Caseworker II Peer Support Specialist

If you would like an opportunity to join a team of dedicated professionals who work hard to provide maximum opportunities for offenders to make lasting changes through accountability, treatment, education, and positive reinforcement within a safe environment, this is the job for you.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Re-Entry and Rehabilitation Division within the Utah Department of Corrections is seeking applicants for our position of  Peer Support Specialist. This position will provide peer support coaching for justice involved individuals utilizing lived experience in recovery with substance use and criminal justice involvement to deliver services promoting recovery and resiliency.

This position is for those with lived experience of addiction recovery and previous incarceration. This position will deliver peer support coaching to those currently in the criminal justice system. In this position you will utilize your own history of criminal justice involvement and addiction recovery to help coach clients to successfully navigate parole, provide addiction recovery support, and transition into the community.

Principle Duties: 

Incumbents in this position will facilitate the Re-Entry and Rehabilitation Division’s vision the "We envision a safer Utah by providing opportunities". Specifically, this position will focus on providing peer support coaching to substance use clients preparing for parole or currently on parole.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Certification as a  Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) from an approved agency.
• Minimum 5 years in active recovery, comfortable sharing brief recovery experience appropriately.
• Previous history of Incarceration.
• Five years post Successful Termination of Parole or Probation.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation.
• Ability to work both independently and with a team.
• Ability to work in a professional manner within healthcare settings.
• Understanding protecting participant confidentiality.
• Familiar with motivational interviewing techniques. Knowledgeable and accepting of all recovery pathways.
• Understanding of and ability to maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Maintains adaptability in a diverse environment and under challenging circumstances.

Why You Should Join Our Team:

As a benefited employee of the Department of Corrections, you will receive great health and retirement benefits. Click here  to view a summary of the benefits we offer. We also provide generous paid time off so you can spend more time with your family and have a positive work-life balance.

The Agency:

For more information about the Department of Corrections and the Division of Programming, click here.

• Under the supervision of a licensed therapist this position assists other individuals with peer coaching related to addiction recovery and navigating incarceration, parole, and probation successfully.
• Engages clients individually and in classes to instill hope, encourage personal responsibility for recovery, facilitate the development of recovery goals, self-advocacy skills, and natural supports.
• Models competency in recovery and ongoing coping skills, articulating points in his/her own recovery story that are relevant to the challenges faced by clients receiving services in the program.
• Ability to  observe, record and report client behavior and progress.
• Understanding of confidentiality, GRAMA, HIPAA, and 42 CFR pt. 2 protecting participation confidentiality.
• Familiar with motivational interviewing techniques.
• Respects and advocates ALL pathways to recovery, including but not limited to: Substance Use Treatment, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), and harm reduction.
• Understanding of, and ability to maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Good interpersonal skills to develop trust of clients and respond appropriately to difficult situations.
• Any other job duties as assigned.

This list contains requirements, knowledge, skills and abilities associated with these duties:

• Certification as a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) from an approved DSAMH training program. https://dsamh.utah.gov/peer-support
• Previously Incarcerated with 5 years post Successful Termination of Parole or Probation.
• Minimum 5 years active addiction recovery, and are comfortable sharing lived recovery experience.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation.
• Ability to work both independently and with a team.
• Ability to work in a professional manner within healthcare settings.
• Understanding of protecting participant confidentiality.
• High School Diploma or equivalent is preferred.

 

• Must pass a thorough background investigation with no Felonies in the past 7 years.
• Must pass background investigation with no Sex Offense.
• Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; however there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying light items, driving an automobile, etc. Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.
• This position is NOT public safety certified and does not require peace officer status or certification.
• All questions must be answered fully and in the format requested, if applicable. Failure to do so may result in disqualification. Entering "see resume" as an answer will be considered an incomplete answer. Cutting and pasting pertinent information from your resume is acceptable, but should be edited to be a precise answer to the question.
• Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
• Salary will be based on the Career Ladder for current UDC employees.
• Salary ranges specified reflect a minimum starting and top of range dollar amount. Actual rate per hour will be determined by evaluation of qualifications and skills of the individual and the availability of monies through budget and grants or by following DHRM rule.
• Members of minority population groups are encouraged to apply.
• NOTE:  Department of Human Resource Management rules regarding promotions and transfers apply to current state employees.

Salary : $21 - $31