Bilingual Peer Recovery Specialist (PTCEP)

PHMC•Philadelphia, PA

10d

About The Position

PHMC’s Forensic Services department is hiring a full-time Bilingual Peer Recovery Specialist (Spanish/English) for the Philadelphia Treatment Court Enhancement Project (PTCEP), within the Housing & Justice Related Services (HJRS) service area. The specialist provides peer support to people participating in Treatment Court, including individuals with opioid use disorders or mental health concerns who have high clinical needs and risk of criminal recidivism. The average caseload is 35 participants. As a member of the Project Team, the specialist works with the Case Manager to coordinate recovery services and connect participants with substance use treatment, psychiatric evaluation, mental health counseling, education, employment and vocational services, family involvement, medical assistance applications, and housing support. The role includes local travel to treatment programs, recovery houses, court, worksites, and program sites. Typical hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; flexibility is required for evening and weekend participant support. The position also has rotational on-call responsibility.

Requirements

Bilingual in Spanish and English.
High school diploma or GED.
Lived experience with substance abuse.
Lived experience with the criminal justice system.
Good people skills.
Knowledge of the behavioral health and social services network in Philadelphia County.
Ability to work as a team member to provide comprehensive, supportive services.
Ability to document services in an online database.
Ability to communicate using a recovery-based problem-solving approach and past experiences to support a recovery lifestyle.
Ability to establish trusting and therapeutic relationships.
Knowledge of services and resources that support people in reentry.
Commitment to recovery, choice, empowerment, and the ability of people with co-occurring disorders to find meaningful lives in the community.

Nice To Haves

Lived experience with mental health concerns.
Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) or Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) certification at hire or within the first 90 days of employment.
1–2 years of experience collaborating with individuals with substance use and/or mental health disorders.

Responsibilities

Meet face-to-face and by phone regularly with participants to identify strengths and challenges and support recovery.
Identify community connections that support recovery, including job readiness, education, vocational, medical, mental health, housing, and family resources.
Provide additional support to participants who have difficulty complying with court or treatment requirements.
Conduct initial outreach and program orientation for new participants.
Conduct outreach at treatment facilities and in the community, including recovery houses, homes, and workplaces, to support engagement during Treatment Court participation.
Attend case management team meetings.
Accompany participants to appointments as needed to model interactions and provide support.
Engage Treatment Court participants by sharing a personal recovery story.
Attend recovery plan meetings with participants and their assigned case managers as needed.
Support recovery skills, including self-esteem enhancement, conflict resolution, and assertiveness.
Meet participants at community-based appointments such as self-help meetings, physician appointments, and food pantries.
Alert the case management unit to current or potential behavioral or health-related problems.
Complete Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) assessments and other PHMC-required assessments.
Provide comprehensive wellness support, including routine primary care and mental health services as needed.