Peer Recovery Specialist

SUMMARY: The Peer Recovery Specialist works as an integral part of the Team. The Peer Recovery Specialist will perform but not limited to the following duties: serve as a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator in order to help promote long-term recovery, outreach to individuals seeking recovery in the community, group facilitation and provide orientation to new members. This position may require a flexible schedule including 1st and 2nd shifts and at times Saturday. The agency has the right to change shifts based on the needs of the organization.     

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Position Specific Duties:

• Provide a model for both members in or seeking recovery and staff by demonstrating that recovery is possible.
• Share personal recovery experiences in order to foster authentic peer-to-peer relationships.
• Ongoing education and learning commitment on individual pathways of recovery, drug, and alcohol treatment system.
• Assist members to identify their personal interests, goals, strengths and challenges regarding recovery.
• Assist members developing their own, self-directed Wellness Plan for advancing their recovery and increasing their recovery capital; for “getting the life they want.”
• Promote self-advocacy by assisting members to have their voices fully heard; their needs, goals and objectives established as the focal point of their recovery while receiving community based services.
• Actively identify and support linkages to community resources (communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual resources, mutual self- help groups, professional services, etc.) that support the member’s goals and interests.
• Support connections to community based, mutual self-help groups. Provide hope and encouragement for opportunities at varying levels of involvement in community based activities (e.g., work, school, relationships, physical activity, self-directed hobbies, etc.).
• Outreach to individuals in or seeking recovery from substance use in the community.
• Outreach, orient, and develop relationships with community based service providers and agencies.
• Attend and participate at resource fairs and on coalition meetings, etc.
• Provide orientation to new members and educate on the participatory process.
• Learn and utilize recovery-based language (e.g. member not client, medicated supported recovery not drug replacement, etc.).
• Provide group facilitation and one on one peer support.
• Respond to crisis by assessing severity of the situation, de-escalating the member(s), and assist in resolving the crisis.
• Ability to climb three flights of stairs to visit consumers in the community.
• Respond to emergency situations by placing calls to Fire, Rescue, Police, and Medical, etc.

Administrative Tasks:

• Complete all required documentation in a timely manner.
• Perform program recordkeeping and filing, and organize vital documents.
• Provide telephone coverage for the assigned program and direct calls to other programs as needed.
• Participate in required supervisions, staff meetings and trainings.
• Participate and cooperate in any investigations conducted by internal and external agencies.
• Ability to use a computer including inputting information into data systems.

Compliance Requirements:

• Remain awake during your shift at all times.
• Attend all mandatory trainings and update all licenses and certifications.
• Adhere to program/project/department requirements and services.
• Follow all reporting guidelines by deadlines including the completion of a Confidential Incident Report.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: The Peer Recovery Specialist must perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge/skill and/or ability required.

• High school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED)
• Have a certificate of attendance for the completion of Recovery Coach Academy or complete Recovery Coach Academy within first year of employment.
• Minimum of two years of related work experience providing services to individuals affected by substance use disorder and/or mental illness.
• Requires two years of consistent recovery from substance use or two years of “lived” experience.
• Good working knowledge of computers, electronic health records and data collection.
• Requires valid driver’s license due to business-related travel.

WORK ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS: The work environment requirements are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

• The work noise level is that of an average busy home.
• Ensure safety through fire drills and emergency evacuations.
• Ensure a safe workplace to reduce potential risk of violence.
• Ensure a safe and clean program addressing and communicating any facility issues.
• Observe all health and safety requirements including Tuberculosis (TB) screening.
• Abide by the Hazard Communication policy and the disposal of hazardous waste.
• Abide by the Bloodbourne Pathogens/Universal Precautions policy and procedure.
• Adhere to all emergency evacuation procedures.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical requirements are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Requires good vision (the ability to see) either with or without various assistive devices.
• Requires the ability to hear either with or without various assistive devices.
• Requires the ability to communicate information effectively to others both verbally and in writing.
• Some manual dexterity is required in carrying out applicable aspects of position responsibilities.
• Some manipulative ability is required in carrying out applicable aspects of position responsibilities.
• Position requires overall light physical effort.
• Frequent climbing of stairs is required in carrying out applicable aspects of position responsibilities.
• Ability to quickly move throughout the facility in carrying out applicable aspects of position responsibilities
• Ability to quickly perform emergency-type actions as needed (Police, Fire, Medical, etc.)