Crisis Peer Support (55483)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Crisis Peer Support Specialist provides peer recovery support to individuals experiencing or recovering from mental health or substance use crises. Using lived experience and peer support principles, this position promotes hope, resilience, recovery, and connection to services. The Crisis Peer Support Specialist collaborates with crisis teams to support intervention, stabilization, follow-up, and continuity of care through person-centered, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented practices.

Crisis Services operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, although hours vary by program. Work schedules are based on program needs and may include evenings, weekends, holidays, or on-call responsibilities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide peer support to individuals experiencing or recovering from behavioral health crises, using lived experience appropriately to foster trust, hope, engagement, and recovery.
• Collaborate with crisis staff and other providers to support timely, coordinated, person-centered services within the assigned program.
• Assist individuals in identifying personal strengths, goals, coping strategies, wellness supports, and practical steps toward recovery and stability.
• Support engagement with services and ongoing supports through outreach, follow-up contacts, encouragement, and assistance addressing barriers to care, as assigned.
• Provide peer-based emotional support, advocacy, education, and resource navigation while respecting individual choice, autonomy, and self-determination.
• Support implementation and reinforcement of established safety, wellness, recovery, and crisis plans within training and program protocols; refer clinical assessment and treatment decisions to qualified personnel.
• Recognize and promptly communicate changes in presentation, safety concerns, or requests for additional assistance to appropriate clinical or supervisory personnel in accordance with established escalation procedures.
• Assist individuals with identifying and accessing behavioral health, substance use, medical, social, and community resources, including coordination of referrals and connections when appropriate.
• Collaborate with families, natural supports, internal programs, and community partners as appropriate and with required consent or other lawful authorization.
• Provide support through approved service modalities and settings, which may include telephone, text, virtual, clinic-based, residential, or community-based services as assigned.
• Facilitate or assist with peer support groups, recovery activities, educational opportunities, and community engagement when applicable to the assigned program.
• Assist with transportation coordination or transportation services when authorized by organizational policy and assigned duties.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and timely documentation of contacts, outreach attempts, services, referrals, and other required program information.
• Participate in supervision, team meetings, training, program development, quality assurance, and continuous improvement activities.
• Follow organizational policies, peer support ethical standards, confidentiality requirements, applicable laws, accreditation standards, and program or funding requirements.
• Work assigned schedules and assist with coverage or on-call responsibilities when applicable to the program and position.
• Perform other related duties as assigned within the scope of peer support certification, training, and role responsibilities.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Meet applicable Kentucky peer support eligibility and certification requirements for the assigned services, including required training, examination, and ongoing supervision. Certification must be obtained or maintained within timelines permitted by applicable law and organizational policy.
• Minimum of one year of sustained recovery from substance use and/or mental health conditions, with a commitment to continued recovery and the ability to use lived experience appropriately in supporting others.
• Knowledge of recovery-oriented, person-centered, trauma-informed peer support practices and community resources preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively, build rapport, maintain professional boundaries, and work collaboratively with individuals and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to use electronic records, communication systems, and other technology required by the assigned program
• Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and proof of automobile insurance.

JOB REQUIREMENTS / EXPECTATIONS:

• Maintain required peer support credentials, training, supervision, and ethical standards applicable to the assigned role.
• Practice within the scope of peer support services and seek clinical or supervisory assistance when needs exceed that scope.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable privacy, security, documentation, and organizational requirements.
• Demonstrate professionalism, dependability, cultural responsiveness, accountability, and respect for individual choice and recovery.

CORE VALUES:

All employees must be willing to live our company's core values.

• Integrity- Exhibiting the highest moral, ethical and legal standards. Doing the right thing – even when no one else is looking.
• Teamwork – Putting team success over personal success. Actively valuing the strengths and talents of others.
• Trust/Respect– Seeing and believing in the good intentions of others. Interacting with others in a way that makes them feel valued. Listening without judging. Offering understanding and acceptance.
• Care/Compassion – Demonstrating unconditional kindness, concern and empathy. Exhibiting genuine concern for others.
• Ownership/Accountability – Taking personal responsibility for one’s work, actions and feelings. Accepting responsibility for and learning from mistakes.