Certified Peer Specialist

Summary

A Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) is an individual with lived experience in the mental health system and/or in recovery who has been trained to effectively share their experiences to support others. The CPS provides emotional support, advocacy, and practical assistance to individuals presenting for mental health crisis evaluations in various settings, including Emergency Departments (ED), Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs), and during mobile crisis evaluations.

CPS plays a key role in creating a welcoming and supportive environment while collaborating with clinical teams to facilitate recovery-oriented care.

Child & Family Services carefully considers a wide range of factors when determining compensation including, but not limited to, prior experience, education, certification(s), license(s), skills and expertise, location, internal equity and other factors that are job related and consistent with business need. Our goal is to support, reward and compensate the entire individual. Depending on role eligibility, your offer may include a bonus or other incentives.

Therefore, final offer amounts may vary from the amount stated.

• Tuesday (10-5)
• Thursday (10-5)
• Friday (10-4)

• Establishes and maintains healthy boundaries regarding confidentiality and professional relationships while sharing lived experience as appropriate.
• Provides emotional support and reassurance to individuals undergoing crisis evaluations.
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of recovery principles and person-centered, trauma-informed care.
• Assists in facilitating communication between individuals in crisis, their families, and clinical staff.
• Offers comfort items, such as food, encouragement, and engaging activities, to individuals awaiting services.
• Works collaboratively with clinicians to support individuals in accessing appropriate services.
• Helps individuals understand the evaluation process and next steps in their care.
• Shares coping strategies and learned skills that promote recovery and stress management.
• Engages with individuals to identify their strengths, existing supports, and available community resources.
• Assists individuals receiving care in Adult Crisis Stabilization Units (ACSU) and other crisis settings as needed.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of local resources and community-based supports.

• As part of a 24-hour/Acute Care program, all staff are designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel are required to report to work as scheduled, regardless of holidays, emergency situations, or agency closings (e.g., inclement weather), to ensure uninterrupted program operations.
• May be required to work beyond a standard 40-hour workweek based on program needs.
• May need to remain on shift or work additional hours until relief staff are available.
• Overnight staff are required to remain awake for the entirety of their shift.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.