Bilingual Peer Recovery Specialist

PHMC is proud to be a leader in public health. PHMC requires all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before the first day of employment. We will offer the vaccination at no cost via our Health Centers.

REPORTS TO: PTC Case Management Supervisor

JOB OVERVIEW:

PHMC’s Forensic Services Department is looking for a full-time, Spanish-speaking Certified Peer Recovery Specialist to provide peer recovery support to Philadelphia Treatment Court Enhancement Project (PTCEP) participants, within the Community Engagement Division. PTCEP will service high clinical need individuals who are at a high risk for criminal recidivism, with an average caseload of 35 participants. Peer Recovery Specialists will operate as members of the Project Team and will provide services to participants with opioid use disorders or mental health concerns. The Peer Recovery Specialist will work in collaboration with the recovery/case manager to provide a diverse array of recovery services that include but are not limited to: substance abuse treatment, psychiatric evaluation, mental health counseling, education, employment and vocational services, family involvement, medical assistance application, and housing coordination support to program participants.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide regular face-to-face meetings and phone contacts with participants to identify strengths and challenges to support recovery.
• Identify community linkages to support their recovery efforts, including job readiness, educational, vocational, medical, mental, housing, and family support.
• Provide additional support to participants who find court and/or treatment compliance challenging.
• Provide new participants with initial outreach and orientation to the program.
• Provide outreach to participants at treatment facilities and in the community (recovery houses, homes, workplaces, etc.) to support engagement throughout participation in Treatment Court.
• Attend case management team meetings.
• Accompany individuals to appointments as needed to model interaction and provide support.
• Engage Treatment Court participants by sharing personal story of recovery.
• As needed, attend recovery plan meetings with the participant and assigned case manager.
• Assist participants in recovery in areas such as self-esteem enhancements, conflict resolution, assertiveness, and other recovery skills.
• Meet participants at community-based appointments such as self-help meetings (AA, NA), physician appointments, food pantries, etc.
• Alert the case management unit to any current or potential behavioral or health-related problems of participants.
• Complete Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) assessments along with all other PHMC-required assessments.
• Provide on-call support as required.
• Provide comprehensive wellness support to participants, including routine primary care and mental health services (as needed).
• Work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of program participants.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Skills:

• Good people skills
• Knowledge of the behavioral health and social services network in Philadelphia County
• Knowledge of services and supports for individuals in reentry
• Ability to work as a team member to provide comprehensive and supportive services to individuals
• Ability to document service provision within an online database system
• Ability to communicate utilizing a recovery-based problem-solving approach and past experiences to support a recovery lifestyle
• Ability to establish trusting and therapeutic relationships
• Commitment to recovery, choice, empowerment, and the ability of people with co-occurring disorders to find meaningful lives in the community

Experience:

• 1-2 years of experience collaborating with individuals with substance use and/or mental health disorders
• Lived experience with the criminal justice system
• Lived experience with substance abuse or mental health concerns

Education:

• High school diploma or GED
• Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) training completed at time of hire or within the first 90 days

TRAVEL: Local travel to treatment programs, recovery houses, court, worksites, and program sites

WORK HOURS:

• Typical schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
• Must be flexible to work evening and weekend hours as required to support participants
• On-call responsibility on a rotating basis

SALARY GRADE: 14

CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Forward resume to: Asha V. George, Director Integrated Case Management FIR, IPP, DVC, IPP, PTC, DCRP/Project Director for PTCEP - ageorge@phmc.org
• For more information on PHMC programs and career opportunities, please visit www.phmc.org.
• For additional information on Forensic Services, please visit the Forensic Services website: www.forensicservicesphilly.org

EOE