Peer Specialist I

Are you interested in building a rewarding career with a national leader in the treatment of mental health and addictive disorders? UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital is looking for passionate Peer Specialists to join our team at resolve Crisis Services! resolve is a 24-hour, 365-day crisis service including a 24-hour hotline, mobile crisis team, walk in center and services for children’s and teens.

Peer Specialists are individuals with a personal lived experience of mental health or substance use who provide non-clinical support as a fully integrated treatment team member and educator for staff. Peer Specialists model recovery values and principles, helping others identify barriers to treatment and recovery, understand crisis situations, and utilize strengths and wellness tools for personal recovery growth and maintenance in both inpatient and outpatient programs.

Responsibilities:

• Provide Peer Support Services to consumers of resolve Crisis Services by being able to share and discuss one’s own recovery experience.
• Provide feedback to clients, families, and clinical staff.
• Assist clients in recovery management, goal setting, and identifying community resources.
• Advocate for clients in meetings and voice their recovery goals.
• Accompany clients to community activities and provide follow-up support.
• Facilitate recovery groups and offer individual support.
• Monitor progress and provide feedback.
• Utilize crisis support and help develop recovery plans.
• Maintain required paperwork and documentation promptly.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Certified Peer Specialist or Certified Recovery Specialist certification is preferred.
• Have lived experience and a self-disclosed primary mental health diagnosis, having experienced the recovery process, and willing to share experiences to the benefit of consumers served.
• Basic understanding of mental health and co-occurring disorder conditions or substance use that interfere with the activities of daily living and mental health wellness.
• Progressed in own recovery and have basic understanding of the recovery principles: Hope, Personal Responsibility, Empowerment Skills, Self-Advocacy, Educational Opportunities, and the importance of using personal and community Supports.
• Able to articulate to consumers, families, and to interested stakeholders that peer support is a non-clinical service to promote recovery wellness.
• Entry-level competency using a computer, including email use and Microsoft Word.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC) CCM training is required within 30 days of hire and annually thereafter
• Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal
• OAPSA