Community Engagement Recovery Support Specialist

Position Summary:

Person in this position, under the direction of the project coordinator, will work in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to support and sustain community-led action around issues related to substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, outreach, intervention, and Recovery Support services. This person respects, and is respected by, the clients they serve and applies their understanding of culture and language, socio-economic factors, community influences, as well as individual experiences and needs to support and empower clients. Essential job functions include those listed below.

Essential Job Functions:

• Develop and sustain positive relationships with individuals and organizations within the local community while demonstrating cultural competency.
• Understand the challenges of the local community and leverage/provide resources to address those challenges.
• Organize, conduct, and/or attend community canvassing and outreach events that engage local residents and strategic partners.
• Work collaboratively with community partners to identify client needs, facilitate access to needed services, and follow up using various platforms (e.g., NowPow).

• Assist clients in establishing or re-establishing support systems within their community to include public benefits enrollment and redetermination.
• Provide services that promote recovery and resiliency.
• Advocate for/with clients to improve access to services, information, or treatment.
• Participate in clinical staffing decisions regarding the client's current strengths and resources and their need for additional resources.

• Work in street and office settings to support in-person and on-line program activities.
• Maintain required documentation and adhere to all reporting requirements as outlined by the funder and the program for each client/participant.

• Demonstrate initiative and contextual awareness by seeking out new work projects and contributing ideas and efforts to the constant improvement of WestCare services.
• Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision, and goals of WestCare Foundation.
• Perform any other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licenses:

• Clinical Certification, must:
  • Hold clinical certification as a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (CPRS) or a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or

• Meet the requirements specified above within one year after the date of employment; and
  • • Not work in any supervisory capacity until such requirements are met; and
    • Work under the direct, verifiable supervision of an individual who has staff supervisory responsibility at the facility; and
    • Sign, and adhere to, a professional code of ethics developed by the organization.

• Training:

• Within one year of hire, must obtain 100 hours of clinical supervision and 100 hours of training/education (40 hours CPRS or CRSS specific, 16 hours Professional Ethics for CPRS or 6 hours for CRSS, and 44 hours core functions for CPRS or 54 hours for CRSS) and pass the CPRS or CRSS written examination to obtain certification.
• Complete any required training to maintain certification.

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Bachelor's degree is preferred.

Experience and Competencies:

• At least two years in recovery from substance use disorder (if applicable)
• Maintain the highest ethical and professional standard as to clients and employees, especially to standards governing confidentiality

• Ability to avoid all dual relationships with clients (any personal, financial, business, social, or sexual relationship or other activity outside the context of the traditional therapist-patient relationship)
• Ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative, and actively support collaboration
• Bilingual (Spanish) is preferred
• Must be highly organized, detail focused, and have excellent time management
• Must possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills; strong computer skills
• Ability to pass a background check
• Ability to obtain and maintain OIG LEIE clearance
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug screening
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion
• Must have professional appearance and demeanor
• Must have valid driver's license and ability to obtain and maintain vehicle insurance
• Ability to pass MVR screening
• Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to populations served
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR certification, first aid certification, and an annual tuberculosis test
• Ability to respond as needed to crisis situations in an efficient manner
• Ability to complete work tasks within scheduled work hours
• Ability to inspire hope in clients

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in a professional setting with significant community work involved
• Regular outdoor, community-based activities are required

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required, which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files). Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in verbally abusive situations through the use of approved verbal de-escalation techniques.

• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee's essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility.

• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions.
• Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.
• The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.