Mental Health Peer Support Specialist
| Company | City of Amarillo |
|---|---|
| Location | Amarillo, TX, USA |
| Salary | $19 – $19 |
| Type | Full-Time |
| Degrees | |
| Experience Level | Entry Level/New Grad, Junior |
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Valid Texas driver’s license.
- Lived experience with mental health recovery and/or navigating behavioral health systems.
Responsibilities
- Uses personal experience with mental health recovery to build trust and rapport with clients, offering a unique perspective and a message of hope.
- Offers one-on-one peer-based mentoring focused on recovery, empowerment, self-advocacy, and wellness.
- Assists clients in developing and working toward personal goals related to mental health, stability, and self-sufficiency.
- Facilitates peer-led group sessions and workshops on topics such as coping skills, mental health management, community reintegration, and stigma reduction.
- Partners with the Mental Health Case Manager to support clients in navigating mental health systems, making appointments, and following through on care plans.
- Provides field-based engagement to clients in shelters, on the street, or in housing, meeting them where they are physically and emotionally.
- Helps identify clients who may not be engaged with services and supports them in accessing care through empathetic and nonjudgmental conversation.
- Encourages client participation in treatment, peer groups, and support services while respecting individual autonomy and readiness for change.
- Documents all client interactions and progress in the HMIS system and maintains accurate, timely case notes.
- Participates in daily team meetings and shares insight to help inform team-based care and collaborative decision-making.
- Supports crisis de-escalation efforts in coordination with other staff and helps reinforce healthy coping strategies.
- Assists with community outreach and education efforts to reduce stigma associated with mental illness and homelessness.
- Collaborates with local partners to ensure warm hand-offs and continuity of care.
- Provides transportation for clients in a City of Amarillo vehicle as needed to access services and attend appointments.
- Participates in individual and group supervision, peer support networks, and professional development opportunities.
- Promotes a culture of inclusion, respect, and dignity within the Coming Home team and among the individuals we serve.
- Performs other job- and department-related duties as assigned.
Preferred Qualifications
- Current Mental Health Peer Support Certification or willingness to obtain certification within 6 months of hire.
- Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness or involved in outreach, behavioral health, or recovery services.
- Familiarity with harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and motivational interviewing.