Peer Support Specialist PSS

POSITION SUMMARY

The Peer Recovery Coach (PRC) will provide Peer Recovery Support Services acting as a mentor and guide for those seeking or sustaining recovery. Through the process of coaching, the PRC promotes recovery by helping a peer remove barriers, connect to the recovery community and engage in supportive services. Coaching offers a unique opportunity to build relationships of equality, trust and confidence in which a PRC values each peer’s individual beliefs and supports them in mapping out a self-directed journey towards recovery.

The PRC will maintain a recovery circle of fifteen to twenty active peers, with the expectation of frequency of engagement that supports long term recovery. The PRC will maintain accurate documentation of coaching sessions, referrals, evaluations, and wellness recovery plans.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Serve as a role model who shares personal strengths and skills as well as the hope that recovery is possible for everyone

· Support the values of Communities for Recovery

· Model, advocate, and promote recovery goals and philosophy within the community

· Provide monthly reports to Program Director of all activities

Coaching

· Assist peers in developing and maintaining a comprehensive wellness recovery plan by identifying personal strengths, interests, social relationships, hopes, and sources of well-being, as well as knowledge and skills supporting their recovery journey

· Maintain a schedule and a peer circle of fifteen to twenty active peers that ensures frequency of engagement is appropriate to the level of support needed for peer recovery goals.

· Educate peers on accessing community opportunities and resources, matching their interests and hopes for the future and linking them to these resources

· Provide recovery services in the areas of emotional, instrumental, instructional, and affiliational support at a dosage and frequency comparable to peer needs

· Maintain accurate documentation of coaching sessions, referrals, evaluations, and wellness recovery plans

· Ensure privacy and confidentiality of peer information is maintained

QUALIFICATIONS

· Be flexible and open to multiple, personally chosen pathways forward in recovery and living in the community (comfortable knowing that no one way forward in recovery and community living fits everyone)

· Be strong in their belief that almost all people can move forward in life in recovery - and have the ability to convey this perspective to others

· Be open to learning how to work as a team member, bringing special skills and experience to help recoverees in their recovery journey

· Have excellent people skills that build rapport and put others at ease

· Ability to work with individuals supporting their person-centered wellness recovery plans

· Be able to communicate in a friendly and informative manner with people from a wide variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles

· Have the ability to express themselves in both written and verbal communication

· Be able to use and/or learn to use computers and program related software proficiently

· Work independently and possess strong time management skills

· Understand and ensure the ethical practices of a Peer Recovery Coach

· Be familiar with the communities where peers will want to make connections

· Be in touch with their own interests, life goals, and sources of well-being - and a strong desire to learn to help others and model self-care and personal recovery

JOB SUPPORTS & TRAINING PROVIDED:

· Direct supervision from the Peer Recovery Coach (PRC) Coordinator

· Training specific to the Peer Recovery Coach role

· Weekly support and feedback sessions with experienced Peer Coaches

· Participation in training and role play exercises as needed

EXPERIENCE

Required

· Must be a person with lived experience and currently in self-directed recovery (a minimum of two years preferred)

· Background check free of arrests/convictions related to assault and/or endangering the safety of others (arrests/convictions older than two years will be considered on an individual basis)

· Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) State of Texas Certification (See License /Certificate information.)

Preferred

· One year of experience working with people in recovery

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE

· Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Texas driver’s license

· Certified State of Texas Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) or approved by the Texas Certification Board to begin 250-hour internship toward Full RSPS Certification.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

· Community and office environment

DISCLAIMER: All statements are intended to describe the generic nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job description. They are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees in this classification.