Peer Support Employment Specialist

Description

Description

Zepf Center has been serving the Lucas County community for 50 years. We are the leading provider of behavioral health and substance use disorder services in Northwest Ohio. Services include adult and child psychiatric, substance abuse, case management, residential, Crisis Care, and therapy programs, as well as career development and wellness services. Zepf Center also offers primary care medical services to our patients to contribute to their continuum of care. Zepf Center is a trauma-informed agency and environment for both patients and staff.

The Certified Peer Supporter: Employment Specialist  serves as a role model and advocates for individuals experiencing mental health and/or co-occurring substance use disorders.  This position is focused on assisting clients attain employment. This position will utilizing personal lived experiences in recovery, the specialist provides mentorship, facilitates recovery-based interventions around employment services, and assists individuals in navigating available services. This role focuses on empowering individuals, promoting self-determination, and providing education on recovery resources, including community-based programs and support networks. This position operates in accordance with Rule 5122-29-15 and Rule 5122-29-15.1, which define peer support services and the certification requirements for adult, family, and youth peer supporters. Work hours vary based on the department the CPS works in.

This is a grant funded position with funding ending June 30,2027

Core Job Responsibilities: 

Candidates should meet both peer-support and employment-specialist expectations, including the following qualifications: 

• Sustained Recovery: Demonstrated personal stability and the ability to use lived experience appropriately to support client growth and employment success. 
• State Peer Certification: Possession of a verified state-level peer support credential or eligibility to obtain certification as required by the role. 
• Vocational Training: Training or experience in job development, employment readiness, supported employment, or related workforce social  services. 
• Core Soft Skills: Strong communication, organization, empathy, reliability, and collaboration with clients, employers, and service partners.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This position will provide a variety of the 14 elements Peer Services outlined below:

• Ongoing exploration of recovery, resiliency, and wellness needs:

1. Assist individuals to identify healthy steps they will take to assist in their recovery through employment and job explorations. Assist clients develop  safety plans, self-care plans and recovery support needed to attain and maintain employment
2. Facilitate group and individual interventions that help individuals plan for their recovery 
3. Provide evidenced based practices such as Motivational Interviewing and Individual Placement and Support to assist a client move forward in employment

• Supporting individuals in achieving employment goals through increased knowledge, skills and connection as identified by the individual or family: 

1. Educating individuals on available services and resources , including peer support programs, One Stop Services, workforce development programs and vocational rehabilitation services
2. Promote coordination and linkage among other providers (communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual resources, mutual self- help groups, professional services, etc.)
3. Provide individual recovery interventions that assist the individual function at the highest level possible in the home, community, workplace and job training
4. Provides supports individuals in achieving meaningful employment through peer mentorship, job development, readiness coaching, benefits navigation, and long-term retention support

• Encouraging Hope: 

1. Inspire and encourage hope through developing trust and rapport with individuals in seeking recovery through work that supports their recovery
2. Provide vision-driven hope and encouragement for opportunities at varying levels of involvement in community-based activities in employment or job training 
3. Provide a model for both people in recovery, family members and staff by demonstrating that recovery is possible through clinical treatment and recovery supports 
4. Provides Lived-Experience Mentorship via using relevant personal experience appropriately to build trust, encourage engagement, and support clients as they return to work and navigate the challenges that may be presented in the workplace. 

• Support the development of life skills: 

1. Provide skill development interventions that help the individual in exploring careers, searching for employment , attaining employment and retaining employment 
2. Provides Time-Unlimited Retention Support through ongoing coaching, problem-solving, and workplace support to help clients maintain employment stability. 
3. Facilitate peer-led support groups that provide support and empowerment

• Developing and working toward achievement of individualized recovery, resiliency, and wellness goals; 

1. Assists individuals in identifying personal recovery goals and developing plans to achieve them.
2. Provide recovery education to individuals for every phase of the recovery journey from engagement, recovery planning, recovery treatment, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance .
3. Assist individuals in recovery in developing their own plan for advancing their recovery and improve functioning in the home, community, workplace and/or school. Teach and coach skills to navigate systems effectively and efficiently utilize services
4. Provides customized readiness coaching through developing individualized service plans, support resume preparation, and conduct practice interviews tailored to each client’s goals and abilities. 
5. Provides Benefits Navigation via coordinate with work incentive planners to help clients understand how earned income may affect healthcare, housing, or other public benefits. 

• Modeling personal responsibility for resiliency, recovery and wellness; 

1. Coaching individuals in recovery on the importance building a positive support system that leads to healthy outcomes

• Teaching and coaching skills to effectively navigate systems to effectively and efficiently utilize services; 

1. Coaches’ clients how to use technology in the job search and career exploration phase.  
2. Provides mentoring and role model for individuals in recovery, offering guidance and support through personal lived experiences (when appropriate).
3. Provide recovery education to individuals for every phase of the recovery journey from engagement, recovery planning, recovery treatment, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance 

• Addressing skills or behaviors, through processes that assist an individual, caregiver, or family in eliminating barriers to achieving or maintaining recovery, resiliency, and wellness;

1. Will co-facilitate groups that focus on recovery and employment skill building activities utilizing evidenced based interventions

• Assisting with accessing and developing natural support systems;

1. Promote self-advocacy by assisting individuals in expressing their voice, needs, goals and objectives.
2. Provide ongoing exploration of recovery, resiliency and wellness needs
3. Actively coaching a client through using natural supports within family, workplace  and community

• Promoting coordination and linkage among providers; 

1. Aids individuals in completing required forms and navigating workforce development programs  and social service systems.
2. Maintain contact by phone and/or e-mail with recovering person after they leave the program to insure their ongoing success and to provide re-engagement support in partnership with others in the agency if needed. Long-term engagement, support, and encouragement.

• Coordinating or assisting in crisis interventions and stabilization; 

1. May coordinate or assist in crisis interventions and stabilization
2. Engages with other staff to facilitate problem-solving and advocate for individuals who may be  in crisis

• Conducting outreach      and community education; 

· Uses assertive outreach techniques and Systematic Job Development techniques to build and maintain relationships with local employers to identify flexible or unlisted opportunities aligned with client strengths, skills, and goals. 

· May assist in developing marketing material that highlights the value of peer services that is consistent with agency policy and procedures

• Attending and participating in team decision making or specific treatment team; or, 

1. Collaborates with treatment teams (with consent) to support intake, discharge planning, and ongoing recovery efforts.
2. Participates in the integrated team meetings

• Assisting individuals, caregivers, or families in the development of empowerment skills through advocacy and activities that mitigate discrimination and inspire hope. 

1. Acts as a liaison between individuals in recovery and service providers, ensuring effective communication and problem resolution.

Other vital duties:

• Ensures compliance with Ohio Law and Licensing requirements by maintaining proper documentation, reporting, and adherence to ethical standards in peer support services.
• Documents all activities and interactions as directed by the supervisor.

Specific/Individual Competencies:

• Strong communication and active listening skills.
• Must have computer skills needed to document service interventions
• Must have the ability to use electronic health records
• Ability to establish trust and build positive relationships with individuals in recovery.
• Understanding of mental health and substance use disorder recovery principles.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Demonstrates cultural competence and sensitivity to diverse populations.
• Maintenance of at least one CPS certification in Ohio

Organizational Competencies: 

• Demonstrate knowledge of the agency mission, vision, goals and philosophy as well as the policies and procedures.
• Strives for high client satisfaction by providing leadership and/or assistance to coworkers and clients through the integrated care process. 
• Demonstrate consistent professionalism.
• Demonstrate teamwork.
• Abide by the agencies and/or professional code of ethics. 
• Strives to improve own and agency operations.

Requirements

Position Qualifications:

• Must be an individual with lived experience in mental health and/or co-occurring substance use disorder recovery.
• Must meet state requirements for Certified Peer Recovery Supporter, including:
• Registration through OhioMHAS as a Certified Ohio Peer Recovery Supporter.
• Completion of 16-hour online OhioMHAS E-Based Academy Course.
• Completion of a minimum of 40 hours of peer service delivery training or three years of formal experience in peer service delivery.
• Successful passage of the OhioMHAS Certified Peer Recovery Supporter exam.
• High School Diploma with 2 years of Work Experience in social service, sales. Or business management a related field  or Associates Degree with one year experience or Bachelor Degree with no experience business 
• Specialty designation in mental health and/or substance use disorder based on personal recovery experience.
• Must adhere to HIPAA and confidentiality regulations.
• Must adhere to Ohio Law/Licensing board requirements for certification and service delivery standards

 Those eligible to drive company vehicles must have a valid driver's license and be eligible for coverage as defined by the agency commercial insurance carrier. Those who drive personal vehicles in the course of business must be able to provide proof of insurance.