What are the responsibilities and job description for the Peer Specialist position at LIGHTSHARE BEHAVIORAL WELLNESS & RECOVERY?
Program: CORT (Community Offender Rehabilitative Treatment)
This program in partnership with Sarasota County Corrections, will provide a 40 bed secure residential behavioral health treatment for male offenders who are currently incarcerated in the Sarasota County Corrections Facility.
The program will offer intensive supervision and evidenced-based rehabilitation to felony offenders up to 120 days who are incarcerated and awaiting sentencing as well as those who are directly sentenced to the program to serve out the remainder of their sentence.
The overall goal is to provide treatment in a secure setting with a focus on substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders, change the client’s criminal thinking patterns, stabilize their substance use and/or mental illness, and assist in the transition into the community through vocational training and peer support.
Position Summary: Provides peer coaching and mentoring to client’s and graduates of First Step Recovery Programs as part of their Discharge Continuing Care Plan. Promotes recovery through community services and assists in removing barriers to recovery.
Educational Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent (required). Certification in Recovery Coaching or Peer-to-Peer Counseling (preferred).
Special Skills: Knowledge of substance abuse treatment; working knowledge of community resources; advocating skills; strong people skills to provide excellent internal and external customer service
Position Duties:
1. Serve as a personal guide and mentor in management of personal and family recovery through follow-up contact and service connections within the recovery community.
2. Assists clients in removing personal and environmental obstacles to recovery, through assessing needs and community services.
3. Provides linkage to the Recovery Community through knowledge and contacts within the recovery community. Engages members and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed towards member’s individual.
4. Provides motivation through support in order to encourage participation in aftercare appointments.
5. Provides referrals to the clients for outside agencies as needed and provides accurate and timely documentation within the charts.
6. Maintains inter- and intradepartmental workflow by fostering a spirit of cooperation.
7. Maintains all required paperwork and billing documentation.
8. Other duties as assigned.
First Step of Sarasota, Inc. (FSOS) is an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our staff and clients. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees. FSOS also conducts pre-employment drug screening (to include medical marijuana) as a Drug Free Workplace pursuant to the Drug Free Workplace Program under Florida's Workers' Compensation Law.