JOB SUMMARY:
The Peer Support Specialist is a member of the behavioral health/family health services team(s). The teams are composed of multidisciplinary professionals including; Behavioral Health Clinicians, Primary Care Providers, Psychiatric Providers, Nurses, Medical Assistants and Social Workers. The Peer Support Specialist assists peers with tasks such as setting recovery goals, developing recovery action plans and solving problems directly related to recovery; including finding sober housing, making new friends, finding new uses of spare time and improving one’s job skills. They may also assist with issues that arise in connection with collateral problems such as having a criminal justice record or coexisting physical or mental challenges. The relationship of the Peer Support Specialist to the peer is supportive in nature. The Peer Support Specialist will selectively utilize self-disclosure as well as role model positive behaviors to inspire hope, share life experiences and lessons learned as a person in recovery.
WORK SCHEDULE DEMANDS:
- This is a full time 40 hour per week position, including some evening hours.
- Due to the nature of the job, this individual must be flexible with their schedule to accommodate the client population.
- May be required to work at any CCAP location.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
- Rhode Island Certified Peer Recovery Coach or must obtain within first 6 months of employment
- Bachelor’s in related field, preferred.
- Experience of recovery in own life
- Have the ability to effectively carry out responsibilities and assignments, such as previous experience working in a community-based setting.
- Valid Driver's license and vehicle insurance.
- Provide/maintain all required immunizations and/or vaccinations
- Complete all required background checks
KEY RESPONSIBILIITIES
- To selectively utilize self-disclosure, as well as role model positive behaviors to inspire hope, share life experiences and lessons learned as a person in recovery.
- To develop a recovery action/treatment plan with peers.
- Meet with peers at CCAP Behavioral/Family Health Services sites and in the community.
- Coordinate services to clients appropriately utilizing various components of CCAP as well as referrals to other local or state agencies
- Act as a liaison between the family, legal system, and any resources in the community, statewide
- Engage individuals who may be at risk and provide stage appropriate recovery education and supports.
- Assist in the orientation process for new and /or existing peer/consumers requiring mental health and/or co-occurring disorder services.
- Assist peers reduce high risk behaviors and health risk factors such as smoking, poor illness self-management, inadequate nutrition, and infrequent exercise in order to create and maintain a healthy lifestyle. (health promotion)
- Assist peers make behavioral changes leading to positive lifestyle improvement. (individual and family support services)
- Assist peers identify individual wellness and/or health goals. Work collaboratively to identify the steps necessary to achieve these goals.
- Introduce and link wellness and healthy lifestyle resources to assist peers achieve recovery goals.
- Assist peers in developing and practicing skills selected and defined in their recovery action plans.
- Facilitate or co-lead recovery-oriented group activities; some of these activities are structured as support groups, while others have educational purposes.
- Attend and participate in all CCAP public relations activities as appropriate.
- Attend training, conferences, and development sessions
- Schedule and attend weekly supervision meetings with supervisor
- Must have driver's license
- Must have automobile insurance.
- Other duties as assigned
OTHER ABILITIES:
- Ability to write routine case management narratives, reports and correspondence.
- Ability to speak effectively before groups and clients, representatives of other agencies or CCAP employees.
- Ability to operate and maintain control of an automobile.
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variable in situations where only limited standardization exists.
- Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written and oral form.
- Ability to problem solve and think outside the box to assist clients
- Must have excellent oral and written skills.
Our Benefits
Our comprehensive benefits package includes 403(b), health insurance, vision and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement accounts, tuition reimbursement up to $1,000 annually, an Employee Assistance Program, generous vacation, sick and personal days, and up to 13 paid holidays for all eligible employees. Some benefits are included for part-time employees.
CCAP strives to cultivate and sustain a workforce devoted to providing compassionate and respectful care to all patients and clients. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, military status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement, promotions, terminations, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
