PSS
Who is a Peer Support Supervisor (PSS)?
A Peer Specialist Supervisor (PSS) is a person who supports and guides a peer specialists after they obtain their certification. A PSS will oversee peer specialists while they provide the necessary components of peer work, such as giving recovery-oriented peer services, skill-building, ethical problem solving, optimizing professional growth, and performing administrative duties.
This supervision may also extend to overseeing aspects specific to the organization where a peer specialist is working. This would include things like learning organization-specific policies or performing and understanding distinct administrative matters.
The role of a PSS is important and ongoing since supervision is consistently required for any peer specialist after they obtain certification. Supervision is likewise required in any organization that implements peer specialists.
Eligibility Requirements
Individuals interested in becoming certified as a Peer Specialist Supervisor must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- • Be at least 18 years of age
- • Be a QCC, LPHA, QMHP supervised by a QCC or LPHA, or a QPS supervised by a QCC or LPHA. Please read our additional article on
clinical eligibility requirements. - • Be able to pass a background check that follows the guidelines set for peer specialists by Texas Administrative Code. For an easy reference about background check requirements, look at our background check information
article. - • Be able and willing to follow the ethical guidelines expected of peer specialist supervisors set by the Texas Administrative Code.
PSS Careers
Peer supporters work in many different environments, with jobs that focus on direct service, program management, advocacy, and more. For example, peer supporters in Texas provide direct services in:
- • Criminal justice settings (jails, prisons, specialty courts, probation and parole, etc.)
- • Community outreach programs (where peer supporters go into the communities where people live)
- • Hospitals and Inpatient Treatment Centers (psychiatric hospitals, general medicine hospitals, substance use treatment centers, and Veterans Administration hospitals)
- • Outpatient clinics (Federally Qualified Health Clinics, mental health clinics, substance use treatment clinics)
- • Peer-run organizations (Consumer-Operated Service Providers, Recovery Community Organizations, and other groups that are run by peer supporters and/or people in recovery)
- • Residential settings (domestic violence shelters, residential settings for people in substance use recovery, shelters or residential settings for people experiencing homelessness, etc.)
- • Virtual settings (app-based services, teleconferencing, chat-based support, etc.)
- • And many more!
Peer specialists also hold many different titles in the agencies where they work, including:
- • Peer Specialist or Family Partner (Paid or Volunteer)
- • Peer Specialist or Family Partner Supervisor
- • Program Coordinator
- • Program Manager
- • Recovery Coach
- • Executive Director
- • Legislative Advocate/Policy Fellow
- • And more!
If you are interested in becoming a PSS, please look for the next training opportunities on the calendar and sign up.
