What are the responsibilities and job description for the PROWD Peer Recovery Support Specialist position at First Choice Services?
Agency and Mission
First Choice Services is a 501c3 non-profit organization. First Choice Services serves multiple states with an array of programs that promote wellbeing and facilitate access to behavioral health and social services. First Choice Services is proud to be a fair chance employer, offering opportunities to peers with a variety of lived experiences.
Position Overview
The First Choice Services Peer Recovery Support Specialist provides peer support services to clients with addiction and/or behavioral health issues, as well as those with other social service and concrete needs. By demonstrating competencies, observing professional ethics, utilizing appropriate and effective coping skills, serving as an advocate, following best practice, and providing information and referral, the peer functions as a role model and coach to those seeking personal wellness and long-term recovery.
The Peer is an asset within the Residential Reentry Centers which serve those on a path to reentry from the federal prison system. Though peers will work from a recovery and wellness plan, employment and education will be a primary focus.
The Peer is characterized by their patience, empathy, and interest in helping others. The Peer is trained to assist with client navigation and access of resources and supports within multiple programs and from multiple community-based agencies. The Peer may additionally support outreach efforts on behalf of First Choice Services.
Essential Job Functions
- Promote ongoing recovery from substance use disorders and/or co-occurring disorders using written recovery plans and tracking progress toward goals. Support clients in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving goals.
- Promote the wellness of individuals experiencing social, emotional, behavioral health, housing, or other challenges by assisting with information, resource, community referral, natural supports, useful contacts, support groups, etc.
- Work with clients from assigned Residential Reentry Center.
- Complete 12 months of follow up with clients once they transition out of the Residential Reentry Center.
- Maintain a professional demeanor suitable to First Choice Services, the Residential Reentry Centers, and the larger community.
- Act as a guide/coach for peers by helping them identify and utilize strengths, develop resilience, and overcome personal and environmental barriers that jeopardize recovery.
- Help individuals identify environmental factors, interpersonal factors and/or risk behaviors that are associated with their substance use behaviors in effort to help support their recovery efforts.
- Help individuals find resources for harm reduction, detoxification, treatment, family/community/peer support and education, and local or online support groups.
- Assist clients in working with their treatment team to support progress toward goals and self-directed recovery.
- Appropriately document all client contact, outreach participation, and other approved work activities.
- Gather and exchange information based on the caller’s needs and individual circumstances.
- Communicate information about various appropriate treatment services and available supports without bias.
- Document client interactions within the electronic database as well as within other systems as needed.
- Follow-up with clients to monitor and track success, field concerns, and provide further information, referral and support as needed.
- Participate in outreach activities as needed.
- Adhere to the policies and procedures of both First Choice Services and the Residential Reentry Center.
- Client transportation for various needs.
Non-Essential Job Functions
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Peer Recovery Support Specialist certification or a minimum of two years’ time in recovery with the ability and commitment to obtaining certification within 1 year of employment.
- Lived personal experience with substance use disorder/addiction required.
- Lived personal experience with incarceration and reentry is required.
- High school diploma or GED.
- Ongoing involvement with a personal support and/or recovery system.
- No justice system involvement within the last two years.
- No intensive behavioral health treatment (intensive outpatient, crisis stabilization/detoxification, residential treatment and/or psychiatric hospitalization) within the last six months.
- Minimum of two most recent years in recovery with no SUD treatment for the preceding six months, excepting MAT.
- Valid Driver’s License with satisfactory driving record and insurance, and reliable transportation.
- Basic computer and data entry skills
- Knowledge of the principles of recovery.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills.
- Adherence to the WVCBAPP PRSS Code of Ethics
- Participation in Clinical Supervision twice monthly.
- Meet with Program Director once a month.
- Continuing education as required by certification.
- Passion for helping others in the areas of suicide prevention, mental health, and addiction.
- Respect each client’s privacy rights under HIPAA and other applicable laws and regulations during the provision of services.
- Provide all services in an ethical manner while maintaining participant dignity.
- Participate in professional development, staff meetings, continuing education, quality improvement and performance review as required.
- Provide for the safety and wellbeing of callers following all applicable mandated reporter and duty of care standards.
- Ability to work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays as required.
Other Skills/Abilities
- Ability to multi-task: Manages multiple tasks at one time; quickly and accurately shifts attention among multiple tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration.
- Communication skills: Reads, writes and speaks fluent English in order to convey information and ideas effectively. Demonstrates exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to prepare concise and accurate records and reports.
- Organizational ability: Demonstrates a systematic approach in carrying out tasks and assignments.
- Problem solving skills: Demonstrates a strong ability to properly identify and analyze problems. Able to follow the proper policies and procedures to solve identified problems.
- Client service skills: Consistently ensures that participants are provided with attentive, courteous and informative service. Gains and shows personal satisfaction from delivering expected service elements.
- Computer skills: Comfortably and confidently uses a computer and specialized software.
- Initiative: Self-motivated and shows willingness to accomplish multiple tasks as assigned.
- Integrity: Firmly adheres to the values, ethics, and code of conduct of First Choice Services as well as those of the Buckhannon Police Department. Exhibits honesty, discretion, and sound judgment.
- Cooperativeness: Willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising where necessary; promptly share relevant information with others.
- Flexibility: Is open to changing situations and opportunities and is willing to perform all tasks assigned.
- Independence: Able and willing to perform tasks and duties without direct supervision.
- Tolerance for Stress / Resiliency: Maintains a positive outlook, rebounds quickly from frustrations and unpleasantness, and maintains composure and friendly demeanor while dealing with stressful situations.
- Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate.
Working Environment
- Time will be divided between an office environment, a Residential Reentry Center, and the community.
- Able to work within a secure office environment while maintaining the integrity of the operation and its activities, including but not limited to discussions among staff as it relates to cases, case file and investigative information, as well as evidence intake and processing.
Physical Requirements
- Limited physical effort required with limited exposure to physical risk.
- Ability to lift 35 pounds unassisted. Heavier weight with assistance.
- Ability to work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays as required.
- Overnight travel may be required.
- Ability to climb at least 4 flights of stairs, with 10-15 steps each.
Benefits!
- Second-chance employer
- Large long-term recovery population
- Competitive wages
- Health, dental and vision insurance
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- Basic and voluntary life insurance
- Paid time off package
- Floating holiday
- Holiday pay
- 401(k) with company match after 1 year of service
- Rewarding work in a fun work environment with fantastic people
- Massage chairs, quiet rooms, and VR headsets
- Outreach Opportunities
- Discounted gym membership with the YMCA
- Employee engagement events
First Choice Services is an equal opportunity employer. Come join our team!
