CSO is looking for Peer Specialists for our Emergency Services program in Florence.

The Peer Specialist provides hope, mutual peer support, advocacy, purposeful sharing of lived experience, and education to individuals receiving services. Peer specialists also model and inform other CSO staff about recovery, taking on program-specific duties as applicable. Peer specialists take on varying duties which support clients but which minimize hierarchical or judgmental relationships. Peer duties typically include phone support, individual or group meetings to support individuals being served, care team participation and outreach to individuals served.  Applicants are expected to have or obtain peer specialist certification through Mass DMH after hire. 

Responsibilities

• Assist with Crisis support activities including telephone triage, "warmline" support to some Crisis callers and/or in-person peer support to individuals at the Crisis site or in the community. 
• Facilitates individuals' access to resources. Crisis clients include individuals with mental illness, substance use disorder (SUD) or co-occurring conditions. 
• Provide peer recovery support to persons served.  This includes willingness to share their own recovery story in intentional ways for the purpose of connection building, resource sharing, education, etc.
• Assist with access to treatment and/or supports for achieving sustained recovery. When needed, serve as liaison between person served and providers or the recovery community.
• Offer hope, role modeling of recovery, and vision of a full and meaningful life for persons served.
• Promote peer values as defined in Certified Peer Specialist Training or Recovery Coach Training including self-determination, mutuality and reciprocity, individual respect and dignity, easy to understand language, and non-judgmental attitude.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of community resources for sharing with individuals and supporting actions for recovery. 
• Assist with  the basic needs of individuals including being present when needed, advocating for a safe/private waiting environment, providing food/drink/a place to rest , and assisting with basic comfort needs.   

Qualifications 

Lived experience as someone served by the mental health/behavioral health service system and a willingness to share knowledge and experience of recovery. High school diploma and minimum of one year of sustained recovery required. Must have or be willing to complete the Massachusetts Certified Peer Specialist.  Must relate well to a range of individuals, and promote a philosophy of recovery. Will possess strong interpersonal skills, including patience and a nonjudgmental approach.  Will be able to document activities in a manner that meets agency requirements. Computer proficiency required including ability to work with email, electronic health record and word processing software. MA driver's license and reliable transportation required. 

Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply, (English/Spanish speaking.)

Benefits

We provide our employees with competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, including full coverage health and dental insurance and ample paid time off (vacation, personal, sick, and holidays). Additionally, we offer a 403B retirement savings plan, an employee referral bonus program, regular in-house training and professional development opportunities with free CEUs, and voluntary supplemental insurances at group rates, including short and long-term disability, cancer, accident and life. We also offer a premier employee assistance program (EAP) and personal cell phone plan discounts. Our work environment is flexible and supportive, with ample opportunities for collaboration within and across departments, programs and locations. 

Our Agency

Clinical & Support Options, Inc. is a behavioral health organization serving individuals and families across Western Massachusetts. From our early days as a child guidance clinic, we have expanded into a full service behavioral health agency, committed internally to excellence while we collaborate externally with community partners to participate in a comprehensive system of assistance and resources for the residents of our communities. We employ over 650 multi-disciplinary staff, helping thousands of families over the past 50 years. We have community based office locations throughout Western Massachusetts, including Springfield, Northampton, Greenfield, Orange, Athol, Gardner and Pittsfield.

Our expertise, in a nutshell, is to support people in their progress towards self-sufficiency, no matter what challenges they face on that journey. EOE/AA