Peer Recovery Specialist – Medication Mobile Unit

Job Summary:

The University of Anschutz Medical Campus seeks a full-time, University Staff (non-classified) Peer Recovery Specialist within the Addiction Research and Treatment Services (ARTS) Adult Outpatient Program, with clinic locations in Denver, Aurora, and Arvada. The ARTS Adult Outpatient Program is within the School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. ARTS Adult Outpatient clinics provide drug and alcohol assessment, psychosocial and pharmacological treatment for adults. Programs in various clinic locations include traditional outpatient, intensive outpatient and may contain specialty services for clients referred by the criminal justice system, county departments of human services, and services for pregnant women, individuals who are HIV-positive and gender-responsive services.

The person in this position is an individual with lived experience to support positions providing drug and alcohol assessment, psychosocial, and pharmacological treatment for adults with substance use disorder (SUD), who first enter careful substance use disorder (SUD) treatment with the ARTS Adult Outpatient Program. The position will be assigned to the Medication Mobile Unit (MMU) which will operate and provide substance use disorder services in the greater Metro Denver area. This position may also assist from time to time as a Peer Recovery Specialist at the ARTS Parkside Clinic in Denver or at other ARTS clinic locations. They will report to the Clinic Manager and may perform other duties as assigned. This position will be required to work 40 hours per week as follows: 6:00am – 2:30pm Monday through Friday. This position may be required to deliver medication to off-site locations in the greater Metro Denver area.

This is a full-time, grant-funded, University Staff (non-classified) position that provides activities to engage, educate, and offer support to adults with SUD, their family members, and caregivers to connect patients to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up sessions. This position is also responsible for conducting outreach activities with patients, staff, community partners, subcontracted agencies, and/or other entities as appropriate, travel to various sites, and perform other duties as assigned or required.

Note: the above working hours and locations are subject to change according to the needs of the project and/or the agencies concerned, and this position will be required to work Saturdays/Sundays as well.

Applicants MUST have lived experience with SUD or addictions, and recovery with existing sobriety supports.

This position is supported by grant funds, whose funding will be reviewed on a periodic basis. Accordingly, the position’s status may be affected over time by any applicable variations in the grant and/or funding amounts. Therefore, this position is contingent on grant funding and is time limited.

This position is 100% fully in-person, on-worksite. Virtual or remote work participation is NOT available.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a Peer Specialist and educator to implement interventions to improve outcomes for patients who enter care via the ARTS Medication Mobile Unit and/or ARTS Clinics.
• Identify any problems, challenges, or obstacles in coordination of services for patients, and in a timely and effective manner, as well as ensuring all duties and responsibilities are performed for effective and appropriate benefit of patients to whom care and/or services are being provided.
• Conduct structured, Peer-led individual and group interventions that focus on health education, care coordination, identifying and reducing barriers to care for patients, and conduct outreach activities in the community in order to engage pregnant and postpartum patients in SUD treatment.
• Conduct case management for patients, provide referrals of necessary, appropriate resources to patients as needed, implement standardized intervention, track patients for engagement, and connect patients to prenatal treatment and care.
• Actively collaborate with supervisor and staff, and coordinate efforts to ensure successful delivery of services, attend and participate in trainings, team/staff meetings, and other events as needed, be willing to drive to meetings and CU Emergency Department for care coordination, ensure confidentiality of patient health information and/or health records, attend and actively participate in all project advisory committee meetings, etc.
• Continuously maintain accurate and up-to-date records and/or notes as required by agency policy, use electronic health record systems to ensure timely documentation, recording and tracking of communications, interventions, and patient data, schedule and maintain multiple, internal, and external appointments, and gather, analyze and report patient statistical data.
• Work comfortably among patients with or without substance abuse disorder, who are referred from city and county parole/probation departments, department of social services, and other relevant agencies, and perform other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or other AOP Management Team.
  

Why Join Us:

This position at the University of Colorado/ Addiction Research and Treatment Services (ARTS) provides a unique opportunity for individuals with lived experience and recovery from SUDs to use, in turn, their specialized knowledge and experience to provide care, assistance and support of individuals currently living with SUD. The individual in this position, through their words and actions, will have a direct influence on helping others with SUD to set themselves on a path to recovery and make health lifestyle choices. In addition, by joining ARTS, employees will be actively engaged in a supportive, professional, and nurturing environment where individuals with various backgrounds and experiences converge and collaborate to provide an evidence-based, multi-faceted approach to provide the best treatment and care to every patient who comes into care at ARTS clinics.

The University of Colorado offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, tuition benefits, ECO pass, paid time off – vacation, sick, and holidays and more. To see what benefits are available, please visit:

Diversity and Equity:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty and administrative staff. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding. We encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons within the LGBTQ community and all veterans. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Lived experience with Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
• High school diploma or GED.
• One (1) year of experience working closely with patients and connecting them to resources, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• The required work experience may be substituted with successfully completed college or university courses that are appropriate to this position’s work assignment on a year-for-year basis.
• Minimum two (2) years of sobriety with existing sober support from SUD or addictions recovery.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification as a Peer Specialist (for example, Colorado Peer and Family Specialist/CPFS).
• Prior experience in Patient Navigation and connecting pregnant or postpartum patients to required services or resources.
• Experience with motivational interviewing techniques.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate degree or higher in psychology, social work, counseling, human services, or another related field
• Experience working with clients who are involved with the criminal justice system, probation/parole, human services, and/or other similar referral sources.
• Experience providing administrative support to clients, families, staff, and other stakeholders in a substance abuse treatment setting.
• Experience managing financial paperwork including creating invoices, tracking expenditures, and gathering statistical data.
• Experience working with electronic health records.
• Experience working successfully with multiple tasks in a high-pressure environment.
• Current, valid registration with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) as Certified Addiction Technician (CAT) license or higher.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Ability to manage difficult behaviors.
• Ability to engage substance dependent clients in treatment.
• Ability to comply with established rules, policies and procedures and meet deadlines.
• Ability to be open-minded and nonjudgmental.
• Ability to develop healthy relationships with clients.
• Ability to establish boundaries with clients.
• Ability to exercise discretion (e.g., patient confidentiality).
• Ability to communicate effectively in written form, which includes the ability to check for typographical, grammatical, and spelling errors.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

Questions should be directed to: Shingo Ishida (He/Him/His), Program Director of Operations, ARTS Adult Outpatient Program, at shingo.ishida@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Screening of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as $41,705 - $48,377.

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator:

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@cuanschutz.edu.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

The University of Colorado has a requirement for COVID-19 vaccinations and full completion thereof by 9/1/21 or upon start date. Information regarding this requirement, and exemptions can be found at:

Unit-Specific Exemptions:

• Anschutz Campus – Accommodations may be granted for medical or religious reasons.

The University of Colorado seeks individuals with demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive learning and working environment. We value the ability to engage effectively with students, faculty and staff of diverse backgrounds.