Peer Recovery Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

The Peer Recovery Specialist, working within the Re-Entry Department, is primarily a field-based position responsible for conducting street outreach, engagement, and case management services for individuals experiencing homelessness and those who are justice-impacted, including individuals preparing for release from incarceration or recently returning to the community. The Peer Recovery Specialist provides peer support, recovery coaching, education, advocacy, and navigation services for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD), including those receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), as well as individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions. Using a harm reduction approach grounded in humanism, pragmatism, individualism, autonomy, incrementalism, and accountability without termination, the position engages hard-to-reach populations in encampments, shelters, correctional facilities, and community settings, helping connect participants to healthcare, behavioral health treatment, housing, benefits, recovery supports, and other resources that promote stability, wellness, recovery, and successful community reintegration.

Benefits:

• Free Medical, Dental & Vision
• 403 (B) retirement match
• Life insurance, EAP
• Tuition Reimbursement
• SEIU Union
• Flexible Spending Account
• Continued workforce development & training
• Opportunities for growth 

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or AA
• Minimum of two years’ experience as a Substance Abuse Counselor or work-related experience in a community behavioral health environment.
• Experience and knowledge of multi-ethnic and underserved communities.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English (Preferred).
• Demonstrated experience in a Managed Care setting or Drug Medical setting.
• Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral disorders.
• Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Licensure/Certification :

• CADC-II 
• Employees are responsible for maintaining individual certifications as required by job function or by law and provide verification and recertification when requested by management.  

Additional Requirements:

• Reliable transportation and flexibility to travel between Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties as needed.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed for community events.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Performs a combination, but not necessarily all, of the following duties:

• Conduct street-based outreach and engagement and support justice-impacted individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders.

• Build trusting relationships with hard-to-reach populations and utilize harm reduction and trauma-informed approaches to engage participants who may be disconnected from traditional services.
• Complete and maintain accurate records, assessments, case notes, treatment plans, outreach logs, and reports in accordance with program requirements and agency policies.
• Develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment, recovery, and service plans based on participant needs, goals, strengths, and barriers.
• Conduct field-based assessments of participants’ behavioral health, substance use, housing, medical, and social service needs and facilitate appropriate referrals and linkages.
• Review and evaluate participant progress toward measurable treatment, recovery, housing, and reentry goals and modify service plans as needed.
• Provide crisis intervention, advocacy, and support for participants experiencing behavioral health crises, housing instability, relapse, or other emergency situations.
• Educate participants and family members regarding substance use disorders, recovery supports, harm reduction practices, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and available community resources.
• Coordinate care and service delivery with physicians, behavioral health providers, case managers, probation officers, courts, correctional partners, housing providers, and community-based organizations.
• Link participants to healthcare, behavioral health treatment, housing resources, benefits, employment services, recovery programs, and other supports that promote successful community reintegration.
• Conduct follow-up, retention, and aftercare services, including field visits and outreach to participants who are disengaged from care or difficult to locate.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences, team meetings, trainings, community collaborations, and quality improvement activities.
• Maintain regular communication with family members, support systems, and service providers, as appropriate and authorized, to support participant goals and treatment progress.
• Perform other duties, responsibilities, outreach activities, special projects, and program-related assignments as directed by management to support participant needs, contractual requirements, program operations, and organizational priorities.

St. John’s Community Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer