Peer Specialist - Opioid Treatment Program

Helio Health•City of Utica, NY

2d•$17 - $19•Onsite

About The Position

Helio Health is seeking a Peer Specialist / Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) to assist individuals in recovery with regaining independence in their communities and sustaining their own recovery and improving their overall health. This is a Full-Time position based at Helio Health’s Opioid Treatment Program (OTP). The role involves collaborating with individuals to develop recovery plans, linking them to community resources, teaching coping skills, supporting benefit applications, providing non-clinical crisis support, accompanying individuals to appointments, and educating them on recovery. The CRPA will also use their lived experience to guide individuals in setting and achieving recovery goals, creating Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP), finding support groups, and developing empowerment skills. Responsibilities include reporting, consultation, crisis response, and potentially recruiting other Peer Specialists. The position also involves program participation, community representation, and quality assurance activities.

Requirements

High School Graduate or Equivalency required
Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) Certification required within six (6) months of hire and maintain CRPA certification throughout employment.
An individual does not need to be in recovery themself but must be able to confer empathy through lived experiences such as family and/or close friends (each peer specialist self-defines his or her “peer-ness”).
Must have a valid NYS Driver’s License.

Nice To Haves

One year of Health or Human Service experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with individuals to develop a person centered recovery plan.
Link patients to social and other support services in the community.
Teach individuals and family members coping skills.
Support the application process for benefits.
Provide non-clinical crisis support after periods of hospitalization or incarceration.
Accompany individuals to court appearances and medical appointments.
Engage individuals with formal recovery support services.
Educate individuals and family members on various modes of recovery.
Articulate personal goals for recovery using their recovery experience.
Assist individuals in recovery with creating Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP) as needed, taking steps to achieve personal goals for recovery, finding self-help groups, establishing self-help groups, or finding other recovery-focused groups.
Use their recovery experience to refer individuals or their families to healthy leisure opportunities or community resources that may be helpful.
Use and teach problem solving techniques to individuals and groups; lead discussions on methods to overcome common problems in daily living.
Discuss methods on overcoming negative self-talk, identifying and overcoming fears, and identifying signs of a potential relapse.
Teach and role model the value of the individual recovery experience.
Teach and role model appropriate coping techniques.
Assist individuals in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy.
Reporting and record keeping.
Consultation with other professionals.
Non-Clinical crisis response.
Recruiting or encouraging other Peer Specialists to pursue CRPA credential.
Participate in program administrative and clinical committees as assigned.
Represent agency to the community; promotes agency values within the community.
Performs quality assurance activities.
Other duties as assigned.