What are the responsibilities and job description for the Peer Support Specialist position at Safe Harbor Recovery Center?
Peer Support Specialist | Safe Harbor Recovery Center | Portsmouth, Virginia
About the Job:
The Peer Support Specialist enhances the full array of treatment services from initial referral to the patient’s discharge through professional treatment by assisting the patient in developing skills and enhancing strengths to avoid relapse and successfully navigate the full continuum of care and the road to long-term recovery.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.
About the Job:
The Peer Support Specialist enhances the full array of treatment services from initial referral to the patient’s discharge through professional treatment by assisting the patient in developing skills and enhancing strengths to avoid relapse and successfully navigate the full continuum of care and the road to long-term recovery.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Acts as a mentor to individuals to promote decision making, empowerment and engagement.
- Acts as a liaison between individuals, clinical team and community resources.
- Takes role of advocate.
- Engages individuals referred to treatment at the initial point of contact, clinic or other community provider, to expedite screening for the appropriate level of care.
- Provides peer support to clinically complex client, drawing on common experiences as a peer, validates individuals’ experiences and provides guidance and encouragement to promote individuals to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
- Provides peer support knowledge related to treatment including methadone, buprenorphine or extended release naltrexone injection maintenance treatment.
- Assists individuals in seeking and receiving services to meet individual social needs and provide support to facilitate patient success to maintain recovery.
- Assists in the process of acquiring housing, necessities and skills needed to maintain daily and monthly household responsibilities and independent livings
- Assists the patient in establishing a relationship with a primary care provider or additional medical care in a coordinated/team approach.
- Serves as consultants and subject matter experts in MAT and patient participation in community support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous and Celebrate Recovery.
- Serves as linkage between client and employers in the area to assist client in obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.
- Assists with acquiring and developing life and social skills, education and other needs identified by the individual to promote quality of life after recovery.
- Acts as a role model for client by sharing effective coping techniques and self-help strategies in promoting personal growth and development handling internal and external stressors.
- Assists and promotes positive health, wellness and lifestyle choices.
- Communicates client’s status on a regular basis, including, but not limited to changes in mood or functioning, medical issues and all crisis and health and safety issues.
- Documents all “no shows,” and communicates all difficulties contacting client with appropriate office staff.
- Documents services provided regularly, concisely, and completely in accordance with clinical standards by office deadline.
- Attends all office trainings as well as regular clinical supervision sessions with assigned supervisor.
- High School diploma or equivalent required.
- Three or more years' experience working in a behavioral health setting is required.
- Two or more years’ experience in an acute inpatient behavioral health setting preferred.
- Training on personal advocacy, engagement, recovery and resiliency principles, community supports/resources, effective use of sharing life experiences and parenting skills, as applicable.
- Understands general addiction, other substance-related problems and available treatment options.
- General understanding of community resources and how to promote linkage between the patient and resource.
- Certification as a Peer Specialist required.
- CPR and de-escalation certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.