AMCI Peer Specialist

Bay Cove Human Services’ mission is to partner with people to overcome challenges and realize personal potential. Bay Cove pursues this mission by providing individualized and compassionate services to people facing the challenges associated with developmental disabilities, mental illness, substance use disorders, and homelessness at more than 175 program sites throughout Greater Boston and Southeastern Massachusetts.

Job Summary: The AMCI Peer Specialist will work as a member of the Boston Adult Mobile Crisis Intervention in collaboration with clinical staff. The Boston Adult Mobile Crisis Intervention works to provide behavioural health urgent care to adults located in Boston. The AMCI Peer Specialist will work with individual clients and their identified supports to facilitate connection to community institutions and the recovery learning community. Peer Specialist staff may help identify activities for clients and help them to build networks of supportive relationships. They will support other team staff in helping participants in all aspects of their recovery, including developing active and fulfilling roles in their communities. This position is non-exempt.

Essential Functions of the Position:

• Ability to share one’s own personal experiences and recovery story with the purpose and intent to build trust and collaboration with individuals.
• Demonstrate insight into their recovery from substance use/mental health challenges and utilise their own lived experience and use of successful recovery methods to support individuals on their recovery journey.
• Connect with individuals early in the intake/admission process to offer an introduction to program services and to promote recovery by providing support, engagement, and hope to individuals contemplating recovery from addiction/mental health challenges.
• Organise and lead groups focused on substance use, peer support and other topics including Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), in order to assist individuals in their recovery.
• Model behaviours and attitudes consistent with a recovery-oriented culture in which each individual's point of view, experiences, and preferences are recognised, understood, and respected, and in which a person’s self-determination and decision-making in treatment planning are maximised and supported.
• Provide ongoing as needed consultation and/or assistance with specific situations and provide formal training in recovery principles and strategies to other team members as needed.
• Establish and maintain relationships with Peer Support and advocacy networks to assist individuals in gaining access to these resources.
• Support people to build their own support networks outside of the service system and collaborate with natural supports, families and extended support networks as requested by the individual.
• Help individuals and team members to identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness/substance use.
• Develop strategies to reduce self-stigma, and eliminate stigma from within the team, including actively and assertively promoting a culture of respect and dignity for individuals.
• Write notes, enter data, and review progress in accordance with Bay Cove documentation standards.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.

Job Requirements:

• Certified Peer Specialist Certification required.
• A high school degree or high school equivalency diploma.
• Willingness and ability to serve as a mentor to others who are in the process of recovery by sharing their own recovery experience.
• Knowledge of harm reduction strategies, trauma informed approaches and motivational interviewing techniques preferred.
• Knowledge of local addictions/recovery resources and networks.
• Strong commitment to the right of each Person with mental health challenges to live in community residences, to work in market jobs, and to have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous support and services of their own choosing.
• Professional writing and oral communications skills.
• High degree of personal organisation, attention to detail, and time management skills.
• Proficiency in word processing and other computer functions using Windows, Word, and Google Email and Apps.

Bay Cove Human Services does not offer visa sponsorships at this time and will require candidates to be authorised to work in the United States.