Metro Inclusive Health (METRO) is seeking a Peer Support Specialist (PSS) with recovery experience to provide guidance and support to individuals who are struggling with substance use, trauma, or mental health disorders, and who are at risk for, or are living with HIV/AIDS. The PSS functions as a role model; promoting increased engagement in care; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; and serves as a consumer advocate, providing individualized peer support services. The goal of the PSS is to aid in the reduction of co-occurring epidemics of HIV, Hepatitis, substance use disorders, and mental health conditions by helping clients regain independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process through evidence based, culturally appropriate behavioral health services and substance use treatment that is integrated with HIV prevention and medical care services.

This position has a primary focus on serving racial and ethnic minorities; gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM); people who inject drugs (PWID); and transgender adults (ages 18 ) within Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.
How we work and what we offer
Our people are the key to our success. At Metro Inclusive Health, we offer competitive salaries and comprehensive fringe benefits because we believe in rewarding our team for their dedication to providing the highest quality care and services to our communities. Our core objective is to provide a supportive and team-oriented work environment that fosters creativity, innovation, and collaboration.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Assisting clients in identifying personal goals for recovery through one-on-one sessions and through facilitation of peer group discussions.
• Utilizing evidence-based practices such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist clients in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.
• Assisting clients in working with their case manager and treatment team to determine the steps they need to take in order to achieve their goals and self-directed recovery.
• Supporting clients with adherence to behavioral health, substance use treatment, and recovery support services by providing reminder and follow-up calls, scheduling appointments, and completing linkage referrals.
• Providing programmatic assistance to the entire project and project staff, coordinating with case managers to schedule and prepare paperwork for new clients, and review/maintain program documentation and databases to ensure compliance of client files.
• Utilizing their recovery experience, the Peer Support will:
• Teach and role model the value of every individual’s recovery experience.
• Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Serve as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery-based services that will aid the client in daily living.
• Refer clients to resources, programs and groups available within the agency and in community, informing clients on how to use these in their recovery process.
• Assist clients in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy. This is accomplished through individual and group sessions, using role play/modeling techniques to show/demonstrate how clients have handled similar situations and how to overcome challenges that may arise in interactions with others.

The successful candidate will…

• Be able to speak, read, and write proficiently in English. Bilingual Spanish preferred.
• Have a minimum of one year’s work experience within a Human Services related field.
• Have knowledge of HIV/AIDS.
• Have experience and work comfortably with diverse, underserved, and at-risk populations.
• Have awareness and sensitivity to cultural differences, varying sex/sexuality/sexual orientations, relevant life experiences with substance use, HIV/AIDS, PrEP/nPEP, STI’s, and psychosocial issues concerning the HIV epidemic.
• Have knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established evidence-based practices.
• Have knowledge and skill to teach and engage in basic problem-solving strategies to support clients in self-directed recovery.
• Have knowledge of how to establish and sustain self-help and peer support groups by soliciting input from clients on their strengths and interests.
• Have a personal vehicle, valid Driver’s License and vehicle insurance.
• Be able to commute between Tampa and St. Petersburg locations.
• Be willing to submit to, and able to pass, a Level II background check.

About Us
Metro Inclusive Health is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides quality health and wellness services that are inclusive, relevant, supportive and represent the lifetime continuum of the diverse people in our community.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.42 - $22.18 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Loan forgiveness
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Preferred)

Experience:

• workingin a social service setting, or equivalent: 1 year (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Hillsborough County, FL: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person