Peer Specialist I (Casual) - Center For Autism And Developmental Disorders

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This position is located on the Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders (CADD) Inpatient Unit. This unit follows a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Peer Specialists I are individuals with lived experience who provide non-clinical support as a fully integrated treatment team member and educator for staff. Peer Specialists I are role models of recovery values and principles by helping to identify and remove barriers and triggers to treatment for individuals receiving services from inpatient or outpatient programs.

Responsibilities:

Feedback and Communication

Provide feedback to clients, families, and clinical staff.

Recovery Management

Assist clients in recovery management, including goal setting, identifying barriers, and strategies.
Help clients find and use community supports and resources.

Advocacy

Advocate for clients in meetings, voicing their viewpoints and goals.

Community Engagement

Accompany clients to community activities and provide follow-up services.
Facilitate recovery and wellness groups; offer individual support.

Progress Monitoring

Monitor progress and provide feedback.

Crisis Support

Use crisis support to develop and implement action plans.

Documentation

Maintain required paperwork and documentation promptly

High School Diploma or equivalent.
Certified Peer Specialist or Certified Recovery Specialist certification is preferred.
Have lived experience in one or more of the following areas: mental health, substance use disorder, the recovery process, and willing to share experiences to the benefit of clients/patients served.
Progressed in own recovery and have basic understanding of the recovery principles: Hope, Personal Responsibility, Empowerment Skills, Self-Advocacy, Educational Opportunities, and the importance of using personal and community Supports.
Able to articulate to clients/patients, families, and to interested stakeholders that peer support is a non-clinical service to promote recovery and wellness.
Basic understanding of mental health, wellness, and resiliency.
Familiar with Office 365 – e.g., Microsoft Word, Outlook.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
Act 33 with renewal
Act 34 with renewal
Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

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What does success look like in this role, and how is it measured?

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What are the biggest challenges facing the person in this role right now?

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How does the company support work-life balance and employee well-being??

Why ask this? Burnout is real, and some companies expect employees to sacrifice personal time for the job. By asking this, you’ll get a sense of how they value work-life balance, flexibility, and well-being—things that are crucial for job satisfaction and long-term success.

These questions help you make an informed decision while also showing your professionalism and strategic thinking!

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