Peer Support Specialist Position Available In Durham, North Carolina

Peer Support Specialist City of Durham

• 3.6 Durham, NC Job Details Full-time $49,026
• $76,066 a year 1 day ago Qualifications Mid-level 2 years Communication skills

Full Job Description JOB Hiring Range:

$49,026

• $59,613

Schedule:

40 hours per week, consisting of three in-person 12 hour shifts and four hours of administrative work time. Responders are assigned shift hours of either 9 am to 9 pm or noon to midnight. Responders will work one out of every three weekends. They will also have a six?to seven?day break every six weeks (built into their schedule). More information on scheduling will be given during the interview/hiring process.?

START DATE

July 28th, 2025POSITION

DESCRIPTION

In 2022, the Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) launched four 911 crisis response programs—collectively known as HEART (Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams)—to meet the needs of people in crisis with compassionate care and behavioral health expertise.

DCSD is currently hiring Certified Peer Support Specialists for our Community Response Teams. DCSD recognizes lived experience as an important form of expertise that helps better position our teams to provide compassionate care. Please review the program descriptions below;The Community Response Team sends multi-person teams— that may include a Clinician (Team Lead), Peer Support Specialist, and/or an EMT. These teams respond to 911 calls involving behavioral health and quality of life related concerns. CRT responds in-person, without law enforcement and our data has shown a safety rating for over 99 percent of calls. Peer Support Specialists regularly engage with neighbors by providing input on community resources, interventions, and support through the lens of their previous lived experience. DCSD’s approach to work is flexible, highly collaborative, and evidence driven. Our departmental culture prizes equity, care, and the health and safety of our staff. We envision adding team members that are not only colleagues, but partners in this challenging and purpose-driven work. To learn more about Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) applicants are encouraged to visit

DCSD:

HEART website

• Data Dashboard
• CNN Clip from CNN’s Sanjay Gupta
• -NPR WUNC segment
• Article by The Assembly about our department.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES

Respond to 911 calls involving mental health, behavioral health, substance use, and related non-violent crises using trauma-informed, person-centered strategies. Collaborate with Community Responder Team members to assess needs, develop response plans, and provide culturally competent support. Ensure warm handoffs and follow-up based on peer preference and clinical guidance. Maintain timely and accurate documentation in compliance with agency and regulatory standards. Foster strong communication and partnerships with staff, clients, and community agencies. Engage in supervision, team meetings, and professional development, integrating lived experience and peer voices into planning and evaluation. Support strategic initiatives related to crisis response and team culture. Uphold personal resilience and self-care practices to sustain wellness in a high-intensity first responder role.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

At least two years of experience in peer counseling or related work with diverse populations. Prior professional experience in crisis response or intervention is preferred.

Demonstrated commitment to the department’s mission and values.