Peer Specialist

Liberty Resources / Liberty POST • Rochester, NY

5h • $20 - $21

About The Position

We are currently seeking a Part-Time Peer Specialist to join our growing team.

Our employees have passion around the services they provide and our corporate values of excellence and staff support. We pride ourselves on high quality, integrated, community-based services that meet the evolving needs of our communities. We’re committed to building a diverse workforce that values contributions of all team members and work to recognize cultural beliefs, values, traditions, language preferences, and health practices of the communities that we serve and how they apply to provision of positive health outcomes.

Peer Specialist Position Summary:
The certified Peer Specialist will engage and support persons in the Monroe County community presenting with a substance use disorder. The primary goal of the Peer Specialist is to utilize their own lived experience while utilizing their long-term sustained recovery expertise and Peer training to serve as a support and resource for the participant’s own recovery. The Peer Specialist will be trained in Motivational Interviewing, Wellness Recovery Action Planning, Trauma-Informed Care, Harm Reduction, Cultural Competence/Health Literacy, Narran, Person-Centered Practices and Co-Occurring Disorder Integrated Care.

Requirements

• HS Diploma required.
• Work experience in a behavioral health or related setting, preferably using the recovery model with one to two years of personal recovery experience, is preferred.
• It is preferred that the individual is certified as a Certified Peer Specialist through the Academy of Peer Services training program as well as a CRPA through ASAP-NYS.
• That the individual has a respect for, and high level of comfort around people experiencing mental health, medical, or substance related crisis.
• If the candidate is not certified as a CPS and/or CRPA, they agree to complete the process to become a CPS and CRPA.
• Candidate must identify self as a current or former recipient of mental health, substance abuse, or medical services with a willingness to share personal experience appropriately and respectfully.
• A driver’s license and reliable transportation are required.
• Possess the ability to understand, support and operate from a strength-based approach, display professionalism in all settings, and recognize the importance and benefits of relationship building and collaborating with other service providers.
• The ability to solve complex problems using creative solutions and act consistently in a manner that demonstrates dignity and respect for participants is required, as well as the ability to de-escalate participants in times of crisis.

Responsibilities

• Engage with patients and connect persons to community-based care. Examples may include services such as: visit with clients who are hospitalized, incarcerated, and/or participating in residential treatment programs, provide support to families and loved ones of the impacted person, monitor and review completed 9.41’s and 9.45s looking for persons who may benefit from outreach and connections to care, and link the person to natural supports to address biopsychosocial needs of the client.
• Provide information about recovery support services in the community; support linkage to the participant’s chosen supports; meet as needed with each client in the community.
• Be part of a rotating on-call after-hours peer-run warm line.
• Coordinate services and develop relationships in the community to improve individuals' ability to access and/or maintain health care, insurance.
• By using identified best practices, procedures and methods, the Peer Specialist will provide Peer support, Motivational Interviewing and Trauma-Informed Care as a means to facilitate access to health services and improve the health status of participants.
• Provide support guided by the values of the Peer Model. These values include; recovery-oriented, person-centered, relationship-focused, trauma-informed care; instilling hope; appropriate self‐disclosure; mutuality; person‐first language; self‐determination; empowerment; many pathways and styles of recovery; fostering independence; utilizing strength‐based approach; addressing stigma and oppression; and providing stage of change appropriate support, participant choice, and advocacy.
• Transport and accompany participants to appointments (medical, mental health, substance use) as needed.
• Document all relevant client information into an electronic medical record.
• Completes timely and accurate documentation in line with agency and program standards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED