Peer Recovery Specialist

Summary of Position Responsibilities:

The Peer Specialist is responsible for delivering supportive services to clients of the Transformation Healthcare INC (THI) ACT Team by utilizing THI’s Harm Reduction Tool to identify and remove barriers to securing and maintaining permanent housing. The Peer Specialist will identify clients who require additional supports and mentoring in order to reduce the number of emergency calls to law enforcement and for emergency behavioral health treatment. The Peer Specialist will develop healthy relationships with clients and other staff while modeling appropriate and supportive coping skills. The Peer Specialist must have an understanding and respect of everyone’s path to recovery and will serve as a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

•  80% ON THE FIELD AND 20% AT THE OFFICE
•  Work in collaboration with the ACT team to provide community services to the THI ACT Clients
•  Using THI’s Harm Reduction Assessment Tool to better understand the needs of each client and the supports necessary to reduce emergency calls to police and for emergency behavioral health treatment;
•  Offering peer support to mentor individuals with substance use, mental health issues, and trauma often associated with homelessness, etc;
•  Helping to develop and promote life skills necessary to overcome many of the barriers and stigmas to seeking and accepting available help to THI clients;
•  Helping individual clients in the community to see the benefit of treatment rather than only seeing the stigmas associated; will meet with identified clients to speak from a place of compassion, empathy, and shared experience
•  Supporting Case Management to become more aware of challenges faced by clients so that their concerns may be addressed before they reach a crisis level;
•  Promoting a safe, supportive environment in which clients are treated with respect and courtesy in line with trauma informed care;
•  Assisting the clients in working toward mastering the skills necessary to live independently
•  Ensuring that clients have their basic supplies and needs such as toiletries, laundry detergent, including replenishing and stocking supplies
•  Providing emergency intervention in response to hostile situations and crises;
•  Offering training, assistance, and modeling with daily living skills to clients (e.g., personal hygiene, nutrition, laundry, use of public transportation, and socialization skills);
•  Supporting connections to community based, mutual self-help groups and resources (e.g., work, school, physical activity, etc.);
•  Identifying barriers (internal and external) to full participation in community resources and developing strategies to overcome those barriers;
•  Providing a “listening ear” for THI clients and facilitating conflict resolution;
•  Establishing and maintaining positive working relationships while always maintaining profession boundaries;
•  Observing clients, reporting, and documenting any unusual and/or critical incidents on an THI Incident Report Form submitted to Supervisor and Program Director;
•  Completing assigned trainings;
•  Attending mandatory scheduled staff meetings;
•  Representing THI in the community in accordance with the agency’s mission and vision;
•  Other duties, as assigned.

Client Type:

•  Adolescents/Children
•  Adults
•  Family

Language

•  English (required)
•  Spanish (Preferred)

Typical Working Conditions:

Work is usually performed in an office environment; includes continuous contact with staff and the public. Work is performed in an office or other environmentally controlled room; work exposes incumbent to contagious or infectious diseases; work may expose incumbent to dangerous and volatile situations; which could result in bodily injury.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

•  High school graduate or GED.
•  Certified as a Peer Specialist.
•  Basic computer skills.
•  Ability to write routine reports and documents.
•  Ability to solve problems, negotiate and deal with a variety of concrete variables.
•  Knowledge and experience in administering CPR and minor first aid; and
•  Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.

Typical Physical Requirements:

Travel within the Baltimore community for majority of your shift. Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; normal manual dexterity and eye hand coordination; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment including computers, telephones, calculators, and copiers. Move and lift light objects up to 25 pounds such as mail, supplies, files, and equipment.