Description

Zepf Center has been serving the Lucas County community for nearly 50 years. We are the leading provider of behavioral health and substance use disorder services in Northwest Ohio. Services include adult and child psychiatric, substance abuse, case management, residential, Crisis Care, and therapy programs, as well as career development and wellness services. Zepf Center also offers primary care medical services to our patients to contribute to their continuum of care. Zepf Center is a trauma-informed agency and environment for both patients and staff.

We are currently seeking a Full Time Bridges to Recovery Peer Support Specialist to support others in recovery from substance use disorders. They will serve as a role model, advocate, and motivator to recovering individuals to help prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery. The Peer Recovery Supporter must demonstrate an ability to share personal recovery experiences and to develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships in an affirming, culturally competent, and trauma-informed manner. Peer Support Specialists work directly with persons served both individually and in group settings. Services provided may occur within a Zepf location, in the individual’s home, or in the community setting.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Peer Support and Modeling

• Offer empathetic and non-judgmental peer support to individuals receiving inpatient treatment for substance use disorders
• Share your personal journey of recovery to inspire hope and provide clients with positive role modeling.
• May facilitate or co-facilitate recovery and/or skill-building groups (ex: NEW-R, WHAM).
• Ability to form and maintain trusting relationships with persons served that are intended to be long-term.

2. Recovery Planning: 

• Collaborate with clients, clinicians, and other treatment team members to develop individualized recovery plans that address the client's goals, strengths, and areas for improvement.
• Links persons served to services, resources through referrals and outreach.

3. Assertive Outreach & Engagement 

• Uses in-person contact, phone, text, and email to maintain ongoing open communication with persons served increases this contact during periods of crisis, significant change, or when transitioning from one level of care to another.
• Engages persons served in discussions and activities intended to enhance recovery and wellness across all domains of their lives (ex: home, community, workplace, school).
• Assists persons served in connecting with vital community supports, internal programs and mutually beneficial self-help groups.

4. Education and Resources: 

• Provide clients with information about available resources, support groups, and community-based services that can aid in their recovery journey.

5. Emotional Support: 

• Offer a listening ear, emotional support, and encouragement to clients as they navigate the challenges of early recovery.
• Provides motivation and education to persons served at each phase of the recovery journey from engagement, to planning treatment, stabilization, and sustained wellness.

6. Crisis Intervention: 

• Be prepared to assist clients in crisis situations, using your training and experience to help de-escalate and provide emotional support until professional help is available.
• Serves as a mandated reporter (required to report known or suspected abuse or neglect of a child, vulnerable adult, elderly individual, or animal)

7. Documentation: 

• Maintain accurate and confidential records of client interactions and progress, adhering to all relevant legal and ethical standards.

8. Team Collaboration: 

• Work collaboratively with the treatment team, attending regular staff meetings and sharing insights on clients' progress and needs.

9. Self-Advocacy: 

• Serve as an advocate for clients, helping them express their needs and concerns to ensure they receive the most appropriate care and services.
• Builds on individual successes to promote self-advocacy in persons served.

Position Competencies:

1. Role Model

• Personal/lived experience with substance use disorder.
• Serves as an inspiration and/or role model for persons served, their support system, and our workforce by demonstrating that recovery is possible.
• Desire to further the agency’s Peer movement by participating in ongoing professional development and Peer-specific wellness events.

2. Knowledge of Addiction and Recovery

• Understands stages of recovery (substance use disorders)
• Appreciates the role of problem-solving required in all stages of the recovery process.

3. Professional Ethics

• Maintains a commitment to professional boundaries, ethics, and confidentiality during all interactions.
• Commitment to developing a deep understanding of dual relationships and related complexities.

Organizational Competencies:

1. Ethical and Professional Conduct:

• Abide by the agency and professionals code of ethics, demonstrate consistent professionalism.
• Adherence to the organization's code of conduct and values.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the agency mission, vision, goals, and philosophy as well as the policies and procedures.

2. Trauma Informed Care 

• Commit to cultivating a non-violent and trauma-informed environment for all employees and clients, through our pursuit of Sanctuary; a trauma-informed model. Commit to a deeper exploration of Sanctuary Values.
• Incorporates sanctuary techniques into daily work activities. 

3. Provision of Support 

1. Emotional Support: Motivate, empower, encourage, and inspire persons served to seek or engage in recovery services. Assist persons served in developing a healthy self-esteem and a drive to achieve personal goals.

2. Informational Support: Encourage educational and personal growth, share information and resources that can increase recovery capital and strengthen recovery plans, model recovery behavior, support change that fosters health and wellness, and provide education about problematic thought patterns, self-harming behavior, problematic substance use, and isolation.

3. Instrumental Support: Assist in obtaining necessities (food, emergency shelter, clothing, health insurance, phone), assist in securing safe/stable long-term housing that supports recovery, and access to resources and other forms of support outside of formal services.

4. Affiliation or Companionship Support: Assist in building social and recreational interests/skills, link persons served to people and places who can help create a sense of community, purpose, and belonging.

Requirements

Required

• Lived experience with a substance use disorder and demonstrated commitment to personal recovery.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends based on the needs of the person served and agency needs. 
• Must work to obtain Certified Peer Support – SUD Specific within 6 months of hire.

Preferred

• Current active Certified Peer Support – SUD Specific license
• Training in Evidenced Based Practices
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle at dusk, in the dark, and during all weather conditions.

Those eligible to drive company vehicles must have a valid driver's license and be eligible for coverage as defined by the agency commercial insurance carrier. Those who drive personal vehicles in the course of business must be able to provide proof of insurance.

EOE/M/D/H/V