Full Job Description

Responsibilities:

• Provide non-clinical, person-centered support to engage individuals in treatment and promote wellness recovery plans(WRAP).

• Assist with general problem solving and development of skills to support individuals in maintaining stability and independence in the community through non-clinical peer to peer recovery and group activities.

• Facilitates and co-facilitates peer-to-peer evidence-based practices or best practices for individuals with mental illness, substance use disorder, or co-occurring disorders. Including but not limited to WRAP, Dual Recovery, 12-Step groups, etc. while empowering individuals to develop self-directed strategies for wellness recovery.

• Shares first-hand lived experiences with recovery to inspire hope and increase engagement in treatment and in the community.

• Support individuals in articulating personal goals for wellness, recovery resiliency, and self–advocacy.

• Identify and address signs and symptoms of co-occurring disorders within individuals and provide assistance based on individuals' wellness plan.

• Assists in the implementation and review of the Individual Service Plan.

• Provide peer support, serve as an advocate, and carry out wellness rehabilitation for co-occurring disorders.

• Provides training and reinforcement of skills required to perform activities of daily living such as cooking, meal planning, shopping, cleaning, laundry, and other activities required to maintain a household.

• Promotes recovery from substance use or mental health conditions by promoting employment, education, health, and community re-integration.

• Will assist in transporting individuals and family members/caregivers in Agency vehicle as needed and for the implementation of the individual service plan. Provides, when available, time-limited transportation focusing on increasing the individual's transportation independence through access to natural or formal resources.

• Attends treatment team and program development meetings.

• Participate in special events, conferences, workshops, and training within the mental health system and community.

• Develops effective working relationships with other agencies and organizations to advocate for individual empowerment. Collaborates with staff, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, stakeholders, and other community agencies and organizations

• Promote community understanding of mental illness, substance use, and/or co-occurring disorders in an effort to reduce stigma and facilitate individual community integration.

• Document all contacts and activities in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and maintain record documentation according to licensure and Medicaid standards.

• Maintains confidentiality and security of Protected Health Information (PHI) as outlined in the Confidentiality Agreement. Strictly adheres to HIPPA, 42CFR, part 2, ADA, and all agency policies and procedures.

• Complete other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Personal experience with mental illness and treatment and willingness to disclose.

• Ability and willingness to work with individuals with serious mental illness, substance use disorders and co-occurring problems, their families/caregivers, and other agencies.

• Commitment to being a role model for individuals with serious mental illness, substance abuse disorder or co-occurring problems.

• Knowledge of the nature of serious mental illness, symptoms, and intervention techniques.

• Basic understanding of recovery from substance use disorder and/or mental health conditions such as wellness and trauma.

• Basic understanding of medical records documentation procedures.

• Understanding of needs and difficulties faced by ethnically diverse individuals. Knowledge of cultural sensitivity and practice.

• Knowledge of self-help and individual oriented treatment models.

• Knowledge of stage-appropriate pathways that support recovery. · Understanding of individual human rights.

• Knowledge of ethics, confidentiality, boundaries, and self-care as practiced in non-clinical settings.

• Understanding and knowledge of risk factors for harm to self or others.

• Ability to identify basic at risk factors for self-harm or suicidal ideations and an ability to provide intervention until additional clinical support is available.

• Basic knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.

• Awareness of the importance of recovery and living with an addiction.

• Past experience working directly with people in a service-oriented field is beneficial.

• Ability to work well with others.

• Personal traits include: patience, tolerance, caring nature, maturity and understanding.

• The incumbents in these positions will have personal history of recovery from mental health, substance use or co-occurring disorders.

• Excellent time management and organizational skills, ability to plan/perform work independently and as part of a team

• Knowledge of and experience providing services for persons from diverse cultural backgrounds (including experience with participants who have a range in socioeconomic status, age, ability, religion, and racial/ethnic backgrounds).

• Expert knowledge of behavioral health recovery, peer support principles, practices, and a proven enthusiasm for peer support and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.

Experience and Professional Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED

• Driver's License and safe driving record

• Must be, or previously have been a recipient of substance use disorder, mental illness and/or co-occurring disorder services and should be well along in the recovery process- one year minimum.

• A certified Peer Support Recovery Specialist is required to have at least one year experience working with adults with substance use disorders.

• Certification as a Peer Recovery Specialist preferred. If not obtained before hire, it must be obtained within 18 months of employment. Once certification is obtained, maintain certification every two years to include 20 hours of peer related/approved training.

Training:

• Staff must be currently certified in: CPR, First Aid, Behavior Management and verification of Tuberculosis screening.

Background Investigation:

• Staff must successfully complete a criminal background records check conducted by the DBHDS criminal background investigation unit.

• Staff must also have a central registry check completed and must not have any history of positive findings.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.00 - $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Flexible schedule
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

COVID-19 considerations:
All employees and clients are required to wear a mask. Common surfaces are sanitized regularly, vaccination requirements if need be.

Experience:

• Addiction counseling: 1 year (Preferred)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Required)

Work Location: One location