Peer Recovery Partner

Summary

Are you looking for a job where YOU can make a DIFFERENCE in people’s lives?  Where YOUR ideas and lived experiences MATTER?  

If so, please consider joining the MaineHealth team at Maine Behavioral Healthcare!

Peer Recovery Partner have struggled with challenges maintaining mental health, recovery from substance use or both.  They have demonstrated resiliency and perseverance in their own wellness or recovery.  A Peer Support Specialist is willing to self-identify on that basis and is effective in communicating about their lived experience in a way that fosters a healthy relationship.  Peer Support Specialists do not provide clinical assessment or traditional service provider functions within the team. 

As a Peer Support Partner, you will:

• Provide one-on-one support to people in the community, at their homes, and/or at the location where the peer works. 
• Provide group facilitation in various topics related to the setting in which they work, including topics such as wellness, recovery, boundaries, self-esteem, healthy relationships, etc.
• Support people in connecting to wellness/recovery opportunities in the community and accessing other community support services when appropriate.
• Use peer support to build mutually supportive relationships that allow each person to grow and learn together.
• Manage conflict and disagreements according to agency and peer values.
• Have or obtain a certification in Intentional Peer Support.

To learn more about Peer Support, please visit our website at:

https://mainehealth.org/maine-behavioral-healthcare/services/counseling-therapy-services-adult-child/peer-support

To be considered for this role, please provide 1 – 3 sentence answers to the questions below, unless otherwise noted as a Y/N question.

DO NOT include diagnoses and/or criminal history in your answers!  We will not accept this information or pass it along to our hiring managers.

1. Have you struggled with challenges maintaining mental health, recovery from substance use or both? Yes / No  ONLY

1. Are you willing to self-identify on that basis and communicate about your lived experience in a way that fosters a healthy relationship?  Yes / No  ONLY

1. How will you encourage a peer to focus on hope and possibilities instead of fear in their recovery?

1. How will you facilitate a relationship with a peer, in which both parties have their needs and wants heard, respected, and discussed?

1. How will you explain the benefit of learning together instead of simply trying to fix the other person’s problems?

• Position Summary

  • Maine Behavioral Healthcare (MBH) defines “Peer” as a person who has personally experienced challenges maintaining mental health, which may include recovery from substance use. A Peer Recovery Partner is willing to self-identify on that basis and effectively shares about their personal lived experience in a way that fosters a healthy relationship, centered on each person exploring wellness, challenges, and new ways of thinking about life and challenges. It is required that a person has experienced substance use challenges as part of their life story to be employed as a Peer Recovery Partner

    Peer Recovery Partners provide one-on-one support and outreach to people in the community, at their homes, and/or at the location where the peer works, such as substance use treatment programs or emergency department. Peer Recovery Partners also provide group facilitation in various topics related to the setting in which they work, including topics such as substance use, wellness, boundaries, self-esteem, healthy relationships, etc. Peer Recovery Partners support people in connecting to wellness/recovery opportunities in the community and accessing other community support services when appropriate. Peer Recovery Partners do not provide clinical assessment or traditional service provider functions within the team. Peer Recovery Partners use peer support to build mutually supportive relationships that allow each person to grow and learn together. Peer Recovery Partners are required to have or obtain a certification in Intentional Peer Support. Peer Recovery Partners manage conflict and disagreements according to agency and peer support values.

• Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
  • Education: High school diploma or equivalent required; some college preferred
  • License/Certification: Completion of, or ability to complete, the relevant training to the position is required. This may be the State of Maine Certified Intentional Peer Recovery Partner (CIPSS) Certification. Provisional CIPSS Certification may be required within 9 months of hire date. Recovery Coach training may also be required within 9 months of hire date or at time of hire depending on position
  • Experience: Experience providing one-on-one and/or group facilitation peer support is preferred
  • May be receiving or has received services and supports related to a history of substance use, is in active recovery, and willing to self-identify on this basis with peers and in the community
  • Models strengths-based interactions and treats all individuals with respect. Demonstrates ability to utilize strengths-based approach to problem solving
  • Ability to articulate the unique nature of Peer Support within traditional service programs
  • Good communication skills and an ability to establish rapport with people receiving services and supports, family members, caregivers and other resource providers. Willingness to further develop communication skills (i.e. written, verbal, and computer.)
  • Demonstrated ability to keep focus on continual learning and growth
  • Ability to work a flexible work schedule, including evenings and weekends when needed
  • Computer proficiency needed - ability to do basic computer skills in Microsoft Office and Outlook email
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively
  • Driving license and reliable transportation is required