Peer Recovery Specialist

Division: Eskenazi Health


Sub-Division: SEMHC


Req ID: 26668


Schedule : Full Time


Shift : Days


Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center, Indiana's first community mental health center, provides comprehensive care for emotional and behavioral problems, including severe mental illness and substance abuse. The Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center offers both inpatient and outpatient services, including several outreach centers as well as clinic- and community-based services.

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Job Role Summary

The Peer Recovery Specialist assists clients to access recovery-oriented substance use and mental health treatment, resources and community recovery supports. This position bridges the fragmented treatment system into a more holistic care model through providing support across multiple systems and frameworks of care across the community. The Peer Recovery Specialist maintains ongoing client support regardless of the stage of recovery and serves as a motivator, ally, role model, problem solver and advocate for patients who are seeking assistance. The Peer Recovery Specialist possesses a thorough understanding of community culture and is able to address the barriers of successful recovery, including decreasing stigma related to mental health and substance use while linking individuals to community resources and treatment options.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Embraces, understands, and operates under the Recovery Model, including AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, Thank You) and the spirit of motivational interviewing.
• Proactively contributes to Eskenazi Health's mission: Advocate, Care, Teach, and Serve with special emphasis on the vulnerable population of Marion County. Models Eskenazi Health values of Professionalism, Respect, Innovation, Development, and Excellence.
• Engages with individuals served by Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center for the purpose of assisting with access to initial and ongoing treatment and support.
• Draws on own lived experience to provide peer recovery services in a variety of locations including individuals' homes, community, emergency department, outpatient treatment, and criminal justice settings.
• Works with clinical team to conduct initial needs assessment, reviews the individual's behavioral history, and assists in identifying the client's goals and expectations.
• Assists individuals with identifying and addressing any barriers to ongoing engagement with the treatment system.
• Accompanies patients providing peer recovery support to appointments, meetings, and social service agencies as needed.
• Integrates cultural awareness and sensitivity of diverse needs into client care in daily work.
• Accurately documents services provided in the electronic health record.
• Develops positive rapport with individuals and their support system while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Provides community resource referrals, advocacy, support, outreach, and follow-up.
• Provides crisis management and emergency interventions including but not limited to: CPR and CPI.

Triage Service Area:

• Performs patient care activities including but not limited to performing vital sign measurements, collecting specimens, monitoring nutritional status, assisting patients with bathing, feeding, toileting, and other related duties.
• Safely and appropriately implements department-approved crisis intervention techniques that maintain the dignity and needs of the patient, including de-escalation, disengagements, seclusions, and restraints to safely and effectively manage milieu safety.

Job Requirements

• Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent required.
• Active and unencumbered peer recovery certification required in one of the following:
• Certified Peer Support Professional ("CPSP")
• Certified Peer Recovery Coach-Associate ("CPRC-A")
• Certified Peer Recovery Coach ("CPRC")
• National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist ("NCPRSS")

Mobile Crisis Service Area Only:

• Minimum of one (1) full year of work experience as a certified peer specialist providing peer recovery services required.
• Certification as a CPSP, CPRC-A, or CPRC required.
• If holding a CPRC-A, incumbent must submit a credentialing plan to obtain the CPRC at the soonest date possible, not to exceed two years from issuance of the CPRC-A.
• Minimum one (1) year in recovery required except as noted below:

Caring Recovery Opioid Treatment Program: Three (3) years in recovery required.

• Valid Indiana driver's license and record that meets Eskenazi Health's driving policy requirements except as noted below:

Inpatient Acute Care and Triage Service Areas:

• Valid Indiana driver's license that meets Eskenazi Health's driving policy requirements preferred but not required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Basic knowledge of behavioral health.
• Basic knowledge of substance use disorders and/or co-occurring disorders.
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology.
• Advanced knowledge of client rights and responsibilities.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills; ability to use age-appropriate communication skills.
• Understands and has ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Knowledge of and proficiency in operating computer programs including Microsoft Office.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and work effectively with complex tasks under pressure/time restraints/irregular schedules.
• Ability to effectively address issues of ethnic and economic diversity.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a genuine caring attitude for patients and their supports.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize work and devise own work patterns/methods; flexible to changing priorities; ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Crisis intervention skills.
• Ability to be both clear and concise in written and verbal communications.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to think critically and problem-solve efficiently.
• Ability to provide hands-on client care.
• Ability to perform safety interventions including physical safety interventions.
• Must meet all population-specific competencies for role and service areas.

Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center's primary mission is to serve individuals with serious mental illness and chronic addiction as well as seriously emotionally disturbed children and their families. Patients of all ages are welcomed, from children to seniors, with a philosophy of care that stresses strength-based and family- and community-centered treatment utilizing the Recovery Model of treatment.