Peer Support Specialist - Austintown, Newton Falls, Salem

Company Overview:

Valley Recovery Partners, New Day Recovery and On Demand Counseling are Ohio’s top provider of medication assisted treatment services (MAT) for those working toward recovery from opioid or alcohol misuse. We offer a variety of services including one-on-one counseling, telehealth, group therapy, and supportive services.  Our team is passionate about addiction treatment and supporting patients through their journey to recovery.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a Peer Support Specialist (PSS) to serve our current clients in addiction and/or mental health treatment.

Peer support workers are people who have been successful in the recovery process who help others experiencing similar situations. Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, peer support workers help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse. Peer support services can effectively extend the reach of treatment beyond the clinical setting into the everyday environment of those seeking a successful, sustained recovery process

The PSS essential role is to engage with clients as they initiate treatment or transition from inpatient care. Engagement consists of establishing goals for recovery through individual and group interaction. The PSS assists each client in obtaining recovery goals through encouraging hope, supporting the development of life skills, job search/vocational support, teaching skills to navigate the health care system, encouraging and modeling advocacy, assistance with crisis intervention/stabilization, conducting outreach, accessing natural support systems in the community, and modeling personal responsibility for recovery. The PSS needs to work autonomously, as well as with a team of professionals, and will receive weekly individual and group supervision.

Job Responsibilities:

• Assist individuals to identify and achieve recovery goals


• Utilize their own lived experiences as a way to direct individuals in their own recovery and advocacy process.


• Utilize a learned knowledge of area resources a wide range of areas


• Assist individuals in getting involved in an array of pathways to recovery which may include: 12-Step, MAT, Harm Reduction, or Detoxification


• Maintain accurate records and confidentiality in an efficient manner


• Advocate for the needs of clients


• Utilize their own experiences as a way to provide hope

Requirements:

• Identify as a person in successful recovery for a minimum of 2 years.


• Qualified PSS will have a high school diploma/equivalent.


• Must have Peer Support Specialist Certification through OHMHAS.  


• Active/Valid Ohio driver license


• Reliable vehicle


• Understanding of Motivational Interviewing


• Effective communication skills

Physical Demands:

Physical demands described are representative of those that must be routinely met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds


• Ability to perform job responsibilities in a facility with multiple levels