities
- Lived Experience & Engagement
- Utilize personal lived experience of mental health and/or substance use recovery to build trust and rapport with clients.
- Model recovery, resilience, and wellness strategies in a professional and ethical manner.
- Promote hope and self-advocacy through peer connection.
- Goal Setting & Recovery Planning
- Support individuals in developing individualized, strength-based recovery goals.
- Assist with actionable planning around housing stability, employment, daily living skills, and wellness.
- Encourage participant ownership of their recovery journey.
- Skill Building & Coaching
- Teach and reinforce coping skills, problem-solving techniques, and symptom self-management.
- Support development of independent living skills and community integration.
- Provide guidance in navigating systems of care.
- Resource Navigation & Linkage
- Connect clients to community resources including housing, employment, benefits, healthcare, and social supports.
- Assist with referrals and follow-up to ensure continuity of care.
- Serve as a bridge between individuals and formal services.
- Group Facilitation
- Lead or co-facilitate peer support groups and psychoeducational sessions focused on recovery, wellness, and crisis prevention.
- Create a safe, inclusive, and recovery-focused group environment.
- Multidisciplinary Collaboration
- Collaborate with social workers, therapists, case managers, and medical providers to support integrated care.
- Participate in team meetings and contribute peer perspective to treatment planning.
- Documentation & Compliance
- Maintain timely and accurate documentation of client interactions in accordance with organizational, Medicaid, and state guidelines.
- Adhere to confidentiality standards (HIPAA) and ethical peer support practices.
Lived Experience
- Must have lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery, with the ability to use that experience meaningfully in a professional peer support role.
- Demonstrated stability in personal recovery.
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Bachelor Degree Preferred.
- Preferred at Hire:
- Kentucky Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) or equivalent (Adult Peer Support).
- Required Within 6 Months of Hire:
- Obtain designation as a Registered Peer Support Specialist (RPSS) in Kentucky through the Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors (KBADC) or applicable state authority.
- Complete state-approved peer support training and supervision requirements.
- Ongoing Requirement:
- Maintain active certification/registration in good standing, including continuing education as required by Kentucky regulations.
- Strong interpersonal and active listening skills.
- Ability to engage individuals in crisis with empathy and non-judgmental support.
- Basic computer skills for documentation (EHR systems preferred).
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Cultural humility and commitment to serving diverse and underserved populations.
- Experience working in behavioral health, crisis response, homelessness services, or community-based care.
- Knowledge of Kentucky behavioral health and social service systems.
- Experience facilitating peer groups or recovery programming.
- Community-based and field work required, including crisis and outreach settings.
- Ability to respond effectively in high-acuity and fast-paced situations.
- Flexible scheduling may be required to meet client needs.
- Full Time Employment
- Compensation commensurate with experience and certification level.
- Health, Vision and Dental benefits are available for full-time employees.
Caritas Care Solutions is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace and encourages individuals with lived experience to apply.
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