Substance Use Peer, Certified Recovery Support Specialist

AltaPointe Health•Bay Minette, AL

About The Position

This role focuses on promoting self-determination, recovery, self-advocacy, and self-direction for individuals with substance use disorders. The specialist will assist individuals in identifying strengths, setting wellness goals, and overcoming barriers. They will work collaboratively with the AHS team and external entities, model self-advocacy, and teach wellness management strategies. A key aspect of the role is connecting individuals to community support groups, providing education to staff about peer support, and teaching practical life skills such as transportation. The specialist will also share their personal recovery story to inspire hope and stability, support informed decision-making regarding treatment, housing, and benefits, and build community connections. This position involves individual and group peer support, overcoming recovery barriers, and assisting with necessary documentation for benefits, employment, and housing, while encouraging independence. Outreach to homeless adults with substance use disorders is also a component, as is leading peer recovery support groups and transporting clients when needed. The role requires making regular contacts with patients while maintaining professional boundaries, seeking supervision, accepting feedback, and maintaining confidential records and timely documentation for various funding sources.

Requirements

High School diploma or equivalent
Peer Specialist Certification through State of Alabama Department of Mental Health
Must be 23 years of age
Maintain a valid Alabama driver license and an acceptable driving record
Have proof of current liability insurance
Knowledge of substance use disorders in the adult population
Knowledge of cultural diversity
Knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation principles
Knowledge of available community resources
Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults with substance use disorders
Knowledge of twelve-step support groups such as AA, NA, CA, and other self-help groups
Knowledge of behavioral management, crisis intervention to patients with substance use disorders
Knowledge of medical and pharmaceutical resources in the treatment of addictive disease and other substance related disorders
Knowledge of the criminal justice system including court hearings, judges, court referral officers, probation officers if applicable
Ability to work as an effective team player is essential

Nice To Haves

Experience providing employment services
Knowledge of the work world

Responsibilities

Promoting self-determination, recovery, self-advocacy, and self-direction; assisting individuals in identifying strengths; wellness goals; setting objectives, and identifying barriers
Attending treatment team meetings with the individual to promote the individual's use of self-directed advocacy tools; assisting the individual in goal planning, assisting the individual in learning how to ask for appropriate services in the community
Works collaboratively with AHS team members and outside entities
Model self-advocacy skills
Teaching wellness management strategies and helping individuals develop their own self-management plans/tools to use in their personal lives
Connecting to support groups in the community to learn from other peers, to promote hope, to problem-solve through work situations, and to decrease social isolation
Providing education to other staff to increase their understanding of self-advocacy and peer support roles, and to promote a culture in which an individuals’ points of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into service delivery
Providing resources and teaching transportation skills (teaching bus routes, etc.)
Sharing his or her own personal story to model how to choose, obtain, and maintain stability
Supporting individuals in making informed decisions about treatment, housing, benefits, and building community connections
Provides individual and group peer support work with individuals
Building social skills in the community that will enhance recovery
Assisting in overcoming barriers to recovery and addressing challenges
Assisting in obtaining the proper documentation necessary for benefits, employment, and housing
Assisting the individual in completing paperwork when necessary while encouraging independence
Conducts outreach in a variety of settings to engage adults who are homeless and have a substance use disorder
Leading peer recovery support groups
Transports clients when appropriate and necessary
Assists in connecting clients to support groups in the community to learn from other peers, to promote hope, to problem-solve through work situations, and to decrease social isolation
Offers hope and encouragement by serving as a role model in recovery
Makes multiple contacts to patients per week as needed while maintaining healthy professional boundaries with patients
Seeks supervision and consultation as needed
Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
Maintains confidential files containing required information
Maintains documentation for those individuals receiving services
Provides timely documentation that meets requirements of various funding sources including, Medicaid, and others
Treats patients with care, dignity, and compassion
Respects consumer’s privacy and confidentiality
Is pleasant and cooperative with others
Assists patients and visitors as needed
Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
Is sensitive to the consumer’s needs, expectations and individual differences
Is gentle and calm with patients and families
Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities
Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required
Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures
Attends to required in-service training and other workshops