About the position
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.
Responsibilities
- 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.
- Assist peers make behavioral changes leading to positive lifestyle improvement.
- 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.
Requirements
- Bachelor's in related field.
- Rhode Island Certified Peer Recovery Coach 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.
Benefits
- 403(b)
- Health insurance
- Vision and dental insurance
- Life insurance
- Long term disability
- Flexible spending accounts
- Health reimbursement accounts
- Tuition reimbursement up to $1,000 annually
- Employee Assistance Program
- Generous vacation, sick and personal days
- Up to 12 available paid holidays for full-time employees
- Some benefits are included for part-time employees.
