Urgent Care Peer Support Specialist - Newport VT

Job Details: Salary Range: $21.25 - $25.97, About Northeast Kingdom Human Services (NKHS) Northeast Kingdom Human Services (NKHS) is a 501(c)(3) private, nonprofit Designated Agency serving Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties. Our mission is to empower individuals, families, and communities by promoting hope, healing, and support.

NKHS provides a wide range of community-based mental health, substance use, and developmental services to nearly 4,000 individuals annually. With more than 450 employees, we are committed to delivering high-quality, person-centered care across the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. About The New Front Porch Mental Health Urgent Care Center The New Front Porch Mental Health Urgent Care Center in Newport provides a community-based alternative to emergency departments for individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises.

Our program emphasizes voluntary engagement, dignity, and connection, offering immediate support in a welcoming, non-hospital setting.

Position Overview

The Urgent Care Peer Support Specialist is an essential member of a multidisciplinary crisis team, providing voluntary, non-clinical peer support to individuals experiencing mental health, substance use, or co-occurring crises. This role is grounded in direct lived experience and focuses on mutuality, empathy, advocacy, and respect for self-determination.

Peer Support Specialists work alongside clinicians and other professionals while maintaining a clearly defined non-clinical role. This position does not involve clinical screening, assessment, diagnosis, or disposition decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Provide non-clinical peer support through active listening, empathy, validation, and shared understanding grounded in lived experience Build respectful, trust-based relationships that support individuals in identifying their own needs, goals, and next steps Offer hope, perspective, and encouragement through intentional and appropriate self-disclosure Support individuals in understanding their rights and navigating urgent care and crisis services Advocate for individuals’ expressed preferences during interactions with systems and providers Assist individuals in identifying and accessing community-based resources and follow-up supports Support warm handoffs and continuity of care in collaboration with the broader care team Provide follow-up peer support, in person or remotely, as appropriate Document peer support services using agency-approved peer documentation tools Participate in team meetings, debriefs, training, and reflective supervision Required Qualifications Direct lived experience with one or more of the following: mental health crisis, trauma, substance use, suicidality, hospitalization, extreme emotional distress, or navigating the mental health system Ability to use lived experience intentionally and ethically to support others Strong interpersonal skills and ability to provide empathetic, nonjudgmental support Commitment to peer support values, including autonomy, choice, and mutual respect Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team while maintaining a non-clinical peer role High school diploma or equivalent Preferred Qualifications Prior experience in peer support, crisis support, harm reduction, or community-based support roles Training in Intentional Peer Support (IPS), trauma-responsive approaches, de-escalation, or related peer-based models Familiarity with crisis systems and community behavioral health resources Salary & Benefits Hourly Rate: $21.

25 – $25.97, based on experience 403(b) retirement plan with agency contribution and match Outstanding employee wellness program Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Comprehensive benefits package Equal Opportunity Employer NKHS is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce.

We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Qualifications: