FOH Berkshire House Peer Staff

CSO is looking for a Peer Specialist for our FOH Berkshire House program in Pittsfield.

Our FOH Berkshire House is a 24 hour/day, 7 day/week fully supported transitional housing program. FOH Berkshire House provides beds for chronically homeless individuals residing in Berkshire County. This program is peer lead and staffed with Counselors and Case Managers.

This position provides hope, mutual peer support, advocacy, purposeful sharing of lived experience, and education to individuals receiving services.

As an FOH Berkshire House Peer Specialist:

You Will:

• Provide peer recovery support to persons served. This includes willingness to share his/her own recovery story in intentional ways for the purpose of connection building, resource sharing, education, etc.
• Assist with access to treatment and/or supports for achieving sustained recovery. When needed, serve as liaison between person served and the recovery community
• Offer hope, role modeling of recovery, and a vision of a full and meaningful life for all
• Promote peer values as defined in Certified Peer Specialist Training including self- determination, mutuality and reciprocity, individual respect and dignity, easy to understand language, and non-judgmental attitude
• Develop and maintain knowledge of community resources for sharing with individuals and supporting actions for recovery
• Develop and maintain resource manual for program site when directed by manager.
• Assist with the basic needs of individuals including being present with them, advocating for a safe/private waiting environment, providing food/drink/a place to rest, and assisting with basic comfort needs
• Work with supervisor to integrate peer activities and recovery perspective into site programming, team roles, and individual care decisions; obtain/maintain ServSafe, CPR and/or First Aid certification as needed
• Conduct outreach including occasional transportation to individuals when needed and when approved by supervisor
• Represent and advocate a recovery perspective in staff settings including team meetings. Promote and reinforce easy to understand recovery-oriented language

Your Background:

• Experience as consumer of mental health services and willingness to share this experience?
• Must have completed (or be willing to complete) the Massachusetts Peer Specialist training and certifications?
• At least one year of recovery
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation

Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

We also seek applicants who embody CSO's values by being:

• - maintaining resiliency and focusing on solutions
Respectful
• - collaborating and effectively communicating
Insightful
• - demonstrating self-awareness and effectively priority setting
Conscientious
• - taking accountability and applying feedback

What We Offer:

Competitive salaries, full health and dental coverage, free CEUs for in-house training, ample paid time off, a 403B retirement savings plan, employee referral bonuses, group rate supplemental insurances, a premier employee assistance program, personal cell phone plan discounts, and a flexible, supportive work environment fostering collaboration.

Our Agency:

Clinical & Support Options, Inc. is a dynamic behavioral health organization serving Western Massachusetts for over 50 years. With offices across Springfield, Northampton, Greenfield, and beyond, we're dedicated to providing comprehensive support to individuals and families. Join our team of over 650 multi-disciplinary staff and become part of a collaborative environment where excellence is fostered internally and partnerships are forged externally with community organizations. At CSO, you'll find a flexible and supportive work environment that encourages collaboration and growth. Join us and make a positive impact on thousands of lives in our communities!

CSO was voted a "Healthcare Industry Top Workplace" in 2023 and 2024. We are the fastest-growing Behavioral Health agency in Western Massachusetts. CSO has consistently received high marks on their internal employee satisfaction survey, noting that over 90% of CSO staff would recommend CSO as a great place to work. We encourage you to check us out!

CSO offers Training in: Trauma Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness Skills and more.

EOE/AA