Peer Specialist

Position Summary:  To provide outreach and direct peer support services to participants as part of a multi-disciplinary team to persons with substance abuse problems. Service provision will focus on working with clients to enhance their recovery. Service is provided to individuals at community, home or office. Promotes recovery through community services and assists in removing barriers to recovery.

Educational Requirements:  High School Diploma/GED.  Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (if not certified at hiring date, the applicant must be working toward certification and would have one year of hire date to achieve certification).

BENEFITS:

Special Skills:  Past or present consumer of mental health or substance abuse services with a history of managing one’s own illness. Awareness of the importance of recovery in living with a mental illness or addictions problem. Past experience working directly with people in a service oriented field is beneficial. Active membership in a consumer advocacy or self-help group.  Ability to work well with others. Familiarity with the Sarasota County community. Ability to interact with various types of people. A sound understanding of mental health and/or substance abuse problems and treatments. Personal traits which include: patience, tolerance, caring, mature and understanding.

Position Duties: 

• Assists clients in removing personal and environmental obstacles to recovery, through assessing needs and community services.
• Provides linkage to the Recovery Community through knowledge and contacts within the recovery community. Engages members and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed towards member’s individual goals.
• Serve as a personal guide and mentor in management of personal and family recovery through follow-up contact and service connections within the recovery community.
• Provides motivation through support in order to encourage participation in aftercare appointments.
• Provides referrals to the clients for outside agencies as needed and provides accurate and timely documentation within the charts.
• Meets regularly with treatment professional to coordinate individual services based on member’s needs.
• Maintains all required paperwork and billing documentation
• Maintains customer confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential; following established confidentiality policy and procedures; maintaining professional boundaries with clients.
• Maintains inter- and intradepartmental workflow by fostering a spirit of cooperation.

CORE COMPETENCIES  

Demonstrates Dependability:

• Arrives to work on time according to agency policies 

• Uses leave time according to agency policies 

• Completes documentation/paperwork and projects within deadlines 

Demonstrates Flexibility & Initiative:  

• Assumes additional responsibilities and a willingness to assist colleagues 

• Works different shifts when necessary 

• Recommends program changes and improvements 

Demonstrates Teamwork:  

• Maintains an overall work attitude of cooperation and professionalism in all interactions with agency staff and  community professionals 

• Attends and participates in required staff meetings and agency-wide committees 

• Receptive to direction and feedback from supervisor 

Demonstrates Professionalism: 

• Conducts self in professional manner with colleagues, peers, and persons served 

• Recognizes the rights of clients; and will protect privacy of persons served at all times by following agency, State,  and Federal mandated privacy procedures and regulations  

• Adheres to agency Code of Ethics at all times 

• Complies with all agency policies and procedures, laws and regulations under which the agency operates