Mobile MAT Peer Recovery Support Specialist (51008)

Position Summary:

This position is assigned in direct support of the Medication Assisted Treatment(MAT) Mobile program and will contribute to its day-to-day operations, client engagement, and service delivery. Peer Support Services are a process of giving and receiving support and education from individuals with shared life experiences. Peer Services are provided by individuals in recovery from substance use, mental health and co-occurring disorders who use their lived experience as a tool to assist others by sharing their personal journeys and knowledge gained. Individuals engaged in peer services play a vital role in laying the foundation for sustained recovery.

Peer Support Services provide strength-based supports for persons in or seeking recovery from behavioral health-related issues. The service offers a type of partnership where the person in or seeking recovery self directs his/her care while the Support Specialist provides expertise in supporting successful change. The Support Specialist focuses on achieving any goals important to the individual and asks questions and offers suggestions to help the person begin to take the lead in addressing their own needs. The practice focuses on honoring values and making principle-based decisions, creating a clear plan of action, and using current strengths to reach future goals. The Specialist serves as an accountability partner to help the person sustain his or her recovery and helps to access the systems needed to support the individual, such as disability benefits, health care, housing, etc.

Mobile MAT program is a healthcare service that delivers addiction treatment directly to individuals in their communities using mobile units, such as vans or specialized vehicles. These programs provide medication assisted treatment, which typically includes medications combined with counseling and support services, to help individuals with opioid use disorder manage cravings, reduce withdrawal symptoms, and support long-term recovery. These units are designed to reach underserved or remote areas, offering greater accessibility to individuals who may face barriers like transportation issues, limited access to healthcare facilities, or social stigma. In addition to providing medication, the mobile MAT program offers a range of supportive services, such as mental health counseling, case management, risk reduction education, and referrals to additional healthcare or social services. By bringing these resources directly to communities in need, mobile MAT program aim to increase access to comprehensive addiction treatment, improve patient outcomes, and reduce overdose deaths.

Essential Job Functions:

• Encourages, Inspires, and empowers to reach treatment goals.
• Coordinates & facilitates psychoeducational peer groups related to removing environmental obstacles and improving healthy life skills and social connectedness including teaching relaxation and mindfulness strategies.
• Works as part of a collaborative health team and participate in Care Team Meetings
• Assists individuals in developing strategies to communicate with and advocate for themselves to adopt a proactive role in their own behavioral and physical health.
• Instructs about services provided to help them (e.g., availability of peer services, benefits, advanced directives, living will opportunities, clients rights process)
• Mentors in the recovery process (e.g., reassures to the reality of recovery, assists with increasing personal empowerment, helps set & achieve goals)
• Provides information & assists with applying for supplemental programs such as housing.
• Assists persons with completing forms; develops services & supports to identify service & support gaps for individuals with mental health or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders; participates on treatment teams with person's consent.
• Collaborates to assist with intake/discharge planning (e.g., conducts intake & discharge surveys, facilitates exit interviews)
• Monitors satisfaction.
• Completes and submit documentation as determined by the BSN Nurse
• Provides support and encouragement to family members.
• Embraces and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals of WestCare Foundation; and
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licenses:

• Certification as a certified peer specialist in good standing and recognized by the Florida Certification Board is preferred at time of hire. Peer certification can be completed via ongoing coaching and training on-site within 1 year of hiring date. If the Peer Support Specialist is certified, he/she must comply with annual CEU requirements.; Preference will be given to those candidates who are currently certified;

Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• (2) years of college-level education is preferred

Experience and Competencies:

• Must be a current or former substance abuse or mental health care service recipient who is engaged in own recovery for a minimum of two years demonstrated by an effort of self-directed recovery. May not be a current recipient of residential care.
• Experience working with individuals diagnosed with mental health/ substance abuse and/or the HIV+ positive population is preferred
• Must have reliable means of transportation
• Must hold and maintain valid driver's license
• Must have availability to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends.
• Must have familiarity with Miami-Dade County.
• Maintains confidential files and records.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written form with consumers, peers, and staff
• Demonstrates good reliability in attendance
• Demonstrates an ability to meet deadlines and to complete tasks
• Ability to use time efficiently
• Ability to follow policies and procedures
• Ability to respond appropriately to supervisory directives or negotiate appropriately
• Knowledge of and ability to apply appropriate ethical principles and practices
• Ability to recognize and maintain appropriate boundaries with consumers, peers, staff, and supervisors
• Ability to treat others with dignity and respect
• Understanding of federal, state, and agency standards regarding the confidentiality of consumer information and the ability to maintain confidential information
• The ability to identify the needs of a consumer that cannot be met by the counselor or agency and to assist the consumer to utilize the support systems and community resources available.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret agency and grant required documents
• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints
• Ability to read, write and speak English as well as Spanish and/or Creole is preferred.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence as well as speak effectively before groups (family, youth, staff and community) is preferred
• Ability to apply basic mathematical concepts.
• Knowledge of WestCare Mission, goals and values
• Knowledge of Incident Reporting
• Knowledge of HIPAA, Professional Ethics, Consumer Rights and Confidentiality
• Familiarity with WestCare services and programs
• The ability to identify the needs of a consumer that cannot be met by the counselor or agency and to assist the consumer to utilize the support systems and community resources available.
• Articulates a working definition of trauma
• Understands the impact of trauma
• Understands re-traumatization
• Ability to create a safe, welcoming physical, supportive, and relational environment for consumers and staff
• Demonstrates a high degree of dependability.
  • Maintains a good attendance record.
  • Observes working hours
  • Shows flexibility and is responsive to requests from supervisor
  • Works independently with minimal supervision
  • Exhibits characteristics of good workmanship, and integrity on the job
  • Work time is always productive
• Demonstrates ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with consumers, co-workers, external partners, and regulatory agencies
  • Is courteous to consumers, staff, and all others.
  • Demonstrates tact at the appropriate time.
  • Cooperates with others both within and outside WestCare.
  • Works well with supervisor; accepts direction and supervision
  • Maintains a positive attitude toward work
• Ensures and maintains a safe working environment.
  • Work area is clean and orderly.
  • Verbalizes, understands and adheres to agency safety procedures.
  • Demonstrates appropriate use of Unusual Incident Reports, in accordance with the Center's reporting procedures
• Presents a positive personal image
• Dresses and maintains a professional demeanor
• CPR Certification, First Aid Certification and an annual Tuberculosis test.
• Ability utilize Microsoft Office Software Suite
• Ability to utilize internal electronic health record software
• Ability to provide an Affidavit of Good Moral Character
• Clearance in Pre-Employment Drug Testing and Criminal Records Checks, as required.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed at outreach and treatment locations, in the field and in-home.
• Some outdoor activities may be required.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or

without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

• Tasks that involve no exposure to human blood, body fluids, or tissues but employment may require performing unplanned Category I tasks. The normal work routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, BUT exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee engaged in Category II tasks.
• Occasional lifting of more than twenty-five pounds.
• Occasional risk of intensive physical activity with clients; and
• Sitting, standing, walking, reaching are performed in the normal course of the position.