Peer Support Specialist (Temporary, Part-Time)

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT US:

Community health is about more than just vaccines and checkups. It’s about giving people the resources they need to live their best lives. At Neighborhood, this is our vision. A community where everyone is healthy and happy. We’re with you every step of the way, with the care you need for each of life’s chapters. At Neighborhood, we are Better Together.

As a private, non-profit 501(C) (3) community health organization, we serve over 350k medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from more than 77k people annually. We do this in pursuit of our mission to improve the health and happiness of the communities we serve by providing quality care to all, regardless of situation or circumstance.

We have been doing this since 1969 and it is our employees that make this mission a reality. Regardless of the role, our team focuses on being compassionate, having integrity, being professional, always collaborating, and consistently going above and beyond. If that sounds like an organization you want to be a part of, we would love to have you .

ROLE OVERVIEW:

The Peer Support Specialist has responsibility of a broad range of activities related to the Harm Reduction Program, including collaboration and coordination with multi-agencies and interdisciplinary staff comprised of internal and external stakeholders. This role will provide field-based outreach, education, assessment, and linkages to healthcare, recovery, social support services, and case management to individuals experiencing substance use disorders (SUD) and possible mental illnesses. Additionally, this role will interact closely with the interdepartmental treatment team of behavioral health clinicians, consumers, community partners, program leadership and staff.

Schedule:

• Wednesdays 12:00 PM - 4:30 PM
• Thursdays 8 AM - 4:30 PM
• Fridays 8 AM - 4:30 PM

**This position is grant-funded and therefore considered temporary employment , with an anticipated end date in June 2027, contingent upon the continuation of grant funding.**

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Identifies, engages, collaborates, and links underserved populations with SUD and behavioral health services
• Provides harm reduction education and referrals
• Participates in outreach events for the purpose of engagement and consumer linkage
• Participates in case conferences for consumers receiving services to ensure ongoing treatment needs are connected with appropriate community-based treatment programs
• Ensures the confidentiality of consumer information and health records
• Provides trauma informed approaches and culturally competent consumer services
• Provides comprehensive social service assessments and develops treatment plans to address individual recovery needs and provide linkages to internal and external resources/programs
• Supports homeless consumers with accessing and navigating community resources
• Works to increase level of cultural sensitivity, awareness, and competency regarding person centered and peer delivered services
• Provides public education on harm reduction services, recovery services, and other psychosocial service needs
• Provides “Good Samaritan” laws education and naloxone kit training
• Engages consumers, both in-person, in the field, and on the phone, in a manner that utilizes evidence-based approaches, such as motivational interviewing
• Promotes collaboration between the consumer and the medical/behavioral health team to increase the consumer’s sense of control over their whole health
• Assess for substance use recovery support services and treatment options and provides navigation and linkages to substance use programs, detox services, and sober living housing options
• Provides referrals to Neighborhood’s medication assisted treatment (MAT) program, naloxone kit training, and kit distribution, as needed
• Promotes hope through positive self-disclosure, demonstrating that improved behavioral and physical health/recovery is possible
• Encourages consumers to identify personal goals, overcome barriers, build protective factors, and pursue future goals towards an enhanced quality of life
• Serves as a role model of self-care and the effective use of behavioral health and recovery skills
• Aids consumers with overcoming discrimination, stigma and/or trauma by serving as an example of recovery and/or overcoming challenges
• Reports any serious or unusual incidents to supervisor
• Shares accountability for overall consumer health outcomes
• Operates to instill confidence in our care and in our facilities to consumers, fellow employees, and other stakeholders
• Works in the field as needed, to meet consumers with substance use where they are
• Documents in ECW for all care coordination and other services or teaching provided in a timely manner
• Prioritizes activities according to intensity, need, and required follow-up
• Provides accurate and timely reports to supervisor and site staff, as required

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• High School diploma/GED required
• Personal experience with injection drug use or other street drugs in recovery required
• Experience working with community health centers or community-based organizations preferred
• Experience working with underserved populations preferred
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including superior composition, typing and proofreading skills
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
• Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent planning and organizational ability
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently
• Ability to work with highly confidential information in a professional and ethical manner

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift/carry 20 lbs/weight
• Ability to stand for long periods of time

Pay Range: $22.02 - $29.41 per hour, depending on experience

Compensation Disclosure: The posted salary range reflects the designated pay grade for this position. While this range represents the broader classification of the role, actual compensation will be based on several factors, including but not limited to: the candidate’s overall knowledge, skills, and experience, market data and industry benchmarks, internal equity within the organization, Budgetary considerations and organizational needs. As a result, placement within the range is not guaranteed, and the full pay grade range may not be utilized.