Certified Peer Specialist (Assertive Community Treatment Program) at Highland Rivers Health in Austell, Georgia

Job Description:

There is a place for you at Highland Rivers Behavioral Health!Highland Rivers provides treatment and recovery services to individuals impacted by mental illness; substance use disorders and intellectual developmental disabilities.Are you ready to make a Difference?

PROGRAM SUMMARY:Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a 24/7 community based, multi-disciplinary team, serving individuals with a severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) to help them reach their recovery goals in the least restrictive environment possible. ACT Staff work as a cohesive team to provide comprehensive treatment to those individuals through therapy, substance use disorder treatments, connection to resources, skill building, and lived experience, meeting the individual where they are in their recovery and assisting them in further meeting their recovery goals in an effort to live a meaningful life. Team members meet with individuals in their homes and the community where they may live and work and in rare cases will meet with people in the clinic environment.JOB SUMMARY:The Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) is an active member of the team and provides peer support services to individuals with serious mental illnesses. CPS is responsible for the implementation of peer support services, which are Medicaid reimbursable under Georgia's Rehab Option. They also serve on Assertive Community Treatment Teams (ACT) in a variety of other services designed to assist the peers they are partnered with in reaching the goals they wish to accomplish in their personal recovery journeys.Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Is active in Treatment Team to bring the perspective of the "lived experience" to the team; advises and educates staff as needed.


• Assist individuals in articulating personal goals for recovery and group sessions. Support individuals in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals


• Assist individuals in working with their case manager or treatment team in determining the steps he/she needs to take in order to achieve these goals and self-directed recovery.


• Assist individuals in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups, as well as means of locating and joining existing groups.


• Independently or with periodic assistance of higher graded treatment team members, utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups; discussions will be utilized where clients will share common problems in daily living and methods they have employed to manage and cope with these problems.


• Provides support during a crisis. Is present with the individual in crisis to assist in de-escalating the crisis and supporting the individual. In the event of a 1013/2013, supports the staff and individual through the process. If applicable, will reach out to the individual's support system. Completes the Non-Serious Incident Report following each incident and submits it to the Consumer Advocate within 24 hours.


• Is available to handle crisis telephone calls, information seeking (about our services) telephone calls and follow up engagement/outreach telephone calls.

• Health Insurance through the State Health Benefit Plan of GA


• Flexible Benefits such as dental, vision, life, critical illness, etc.


• Retirement Plan with employer matching


• 4 weeks of Paid Time Off with increase of accruals based on years of service


• 10 paid holidays


• 1 personal day


• Qualifying employer for Public Student Loan Forgiveness


• NHSC loan forgiveness in qualifying counties.


• Clinical supervision for candidates on a licensure track.