Recovery Advocate/Tech

Job Description

Job Description

About the Sobering Center:
At the Sobering Center, we are committed to making a positive impact in the lives of individuals experiencing substance use challenges. Our mission is to divert publicly intoxicated individuals from jail and emergency departments by providing a safe environment, compassionate care, and connections to community resources that promote recovery and overall well-being. Through our Holdover Program, we offer a safe space for clients who have safely sobered and are ready to transition into further treatment services.

We are seeking a passionate and empathetic Peer with lived experience with substance use and recovery to join our team and contribute to this life-changing work. We are seeking peers to join either of our two programs to assist clients as they sober up in a supportive environment and provide peer support for individuals transitioning into treatment.  If you are passionate about recovery, have lived experience , and are motivated to make a meaningful difference, we invite you to join our team.

Position Overview:  

As a Patient Care Technician , you will play a vital role in supporting clients on their path toward stability, harm reduction, and recovery. Drawing upon your lived experience with substance use and recovery , you will provide hope, mentorship, and non-judgmental support to clients as they sober up and prepare for their next steps. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of medical, clinical, and support professionals to ensure that each client receives trauma-informed, person-centered care. We are currently hiring for overnight positions only.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide compassionate, recovery-oriented support to clients throughout their stay.
• Monitor and engage clients always using supportive and hopeful communication.
• Assist in de-escalating clients who may be anxious, confused, or agitated during intoxication or withdrawal.
• Motivate and encourage clients toward change, harm reduction, and engagement with ongoing treatment or recovery services.
• Focus on client strengths and support overall wellness, particularly for clients with co-occurring mental health or medical concerns.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation related to peer interactions and client progress.
• Assist with maintaining a clean and safe environment, including routine housekeeping tasks (e.g., common areas, laundry, restrooms).
• Participate in team meetings, training, and supervision.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Sobering Center’s mission.

Key Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; able to build trust and rapport with diverse populations.
• Compassion, patience, and resilience when supporting individuals in crisis.
• Ability to respond calmly and effectively to stressful or unpredictable situations.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries. 
• Knowledge of confidentiality standards (HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2) and ethical peer support practices.
• Organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative team player with a strong commitment to recovery-oriented values.
• Basic computer skills (documentation, email, electronic record systems).

Additional Safe Sobering Program Peer Responsibilities:

• Conduct client screenings and discharge processes in accordance with program policies.
• Assist clients with brief interventions, providing support and guidance to address immediate needs and encourage engagement in treatment or recovery services.
• Assist clients to connect with appropriate community resources.

Additional Holdover Program Peer Responsibilities:

• Facilitate individual and group peer-support sessions, sharing lived experience appropriately to model healthy recovery behaviors and inspire hope.
• Provide education and advocacy to clients around recovery topics, wellness, relapse prevention, coping strategies, self-management, and community integration.
• Support development and implementation of client action plans.
• Assist with care coordination and warm handoffs to the next levels of care.
• Promote client retention and address barriers to engagement.
• Supervise and support clients during meals.
• Transport clients to appointments or next levels of care as needed.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Hold a valid Texas Driver’s License (required).
• Lived experience with substance use and recovery stability.
• Bilingual (Spanish English) preferred.
• Holdover Program Peers: Peer Support Specialist certification or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire date (required).
• Must independently obtain and maintain a valid American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification prior to and throughout employment.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to assist clients transferring from standing to lying and from lying to sitting and standing positions.
• Ability to assist clients transfer to restroom and to assist in showering if required.
• Ability to use abdominal and lower back muscles over time without fatigue.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The employee is required to sit, bend or crouch.  The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and may occasionally move 100 pounds (with assistance).

Benefits:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Comprehensive health insurance package, including employer paid medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement savings plan with employer matching contributions.
• Generous paid time off.
• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and workshops.
• A supportive and inclusive work environment that values work-life balance and employee well-being.