Peer Specialist Conexio Care Kent

Peer Specialist—Conexio Care

Founded in 1985 as a subsidiary of the organization then known as Church Home Foundation, Conexio’s original mission was to help older adults with lifelong histories of psychiatric hospitalization to transition into the community. Our mission expanded in 1988 to include homeless services and substance abuse treatment.

Today, Conexio Care serves as one of Delaware’s largest nonprofits, collaborating with government, community, corporate, and other philanthropic partners to maximize services for our state’s most vulnerable citizens.

The Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) is a person who has lived experience with behavioral health and/or substance use disorder (BHSUD)and provides support for program participants who struggle with behavioral health or substance use disorders. The PRS is responsible welcoming and assisting people who come to the Wellness and Recovery Access Program C2C (WRAP C2C) and assist them in accessing the care and services needed to support their recovery. The PRS provides support that is trauma-informed based on three principles: learning versus helping, relationship versus the individual, and hope and possibility versus fear. The PRS provides advocacy, insight, and support to other team members and program participants about the successes and challenges faced by individuals who are living with BHSUD. The PRS promotes recovery-oriented methods to mentor and coach program participants with transitioning through the stages of motivational change, including encouraging harm-reduction techniques. The PRS will be part of the team that will staff and promote the WRAP C2C.

Duties of the position:

• Uses lived experiencing with behavioral health or substance use disorders to assist in supporting program participants in their recovery path.
• Provides supervision and oversight of the WRAP C2C.
• Helps persons served to aspire to roles which emphasize their strengths by sharing the PRS’ own personal story and provide mutual support, hope, reassurance and advocacy.
• Provides peer support to program participants to help them understand and overcome their symptoms, explore the effects of trauma and trauma history, and develop positive coping skills.
• Engages program participants through outreach and support.
• Promotes recovery through modeling his/her own person story, self-confidence, achievements, and self-determination, and the use of natural supports.
• Provides training and education to other team members on person centered and recovery-oriented care, peer support resources, psychiatric advance directives, wellness tools, trauma informed care, and the use of creativity and the arts to promote recovery.
• Assists program participants to complete peer-related elements of the assessments.
• Assists program participants to accomplish their life goals to include living in their chosen housing and community, working, having a natural support system, having hobbies and participating in other leisure activities which are creative, fun and that promote recovery
• Facilitates peer recovery support groups.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation.
• Acts as an advocate for program participants to obtain needed services and public benefits and to raise complaints and suggestions about unmet needs.
• Provides on-call crisis intervention services as needed.
• Works with program participants to build connections that promote recovery.
• Helps the other treatment providers and family members to understand the individual’s view of the world around them and how they perceive themselves in it.
• Attends regular Peer Recovery Specialist training and scheduled meetings.
• Completes tasks assigned by Program Coordinator
• Provides support services (e.g., mentorship, coaching, housing resources, benefits or entitlements, coordinating primary care services etc.)

Excellent Perks and Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits
• 401k, Life & Disability Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Training & Career Advancement
• A Great Team Environment
• Competitive Wages
• Wellness Program & more.

Required Education and Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED preferred
• Experience in substance abuse or behavioral health from personal experience
• Peer Certification
• At least one year experience supporting those who suffer from a mental health diagnosis or substance abuse
• Experience with underserved populations preferred
• Excellent communication skills and organizational skills
• Excellent ability to work with clients with substance abuse, co-occurring and/or mental health disorders
• Excellent writing skills and record keeping skills
• A valid drivers license with a clean driving record

Additional Qualifications:

• Computer knowledge of MS Office, and other HR applications is a plus, not required.
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be proactive, organized, and possess great follow-up skills.
• Must have the skill/ability to collaborate, partner with, and provide exceptional customer support to a variety of affiliate partners within the organization.
• Ability to deal with diverse populations
• Ability to route patient's problems and concerns to appropriate sources
• Ability to stay within boundaries of the role and function of position
• Ability to recognize and de-escalate stressful situations
• Organizational skills
• Communication skills
• Ability to evaluate and comprehend techniques, procedures and changes to meet variable situations
• Able to effectively communicate with supervisors and directors to improve his/her skills and adapt to Agency culture and policies.

Apis Services, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Inperium, Inc.) provides a progressive platform for delivering Shared Services to Inperium and its Constellation of affiliate companies.

Apis Services provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment in compliance with all federal and all applicable state and local laws and regulations, including nondiscrimination in hiring and employment.

All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy/childbirth, veteran status or any other basis protected by law. This policy of non-discrimination and equal employment opportunities extends to every phase and aspect of hiring and employment.