MISSION:

Swanson Center's compassionate staff is dedicated to improving lives by providing comprehensive, expert mental health and addiction services.

SUMMARY:

The Peer Recovery Specialist is an active member of the Passages Program and/or Outpatient Therapy Program and provides peer support services to clients with addiction and/or serious mental illness. Under the supervision of the manager of the Passages Program and/or manager of Outpatient therapy services, the Peer Recovery Specialist will function as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serve as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for clients. The primary focus of a Peer Recovery Specialist is maintained support in the recovery process. The Peer Recovery Specialist performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers of all ages in gaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process.

QUALIFICATIONS/DEGREE:

Candidates must have lived experience receiving mental health or substance use treatment. Candidates must be in recovery for a minimum of one year, have a high school diploma or equivalent. Prefer for candidates to be Certified Peer Support Specialists. Prefer for candidates to have experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams. Candidates must have strengths in the following areas: organizational skills, oral and written communication skills, and interpersonal skills in working with diverse populations. Candidates must also support a commitment to public health approaches, community collaboration, and client empowerment.

COMPETENCIES:

1. Able to document services and activities

2. Must possess knowledge of the recovery process and have the ability to facilitate recovery using standardized mental health processes

3. Must possess knowledge and skill to teach and engage in basic problem solving strategies to support individual clients in self-directed recovery

4. Must possess the knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental illness and the ability to assist the client to address symptoms

5. Can analyze information and draw reasonable conclusions

6. Able to assist clients in articulating personal goals for recovery

7. Able to assist clients in setting up and sustaining self-help groups

8. Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies

SUPERVISED BY: Manager of Passages Program and/or Manager of Outpatient Therapy Services.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Responsibilities, depending upon level of competency, fall into the following areas:

1. Assist clients in articulating personal goals for recovery through the use of one to one and group sessions. Support clients in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals.

2. Assist clients in working with their case manager, therapist, or treatment team in determining the steps they need to take in order to achieve these goals.

3. Assist clients in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups, as well as means of locating and joining existing groups.

4. Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) or the Relapse Prevention Plan to assist clients in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.

5. Independently or with periodic assistance of treatment team members, utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups; discussions will be utilized where clients will share common problems in daily living and methods they have employed to manage and cope with these problems. As one who has availed themselves to mental health services, the peer specialist will share their own experiences and what skills, strengths, supports and resources they have used. As much as possible, the peer specialist will share their own recovery story and as the facilitator of these sessions, will demonstrate how they have directed their own recovery.

6. Use ongoing individual and group sessions to teach clients how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears by providing a forum which allows clients and peer specialist to share their experiences. By using identified literature, media, etc. clients will gain hope, learn to identify their strengths and combat negative self-talk.

7. Assist clients in building social skills in the community.

8. Serve as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for effective recovery based services that will aid the client in daily living.

9. Provide support to clients on mental health services, interventions, referrals, programming, and concerns.

10. Function as a member of the treatment team. As such, participate in staffing and other meetings related to the decision making process of clinical services to clients.

11. Participate in and honor the quality assurance policies, procedures, and standards of the Center.

12. Maintain current knowledge of his or her field and specialties. If not certified, seek certification as soon as qualified at the next available testing.

13. Follow all clinical and administrative policies and procedures.

14. Must contribute, as deemed appropriate, to in-service training efforts, and when required, to consultation and education events in areas of expertise. Participates, when requested, in the screening and interviewing of applicants for employment.

15. Perform other duties and responsibilities as requested.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this description are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret human service periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to document services. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as percentages, mean, mode and median, ability to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, sit, type on a computer keyboard, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.

The employee frequently lifts and/or moves up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Peer Specialists assigned to Reporting Units 321, 341, & 351 are required to perform all physical functions necessary to operate a motor vehicle, such as opening car doors, turning keys, operating brakes, and accelerators, and using hands to steer.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, an employee will be located indoors in an office setting with adequate lighting and a controlled climate.

Employees assigned to Reporting Units 321, 341 & 4351 may be required to drive daily for meetings or visits to client homes. Driving may expose employees to varied weather conditions. Employees will work in varied home environments based on assigned caseload.

OSHA CATEGORY:

This position performs tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, but employment may require responding to unplanned health emergencies.

COMMENTS:

This description is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions, and the essential requirements for the performance of this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a person so classified. Other functions may be assigned, and management retains the right to add or change the duties at any time.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• Addiction counseling: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Recovery Specialist Certification (Required)
• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person