SCOPE OF ROLE:

The Peer Specialist in Connections to Care provides first-hand knowledge and insight into care services to support residents in early stages of recovery.  The Peer Specialist promotes problem-solving and decision-making skill development, particularly in the areas of SUD treatment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build relationships with residents and their networks (family, spouses, etc.) to support residents’ recovery.
• Make connections with professional supports, peer supports, and community resources to help build a care network that residents can be linked to and sharing personal experiences.
• Assist residents with accessing and navigating service systems, including behavioral and medical health, criminal-legal, entitlements, and transportation.
• Provide peer services on site to people living in the program that are at risk of harm from drugs and alcohol.
• Promote problem-solving and decision-making skill development, particularly in the areas of SUD treatment.
• Accompany residents on appointments as appropriate and act as advocate/ support self-advocacy
• Identify any problems in daily living skills; provide hands-on assistance and/or referral in addressing problems in daily living skills.
• Develop and facilitate a peer support group for residents.
• Assist with making referrals to harm reduction, substance use, primary care, mental health care, pain management or other as needed.
• Provide coordination of treatment and transitional planning as needed.
• Follow up with clients who discharge from program.
• Attend staff meetings and trainings to enhance skills that are related to job function.
• Documentation and reporting of services delivered (in AWARDS).

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High school degree preferred.
• Must get OASAS certification as an CRPA within a year of hire.
• Must have experience as a recipient of SUD care services with a willingness to share personal and practical experiences with residents.
• The Peer Specialist should understand the community in which the team is based with an awareness of available community resources
• The Peer Specialist should also be someone who has made positive and productive progress toward his or her own recovery
• Demonstrate good interpersonal communications skills and the ability to empathize with, relate to and effectively work with participants of mental health services
• Must possess the ability/ willingness to disclose their recovery story (where appropriate) for the purposes of empowerment
• Excellent judgment/ ability to understand boundaries when working with participants of mental health services is required
• Field work hour in the community required, i.e., visit clients in their home, meeting clients in the community; 50%. Driving is not required.

·         List all educational, licensure, and donor-requirement (if applicable)

·         Effective written and oral communication skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
• Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) Provisional or Certified.
• CASAC credential a plus.

S:US IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Join a team of employees who cares about the wellbeing of others.  We believe in fostering a culture built on our core values:  respect, integrity, support, maximizing individual potential and continuous quality improvement. 

S:US is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. S:US is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities, including allowance of the use of services animals. To request reasonable accommodation or if you believe such a request was improperly handled or denied, contact the Director of Benefits & Compensation at MyMedicalLeave@sus.org.