Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialist - Brunswick Peer Center

Becoming part of the Sweetser family means you can make a difference in the lives of Maine children, adults, and families every day. As a nationally recognized and accredited leader, we offer competitive salaries, a wide range of benefits and the opportunity to join a passionate team of more than 700 employees.

As an Intentional Peer Support Specialist for the Brunswick Peer Support Center, this position will use their own lived experience as well as the values of Peer Support to build peer relationships with participants across Maine. The Intentional Peer Support Specialist will use strategic sharing, empathy, and trauma-informed practices to build collaborative relationships with those struggling with their mental health and navigating mental health systems. This will involve 1:1 peer support, events/activities, drop-in, and other peer support programming.

The role of Intentional Peer Support Specialist requires someone with significant experience of recovery from mental health challenges, substance use, and/or life-interrupting trauma.

Essential Functions:

• Fully understands and is able to actively implement the Intentional Peer Support Model for 1:1 peer relationships, groups, and other activities/events.
• Models relationship building, based on the IPS Model with participants, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Works alongside community organizations to better support Participants.
• Understands and actively implements the Eight Dimensions of Wellness as described by SAMHSA.
• Models the attributes of respect, trust, sensitivity, and confidentiality.
• Supports and models healthy relationships.
• Schedules will vary according to program needs - some nights and weekends needed.

General Expectations:

• Is committed to the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
• Works collaboratively as a member of a team with various groups of staff, depending on the issue addressed.
• Assures quality in work performed to facilitate the delivery of quality services.
• Reports accidents and injuries in a timely fashion, demonstrates safe housekeeping practices, notifies Manager of potential health and safety concerns immediately, participates in health and safety training as required, and understands and follow all Sweetser health and safety policies.
• Understands and complies with all Sweetser policies and procedures.
• Actively participates in ongoing supervision and team meetings.
• Provides timely and accurate paperwork, including timesheets and expense reports.
• Actively engages the assigned Manager whenever there are questions or concerns.
• Provides the assigned Manager with updated information regarding availability.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Education:

• High School diploma or equivalent.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Required:

• State of Maine Certified Intentional Peer Support Specialist (CIPSS) Certification or acquired full CIPSS Certification within one (1) year of hire.
• Meet the annual State of Maine requirements to maintain CIPSS Certification.
• Maintain a valid state driver’s license, reliable transportation, and adequate insurance.

Experience:

• Knowledge gained by lived experience with the process of recovery from trauma, serious mental illness, and/or co-occurring substance use disorder and is willing to self-identify with peers on this basis in the community.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrates knowledge of personal recovery.
• Ability to be emotionally present and competent, recognize when not, seek support, and communicate this to the assigned Manager.
• Ability to work with diverse populations and accept differences in perspective and values.
• Intermediate computer skills including the expectation of utilizing iCarol, the program used to collect relevant statistical data.