PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST I Institute for the Hispanic Family POSITION SUMMARY The Peer Recovery Support Worker supports integrated health and behavioral health care management for clients involved in a large, cutting-edge integrated behavioral health and primary care initiative at Catholic Charities’ Institute for the Hispanic Family in Hartford, CT. Helps consumers with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders recognize that they are not alone and can recover from substance abuse and co-occurring illness. Works with CCBHC integrated care team to ensure that the client’s behavioral health and addictions treatment, primary/specialty health and social service needs are met through integrated care. Facilitates warm handoffs of clients to detoxification and inpatient substance abuse/co-occurring treatment programs and their return to CCBHC outpatient care. Facilitates peer recovery groups at the agency and in the community. Connects client with other appropriate peer support and community-based services, as needed. Teams with other staff in co-facilitating psycho-social rehabilitation groups addressing social skills, vocational skills, health and wellness. Administers national evaluation tools as necessary. GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Helps consumers with mental health, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders recognize that they are not alone and can recover from substance abuse and co-occurring illness. Nurtures client readiness for recovery from co-occurring disorders. • Serves as a resource to clients seeking information. Offers relevant information and materials to consumers as appropriate. Maintains an active interest in helping clients. • Provides advocacy services on behalf of client when appropriate. • Works with CCBHC integrated care team to ensure that the client’s behavioral health and addictions treatment, primary/specialty health and social service needs are met through integrated care. • Facilitates warm handoffs to clients to detoxification and inpatient substance abuse/co-occurring treatment programs and their return to CCBHC outpatient care. • Conduct outreach visits to client’s home, hospitals/inpatient facilities and to community sites to engage client and provide services. Attempt to follow up with client within 24 hours of hospital/inpatient discharge to reengage him/her in aftercare services. • Facilitates peer recovery groups at the agency and in the community. Connects client with other appropriate peer supports and community-based services, as needed. Attends community meetings with clients, role playing the first meeting, having a debriefing meeting, etc. • Provides client transportation as necessary. • Teams with other staff in co-facilitating psycho-social rehabilitation groups addressing social skills, vocational skills, health and wellness. Administers national evaluation tools as necessary. • Demonstrates respect and nonjudgmental attitudes in all contacts with clients, community professionals and agencies. Embraces and integrates co-occurring philosophy into work with clients. • As clients are being discharged from care, makes assertive linkages to groups and programs specific to the client. • Provides empathic communication and maintains appropriate boundaries; respects the personal and cultural identity of clients. • Demonstrates ability to recognize signs and symptoms that indicate a client may need additional clinical support, and connects client to appropriate resources. • Reports and removes oneself from any real or perceived conflict of interest. • Participates in performance and quality improvement activities as dictated by supervisor. • Participates in ongoing agency supervision, staff meetings, and appropriate training. QUALIFICATIONS • Certification as a peer recovery specialist. • Recovery from mental health and/or substance abuse diagnosis for a minimum period of one year. • Actively participate in leadership role in recovery activities. • Willingness to establish supportive and respectful rapport with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, including but not limited to clientele, clinical staff, administrative staff and team members. • Willingness and ability to work supportively and effectively within a team setting • Initiative to proceed without direct supervision and utilizes training effectively. • Maturity and dependability. • Ability to follow organizational guidelines, policies, and procedures. • Ability to uphold complete consumer confidentiality. • Ability to provide empathic communication and maintain appropriate boundaries. • Proficient in Microsoft environment, notably Word, Excel and Outlook; ability to document services in an Electronic Clinical Record. • Written and oral fluency in Spanish strongly preferred. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Catholic Charities offers access to a comprehensive array of benefits, including: For Good Health: Medical, Prescription, Dental and Vision insurance For a Secure Future: Life, AD&D and Long-term disability insurance For Retirement: 403(b) Plan, with employer matching contributions for eligible employees For Career Advancement: Training and development opportunities and for Licensed Clinicians ability to apply for the education Loan Forgiveness Program under The National Services Health Corp. For Work Life Balance: Generous paid time off; including vacation and sick time. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Free and confidential counseling Catholic Charities Inc., Archdiocese of Hartford is in compliance with all applicable discrimination laws. All hiring, promoting, and transferring is done on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to membership in any protected class. EEO/ AA/ M-F/ VET/ DISABLED.