Peer Recovery Support Specialist

Brief Description Peer Support Specialists will utilize their lived experience with mental health challenges, substance use, and/or other aspects of their lives to provide support, resources, and guidance to clients. They share their own path to recovery in order to foster a sense of trust and mutuality with the client, with the goal of empowering the client to feel less isolated and to provide opportunities for future goal attainment. Peer Support Specialists also participate in activities related to community awareness of recovery and stigma reduction and promote person‑centered, recovery‑focused, strength‑based service delivery. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Acts as Westbrook’s primary contact with client. Provides person and family‑centered care to clients. Initiates and sustains individuals in recovery from substance use, abuse and/or mental health treatment. Promotes an individual’s recovery by acting as a guide/mentor for overcoming personal and environmental obstacles that jeopardize their recovery. Links and refers individuals to resources for harm reduction, detoxification, treatment, family support and education, and local or online support groups. Provides supports for clients, including linking to resources for housing, employment/educational services, medical care, childcare, and/or transportation. Assures transportation needs are met for client including transporting clients to appointments as necessary. Advocates for and assists the client in obtaining needed physical, behavioral, and social services. Supports positive change by offering hope and help to anyone, including people involved in treatment, to avoid relapses, build community support for recovery and work on life goals. Provides Targeted Case Management including supportive counseling services within scope of training and competencies for clients who are eligible for the services. Provides care coordination services across different settings, including office, home and community. Collects and submits service data to required organizations. Complies with federal, state and company policies, procedures and regulations. Maintains confidentiality of all consumer information and complies with HIPAA and 42CFR part 2 regulations. Demonstrates knowledge of and supports Westbrook Health Services mission, vision, values, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards and code of ethical behavior. Requirements Must have relevant lived experience with mental health challenges, substance use, criminal justice involvement, and/or military service including treatment and recovery. Must have no intensive behavioral health treatment involvement within the twelve (12) months prior to employment consideration; to include intensive outpatient services, crisis stabilization, residential treatment services and psychiatric hospitalization. Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately with a variety of individuals. Must work well in a team environment. Work with staff, clients and others in a professional, cooperative, ethical, respectful and effective manner. Ability to work with a diverse group of people. Must have valid driver’s license and clean driving record. Education and Experience High School Diploma/GED. Lived experience with mental health challenges, substance use issues/addiction, criminal justice involvement, and/or military service and a knowledge base regarding addiction, mental health, or veteran challenges. Must complete a BBHHF approved Peer Recovery Coach training curriculum within 6 months of hire if applicable. Must pass Criminal Investigation Background and DHHR background checks as well as post‑offer observed drug screen. Must have valid driver’s license and clean driving record. Physical Requirements 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. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to stand, walk, sit, and use his or her hands and fingers, to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, or crouch. Vision abilities required for this job include close vision. Must be able to travel within catchment area. Work is typically performed in an office environment or in the community. About Westbrook The professionals at Westbrook Health Services believe in promoting the well‑being of individuals and families struggling with a wide range of challenges. Our staff meets the needs of over 7,000 people annually. Experienced and compassionate, we empower people to achieve wellness with the guidance of our knowledgeable and experienced staff. Benefits Westbrook Health Services provides a comprehensive, low‑cost benefits package to all full‑time employees that includes medical, dental, vision, life, short and long‑term disability, critical illness, accident, and pet insurance coverage options. Paid time‑off, paid holidays, and paid training provide a healthy work‑life balance. Equal Employment Opportunity Westbrook provides Equal Employment Opportunity to all employees and applicants. Employment decisions are made based upon an individual’s skills and qualifications without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, disability as defined in the law, veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy and related conditions, genetic information, gender identity or any status or characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. Westbrook also prohibits unlawful discrimination based upon the perception of those characteristics or any association with a person who is perceived to have any of those characteristics. Discrimination based on any of these factors is totally inconsistent with our philosophy of doing business and will not be tolerated at any time. Qualified individuals with bona fide disabilities, as the term “disability” is defined in the law, are entitled to reasonable accommodations in the application process and in their employment. Although Westbrook is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations, the responsibility for identifying whether accommodation is needed and what constitutes a reasonable accommodation is shared jointly by the employee and Westbrook. #J-18808-Ljbffr