Certified PEER Support Specialist - EMS/Community Paramedic Division

An employee in this class is responsible for responding to calls for assistance and patient emergencies as needed to provide coaching, counseling, referral, and support. Work involves drawing upon personal life experiences to help clients feel comfortable with self-disclosure regarding experiences with mental health, substance abuse and treatment, and recovery issues while maintaining appropriate boundaries. The role provides essential expertise working as a fully integrated team member with EMS staff and promotes individual self-determination and decision-making. Work includes promoting a culture in which each individual’s point of view and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected and integrated into treatment, rehabilitation, and community self-help activities. Work includes exposure to hazards and is subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions, extremes in temperatures, noise, vibrations, exposures to fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation, and oils. The worker may be required to wear a respirator at work; the employee is exposed to human blood and other bodily fluids and is subject to the OSHA requirements on bloodborne pathogens.  

Responds to class for assistance and patient emergencies as needed; provides proactive support intended to help improve the overall health and wellness of program participates; follows up with repeat patients to expand access to non-urgent health care through in-home patient visits and/or community based services.
Works with various community partners to prevent overdoses; meets with resources in the area to ensure coordinated approaches; performs rehabilitation consultations and referrals.
Visits patients in their homes to ensure proper medication use; following through on doctor appointments, etc; serves as “navigator” of community resources connecting patients to agencies and services they may not be aware of and helping reduce barriers that prevent access to care; coordinates with resources such as rehabilitation services, VA, home health, hospice, senior center, mental health agency, etc.
Attends classes and seminars to stay abreast of trends and changing regulations.
Provides peer counseling on-site or over the phone and helps patients navigate through their recovery.
Develops and implements overdose response and follow-up programs in coordination with partner agencies.
Accompanies clients to meetings and participates in meetings of community groups to advocate for consumer needs.
Models effective coping and self-help techniques for individuals or groups of consumers.
Additional Job Duties
Performs related duties as required.

Normal working hours are M-F 8:30am-5:00pm but, must be flexible with working times which may include weekends and evenings

  Attend the following training required by Stanly County EMS within 90 days of hire:

1. HIPPA Training – provided during orientation
2. Bloodborne pathogen training – provided during orientation
3. 8-hour Post Overdose Response Training – provided by Stanly County EMS Training Officer
4. 16-hour MAT Waiver Training – Suboxone Specific – Online Training
5. American Heart Association BLS CPR Training – provided by Stanly County EMS Training Officer
6. IT Security Awareness Training – In county issued email
7. North Carolina EMT-Basic certification – must successfully complete and become a certified EMT-Basic within 12 months of hire

Considerable knowledge of community resources helpful for increasing quality of life and health outcomes for substance abuse, mental health, disabled, chronic, impoverished and other special needs patients.
Knowledge of harm reduction principles and syringe exchange laws.
Knowledge of personal safety standards, safety techniques, and safety principles that guide home visits.
Knowledge of how to set appropriate boundaries.
Working knowledge of the application of information technology to the work.
Skill in peer coaching, counseling, mentoring, and modeling.
Skill in public speaking, collaborative conflict resolution, teamwork, and customer service excellence.
Skill in problem solving and decision making under emergency conditions.
Ability to plan work for efficient processing, set and follow effective work priorities and meet established deadlines.
Ability to accurately record services provided.
Ability to plan and participate in educational programming for the community.
Ability to work independently and coordinate a variety of details and program services. 
Ability to establish and maintain accurate records of program activities.
Ability to maintain the confidentiality of patients.

Graduation from high school and personal experience that can help guide others with substance abuse, mental health, rehabilitation treatment, or related issues; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

The PEER Support Specialist must have the following certifications/licensures/endorsements to be considered for this position.

Must have lived experience in recovery from a significant mental health and/or substance use disorder and be in recovery for a minimum of 2 years; Valid Class C North Carolina Driver’s License and able to drive; Hepatitis B vaccine or declination; Current Certified PEER Support Specialist Certification; Proof of relevant training hours for the last 12 months; CIT (minimum 8-hour course) Certification 

Stanly County

Emergency Medical Services

201 South Second Street

Albemarle, North Carolina, 28001

www.stanlycountync.gov/emergency-medical-services