Peer Specialist will utilize their lived experience with mental health challenges, substance use and/or other aspects of their lives to provide support, resources, and guidance to consumers. Shares their own path to recovery in order to foster a sense of trust and mutuality with the client with the goal of empowering the client to feel less isolated and provide opportunities for future goal attainment. Participate in activities related to community awareness of recovery and stigma reduction. Promote person-centered, recovery-focused, strength-based service delivery.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned to meet business needs.

• Helps individuals discover, access, and utilize ways to remain substance-free or reduce the harm associated with their substance use behaviors.
• Helps individuals find best practice resources for harm reduction, detoxification, treatment, family/community/peer support and education, and local or online support groups
• Promotes client engagement
• Provides support for life in recovery, including linking to resources for housing, employment/educational services, medical care, mental health treatment, childcare, transportation, and local or online support groups
• Promotes recovery by acting as a guide/mentor for overcoming personal and environmental obstacles that may jeopardize recovery
• Helps individuals create a change plan for their recovery
• Promotes access to include training for the use and distribution of Naloxone for individuals served
• Collects and submits service data to required organizations
• Complies with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Maintains confidentiality of all consumer information and complies with HIPAA and 42CFR part 2 regulations
• Demonstrates knowledge of and supports Westbrook Health Services' mission, vision, values, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and code of ethical behavior.

Qualification Requirements:

• Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately with a variety of individuals
• Must work well in a team environment.
• Ability to work well with staff, consumers and others in a professional, cooperative, ethical, respectful and effective manner.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of people
• Must have been in recovery for a minimum of two (2) years and have involvement with a personal support and/or recovery system
• Must have resided in stable, recovery oriented housing for the last six (6) months
• Must have no legal involvement within the last six (6) months.
• Must have no intensive behavioral health treatment involvement within the six (6) months prior to employment consideration; to include intensive outpatient services, crisis stabilization/detoxification services, residential treatment services and psychiatric hospitalization.

Education and/or Experience:High School Diploma/GED. Lived experience with substance use issues/addiction and/or with the criminal justice system and a knowledge base regarding addiction. Must complete a BBHHF approved Peer Recovery Coach training curriculum. and pass certification within first 6 months. Must pass Criminal Investigation Background and DHHR background checks as well as post offer drug screen. Must have valid driver’s license and current auto insurance.

Physical Requirements: 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. Mobility and ability to sit for long periods of time use a standard computer keyboard, bend, reach and lifts up to 10 pounds are required in this position.

The professionals at Westbrook Health Services believe in promoting the well-being of individuals and families struggling with a wide range of challenges. Our staff meets the needs of over 7,000 people annually. Experienced and compassionate, we empower people to achieve wellness with the guidance of our knowledgeable and experienced staff.

Westbrook Health Services provides a comprehensive, low-cost benefits package to all full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, life, short and long-term disability, critical illness, accident, and pet insurance coverage options. Paid time off, paid holidays, and paid training provide a healthy work-life balance.

Westbrook provides Equal Employment Opportunity to all employees and applicants. Employment decisions are made based upon an individual’s skills and qualifications without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, disability as defined in the law, veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy and related conditions, genetic information, gender identity or any status or characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. Westbrook also prohibits unlawful discrimination based upon the perception of those characteristics or any association with a person who is perceived to have any of those characteristics. Discrimination based on any of these factors is totally inconsistent with our philosophy of doing business and will not be tolerated at any time.

Qualified individuals with bona fide disabilities, as the term “disability” is defined in the law, are entitled to reasonable accommodations in the application process and in their employment. Although Westbrook is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations, the responsibility for identifying whether accommodation is needed and what constitutes a reasonable accommodation is shared jointly by the employee and Westbrook.