Core Competencies

Core Competencies

Core competencies are the capacity to easily perform a role or function. They are often described as clusters of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes a person needs to have to successfully perform a role or job. Training, mentoring, and supervision can help people develop core competencies.

Certified Peer Support Specialists and peer recovery support services have become increasingly central to people’s ability to live with or recover from mental and/or substance use disorders. Both mental health consumers and people in recovery from substance use disorders have recognized the need for core competencies, and both communities actively participated in developing these core competencies for peer support workers.

SAMHSA—in conjunction with diverse subject matter experts—conducted research to identify core competencies for Peer Support Specialists in behavioral health, and the following represents the final product of that process, which incorporated input from hundreds of people around the United States.

Potential Uses of Core Competencies

Core competencies have the potential to guide service delivery and promote best practices in peer support. They can be used to inform peer training programs, help develop certification standards, and inform job descriptions. Supervisors will be able to use these competencies to appraise Peer Support Specialists’ job performance and Peer Support Specialists will be able to assess their own work performance and set goals for continued development.

Core competencies are not intended to create a barrier for people wishing to enter the peer workforce. Rather they are intended to guide the development of initial and ongoing training that supports Peer Support Specialists’ entry into this important work and continued skill development.

Principles of Core Competencies

Core competencies for Prevail’s Certified Peer Support Specialists reflect certain foundational principles identified by members of the mental health consumer and substance use disorder recovery communities. These are: • Recovery-oriented: Certified Peer Support Specialists hold out hope to those they serve, partnering with them to envision and achieve a meaningful and purposeful life. Our Certified Peer Support Specialists help Users to identify and build on strengths and empower them to choose for themselves, recognizing that there are multiple pathways to recovery. • Person-centered: Peer recovery support services are always directed by the person participating in services. Peer recovery support is personalized to align with the specific hopes, goals, and preferences of the Users served.

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• Voluntary: Certified Peer Support Specialists are partners or consultants to Users they work with. They do not dictate the types of services provided or the elements of recovery plans that will guide their work with Users. • Relationship-focused: The relationship between the Certified Peer Support Specialist and the User is the foundation on which peer recovery support services and support are provided. The relationship between the Certified Peer Support Specialist and the

User is respectful, trusting, empathetic, collaborative, and mutual. • Trauma-informed: Peer recovery support utilizes a strength-based framework that emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety and creates opportunities for survivors to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.

Prevail Certified Peer Support Specialist Core Competencies

Domain 1: Values

1.1 Believes that recovery is an individual journey with many paths and is possible for all 1.2 Believes in and respects Users ’ rights to make informed decisions about their lives 1.3 Believes that personal growth and change are possible 1.4 Believes in the importance of empathy and listening to others 1.5 Believes in and respects all forms of diversity 1.6 Believes in the importance of self-awareness and self-care 1.7 Believes in lifelong learning and personal development 1.8 Believes that recovery is a foundation of well-being 1.9 Believes that recovery is a process 1.10 Believes in the healing power of healthy relationships 1.11 Believes and understands there are a range of views regarding mental health and substance use disorders and their treatment, services, supports, and recovery

Domain 2: In-Depth Knowledge of Recovery

2.1 Knowledge of SAMHSA’s definition of recovery: "A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential." 2.2 Knowledge of mental health and substance use disorders and their impact on recovery 2.3 Knowledge of the impact of internalized stigma and shame 2.4 Knowledge of stages of change and recovery 2.5 Knowledge that recovery and wellness involves the integration of the whole person including spirituality; physical, vocational, and emotional health; sexuality; gender identity; and community 2.6 Knowledge of trauma and its impact on the recovery process 2.7 Knowledge of person-centered care principles 2.8 Knowledge of strengths-based planning for recovery 2.9 Knowledge of the impact of discrimination, marginalization, and oppression

Domain 3: Roles and Responsibilities of a Certified Peer Support Specialist

3.1 Knowledge of appropriate use of self-disclosure 3.2 Knowledge of ethics and boundaries

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3.3 Knowledge of the scope of practice of a Certified Peer Support Specialist 3.4 Knowledge of confidentiality standards 3.5 Knowledge of ways to encourage safe, trauma-sensitive environments, relationships, and interactions 3.7 Knowledge of cultural competency

Domain 4: Skills

4.1 Ability to bring an outlook on peer support that inspires hope and recovery in a User 4.2 Ability to be self-aware and embrace and support one’s own recovery 4.3 Ability to problem-solve 4.4 Ability to assist Users in exploring life choices, and the outcomes of those choices 4.5 Ability to identify and support a User in crisis and know when to facilitate referrals 4.6 Ability to listen and understand with accuracy the User’s perspective and experience 4.7 Effective communication skills 4.8 Ability to draw out a User’s perspective, experiences, goals, dreams, and challenges 4.9 Ability to recognize and affirm a person’s strengths 4.10 Ability to foster engagement in recovery 4.11 Ability to provide appropriate recovery resources 4.12 Ability to facilitate and support a User to find and utilize resources 4.13 Ability to work collaboratively with Prevail colleagues and supervisors 4.14 Ability to know when to ask for assistance and/or seek supervision 4.15 Ability to set, communicate, and respect personal boundaries of self and Users 4.16 Ability to utilize own recovery experience and skillfully share to benefit Users 4.17 Ability to balance own recovery while supporting a User’s

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p00972b.pdf Core Competencies for Peer Workers in Behavioral Health Services Committee of the State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse: https://scaoda.wisconsin.gov/diversity.htm https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/recovery Page | 13