Per Diem Recovery Support Staff

Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness (WPHW) is growing, and we are excited to be adding new people to our team!  If you value inclusivity, balance, and cultural centeredness and have a true passion for serving others, you may be a great fit for our team!  WPHW is a non-profit organization that serves four federally recognized tribes located in five communities:  the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Aroostook Band of Mi'kmaq, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point, and the Penobscot Nation.  Wabanaki traditions, language, and culture guide our approach and describe the ways we live in harmony with each other and the land we collectively share.  Services are available to community members living on and off-reservation across the State of Maine.

Position Summary:

The Per Diem Recovery Support Staff help community members with substance use disorder (SUD) through supportive engagement and in response to SUD/Recovery situations and requests.  The Per Diem Recovery Support Staff will assess the situation, lend a supportive ear, help to find solutions, and engage with the clinical team to decide the next steps for community members. The Per Diem Recovery Support Staff will support Wabanaki Community Members within the community through empathetic connections, transportation to treatment, and other recovery programs.  This position will require flexibility and a willingness to work at multiple sites, shift rotations, and some weekends and holidays based upon programming needs. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Outreach Services: 

• Outreach and engage people entering recovery and harm reduction in the tribal district and other places as identified. 


• Assist individuals in need of recovery support and help link urgent care, recovery, and/or other treatment needs along a continuum of care.  Outreach to different programs to explore bed availability as directed by client. 


• Use active listening to gather important information about client’s current substance use and needs.  Identify urgent care needs, resource needs, strengths, and barriers. 


• Provide a warm and supporting hand-off of community member into detox/ recovery home, and/or outpatient treatment. 


• Engage participant in developing an individualized healing plan in collaboration with clinical care team. 


• Collaboration with community and community partners to support programs and services.  


• Help participants complete applications and other required documentation as needed to support needs. 
  

Recovery Home Support: 

• Conducts admissions and discharge procedures of the Recovery Home residents.  


• Participate in team meetings and amplify client voice and choice regarding care needs.


• Facilitates and helps implement daily schedules for recovery home, facilitates and supports planned activities, and assists in accessing, scheduling, and following up on treatment opportunities, or treatment plans.    


• Accurately records client self-administration of medication within Recovery Homes. Communicates medication challenges in a timely and effective manner to the treatment/recovery team.   


• Assists residents/patients with scheduling, attending, and completing appointments related to treatment plans or health needs.   


• Assist with UA screens as needed. 

Harm Reductions Services: 

• Develops content in collaboration with the Harm Reduction & Prevention team to support events, awareness days, and observances.  


• Supports with outreach engagements, activities, and opportunities including community clean-ups, testing, and educational prevention programming. 


• Maintains training and certifications to support program needs, including CTR (Counseling, Testing, Referral) training through ME CDC to support HIV/HCV testing and linkage to care.  

Other Duties: 

• Support other recovery programming or events within the organization, as necessary. 


• Participate in advisory groups or task forces related to substance use recovery as recommended. 


• Assist in the creation of program educational materials for participants, the tribal community, and external audiences.  


• Adhere to client confidentiality requirements and standards. 


• Collect and record data and submit documentation to the supervisor at the end of each work shift. 


• Participate in meetings, in-service training, staff development, and other professional growth activities as required or needed. 


• Provide input in continued quality improvement activities and policies and procedure development. 


• Complete other duties and tasks that support the organization, as necessary.
  

Education and Experience Required:

• High School or equivalent required, must be over the age of 18 years. 


• Minimum of two (2) years of continuous sobriety. 


• Experience working with substance use disorder. 


• Recovery Coach Training and Recovery Coach Ethics completed. 


• Must be a Registered Recovery Coach (or be able to complete within 6 months of hire), with a desire to become a Certified Recovery Coach within first year of employment. 


• Emergency medical response training (CPR/First Aid/BLS) or obtained upon hire. 


• Certified Residential Medication Aide (CRMA) preferred 


• Experience working with Indigenous populations and in Tribal communities preferred. 


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Skills and Qualifications Required:

• Ability to listen and convey caring. 


• Strong communication skills both verbal and written. 


• Basic computer skills including Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc. 


• Familiarity with resources in and out of the Native communities. 


• Possess good organizational, detail and time management skills. 


• Ability to learn and comprehend basic instructions and orientation to the job. 


• Ability to communicate ideas, instructions, and other information in a clear and precise manner using both written and oral forms of communication. 


• Maintain a positive and professional attitude, while treating all peers with dignity and respect. 


• Excellent problem solving and organizational skills with ability to handle multiple priorities. 


• Must be able to physically respond to individuals’ needs in the event of a crisis.  


• Ability to work where there is prolonged sitting, standing, driving. 


• Willingness to travel with some overnights for trainings, meetings, gatherings, and events.  


• Positive attitude and independently motivated. 


• Ability to work independently. 


• Ability to work some holidays, nights, and weekends. 


• Willingness to travel; a good driving record and access to reliable transportation are required. 


• Valid State of Maine Driver’s License, insurable under the WPHW’s automobile insurance plan.  


• Must pass criminal and other background checks required for the position. 

Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.