Program Aid/Peer Support

Peer Support Specialist duties and responsibilities

The chief responsibility of a Peer Support Specialist is to help clients with a history of substance use or mental health conditions.

• Providing coaching and emotional support for clients, individually and during support group sessions
• Connecting clients with resources related to housing, employment and additional treatment
• Helping clients manage appointments with mental health professionals
• Reporting concerns about health and safety to other members of the care team
• Keeping accurate records of client encounters
• Writing recovery reviews to update client files
• Maintaining client confidentiality

Peer Support Specialists use their own experiences to assist people struggling with issues they’ve overcome. Often, their clients have recently been released from inpatient substance use rehab or mental health care facilities. They also may be participating in an extensive outpatient treatment program.

Peer Support Specialist skills and qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills to interact positively with clients and members of the treatment team
• Observational skills to interpret demeanor and spot signs of distress or crisis
• Active listening skills to engage in productive conversations and lead effective group sessions
• Organizational skills to maintain complete, accurate records for multiple clients
• Problem-solving skills to help clients overcome obstacles to their continued recovery
• Writing skills to produce clear, concise recovery reports
• Computer skills to utilize email, word processing and records-management software
• Basic understanding of best practices for substance uses and mental health counseling