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Certified Peer Specialist
The Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) is an integral member of the Adult Clinical Teams, providing strength-based, peer-to-peer education, coaching, modeling, guidance and support to persons served. Peer Specialists provide specialized expertise based on sharing their own lived experience of mental health challenges with purpose and intent to inspire hope and motivation in a Person served who is struggling with similar concerns. Peer Specialists will guide persons served through their treatment process providing outreach, peer support and advocacy, all in accordance to the client’s individual behavioral healthcare plan. Working in coordination with the interdisciplinary team, the Peer Specialists will use their recovery experience as a positive model for the individual’s process.
In this vital role, the CPS will:
- Support Person served to communicate effectively and foster their communication with family, friends, allies/natural supports, providers, and others.
- Closely collaborate with the treatment team and other external supports to ensure that the person served’s vision and goals guide treatment decisions; focus on aspirational life goals (e.g. education, employment, healthy relationships, and independence); and support person served in building the skills they need
- Promote self-care through modeling healthy habits and sharing and identifying resources and strategies that can be helpful to Person served
- Participate in behavior management, limit setting and crisis intervention as needed
Schedule: Full-Time, 40 hours
- while this role is predominantly in person, there are opportunities for some hybrid work and a flexible (or reduced) day work week. Weekend work is not required, but highly monetarily incentivized
Pay Rate: $22.27/hour uncertified OR $23.27/hour CPS certification.
Why You'll Love Riverside
We make a true difference in people’s lives through rewarding work. Most of our jobs come with great benefits – including healthcare, numerous professional development opportunities, and generous time off - all in a respectful and inclusive environment, perhaps why Riverside was named a Boston Globe Top Workplace and a best-in-state employer by Forbes.
Benefits include:
- Comprehensive, high-quality health, dental, and vision insurance options
- Flexible Spending Accounts – both medical and dependent care
- Eleven paid holidays
- Separate accruals for vacation (increases with tenure), personal, and sick time
- Tax-deferred 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match
- Employee Assistance Plan / Travel Assistance Plan
- Employee bonus for referrals resulting in hiring
- Discounts to movie theaters, sporting, and entertainment events
- Employee YMCA discount: 10% off a YMCA monthly membership and 50% off the joiner’s fee
Learn more about our benefits and culture:
Hear what employees think about working for Riverside!
Required Skills
- Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office) required
- Valid driver’s license and regular access to a reliable vehicle required
Required Experience
- At least 3 years of lived experience with and recovering from mental health needs, substance use, and/or traumatic life concerns which caused challenge in one or more areas of life required.
- High School Degree/GED required; Bachelors preferred
- One year experience working with target population in CPS or closely similar role required
- Peer Specialist certification strongly preferred at hire, but must successfully complete coursework and exam no later than 1 year from hire
Riverside Community Care is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and inclusive organization committed to working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from culturally diverse applicants. We provide equal opportunity for all persons seeking employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic as established by law.
