St. Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke's are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

The Certified Peer Specialist has experience as a recipient of mental health or co-occurring substance use services and is willing to partner with participants to facilitate their recovery and community integration through utilization of the Specialist’s personal life experience and first-hand recovery knowledge. Services may be provided on both an individual and group basis as well as on or off-site. Services provided include: education, development of natural supports, coaching/mentoring to support wellness and meaningful daily living and community roles, advocacy, crisis support, and resource coordination and linkage.

• Provide recovery education spanning every phase of the recovery journey from pre-contemplation (engagement), preparation, and action to recovery maintenance.

• Provide hope and encouragement regarding opportunities for involvement in community-based activities, i.e. work, school, relationships, physical activity, hobbies, etc.).

• Provide a model for people in recovery, staff, and family members (as appropriate) by demonstrating that recovery is possible.

• Educate professional staff about the recovery process and the damaging role that stigma can play in undermining recovery.

• Provide education and linkage to professional behavioral health services as needed/desired.

• Coach peers in identification of personal interests and goals in relationship to their recovery and “getting the life they want” in the community.

• Coach peers to identify their strengths, abilities, and assets (both internal and external) that can be utilized to achieve their chosen goals and community roles.

• Provide direct skills teaching including but not limited to curriculum- driven skills teaching in the home and community and facilitation of self-help groups.

• Provide linkage to community-based skill acquisition opportunities, i.e. educational courses and self-help groups.

• Identify and promote utilization of natural community resources that support peers’ goals and interests including educational, vocational, social, cultural, and spiritual resources. This can involve coaching and accompanying peers to visit resources and practice utilization.

• Identify barriers (internal and external) to full participation in community resources and develop strategies, with other stakeholders, to overcome these barriers.

• In partnership with other agency members, develop reciprocal connections with community groups/agencies.

• Encourage and coach peers in having their voices fully heard and their needs, goals, and objectives established as the focal point of treatment and rehabilitation services.

• Support peers to identify areas of need for professional supports and services and to communicate those needs to provider staff.

• Maintain a weekly schedule to ensure all assigned participants are being seen based on medical necessity.

• Maintains productivity standards as established regarding % of time spent in direct participant contact.

• Other duties as assigned.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

Physical Demands: Heavy work exertional activity. Occasionally lift and/or carry up to 50 lbs., and sit, stand, and/or walk at least 6 hours in an 8-hour workday.

Non-exertional activity: Stooping (bending at the waist) and crouching (stooping and bending at the knees)- required frequently; handling (grasping)- required frequently; fine manipulation- required occasionally.

Important: The functional capacity to perform heavy work includes the functional capacity to perform medium, light, and sedentary work.

Good physical and mental health. Visual and auditory acuity required to provide comprehensive care.

EDUCATION:

• High School Diploma or GED

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Must be a Veteran.

• Must have competed Certified Peer Specialist training in Pennsylvania or meet criteria to complete approved two-week Certified Peer Specialist training within the first 2 months of hire and pass the Pennsylvania Certification Board CPS exam within 6 months of completing the two-week course.

Please complete your application using your full legal name and current home address. Be sure to include employment history for the past seven (7) years, including your present employer. Additionally, you are encouraged to upload a current resume, including all work history, education, and/or certifications and licenses, if applicable. It is highly recommended that you create a profile at the conclusion of submitting your first application. Thank you for your interest in St. Luke's!!

St. Luke's University Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer. (http://www.slhn.org/EOE)

Founded in 1872, St. Luke’s University Health Network (http://www.slhn.org/) (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 20,000 employees providing services at 15 campuses and 300+ outpatient sites. With annual net revenue of $3.5 billion, the Network’s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke’s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital.

SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare’s five-star ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction. It is both a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades Top Hospital and a Newsweek World’s Best Hospital. The Network’s flagship University Hospital has earned the 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation from Fortune/Merative 11 times total and eight years in a row, including in 2023 when it was identified as THE #4 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY. In 2021, St. Luke’s was identified as one of the 15 Top Health Systems nationally.

SLUHN has been named a Top Workplaces 2023 by the Morning Call. In addition, St. Luke’s has been named a Top Workplace nationally, in the Philadelphia region, and in New Jersey. St. Luke’s is the ONLY healthcare institution in Pennsylvania and the third-highest ranked healthcare entity in the nation to be deemed a Top Workplace in 2023. In 2023, St. Luke’s was named one of America’s Best Employers for Women by Forbes. St. Luke’s was the only employer in the Lehigh Valley to be named to the list and was one of only two healthcare employers in Pennsylvania to receive the designation. St. Luke’s University Health Network is the top-ranked Lehigh Valley-based employer in Forbes Magazine’s ranking of employers in Pennsylvania.

Learn More Here. (http://www.slhn.org/About)