Recovery Peer Specialist

BENEFITS:

• 21 days paid time off (PTO) per year
• 3 mental health days per year
• 12 paid holidays per year
• health, dental, vision, life insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan
• student loan forgiveness plan eligibility
• growth opportunities

Position Summary: To provide outreach and direct peer support services to participants as part of a multi-disciplinary team to persons with substance abuse problems. Service provision will focus on working with clients to enhance their recovery. Service is provided to individuals at community, home or office. Promotes recovery through community services and assists in removing barriers to recovery.

Educational Requirements: High School Diploma/GED. Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (if not certified at hiring date, the applicant must be working toward certification and would have one year of hire date to achieve certification).

Special Skills: Past or present consumer of mental health or substance abuse services with a history of managing one's own illness. Awareness of the importance of recovery in living with a mental illness or addictions problem. Past experience working directly with people in a service oriented field is beneficial. Active membership in a consumer advocacy or self-help group. Ability to work well with others. Familiarity with the Sarasota County community. Ability to interact with various types of people. A sound understanding of mental health and/or substance abuse problems and treatments. Personal traits which include: patience, tolerance, caring, mature and understanding.

Position Duties:

1. Assists clients in removing personal and environmental obstacles to recovery, through assessing needs and community services.
2. Provides linkage to the Recovery Community through knowledge and contacts within the recovery community. Engages members and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed towards member's individual goals.
3. Serve as a personal guide and mentor in management of personal and family recovery through follow-up contact and service connections within the recovery community.
4. Provides motivation through support in order to encourage participation in aftercare appointments.
5. Provides referrals to the clients for outside agencies as needed and provides accurate and timely documentation within the charts.
6. Meets regularly with treatment professional to coordinate individual services based on member's needs.
7. Maintains all required paperwork and billing documentation
8. Maintains customer confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential; following established confidentiality policy and procedures; maintaining professional boundaries with clients.
9. Maintains inter- and intradepartmental workflow by fostering a spirit of cooperation

FIRST STEP COMPETENCIES

Demonstrates Dependability:

• Arrives to work on time according to FSOS policy
• Uses leave time according to FSOS policy
• Completes documentation/paperwork and projects within deadlines

Demonstrates Flexibility & Initiative:

• Assumes additional responsibilities and a willingness to assist colleagues
• Works different shifts when necessary
• Recommends program changes and improvements

Demonstrates Teamwork:

• Maintains an overall work attitude of cooperation and professionalism in all interactions with agency staff and community professionals
• Attends and participates in required staff meetings and agency-wide committees
• Receptive to direction and feedback from supervisor

Demonstrates Professionalism:

• Conducts self in professional manner with colleagues, peers, and clients
• Recognizes the rights of clients; and will protect client's privacy at all times by following FSOS State, and Federal mandated privacy procedures and regulations
• Adheres to FSOS Code of Ethics at all times
• Complies with all agency policies and procedures, laws, and regulations under which First Step operates

First Step of Sarasota, Inc. (FSOS) is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors. We are dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our staff and clients. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees. FSOS also conducts pre-employment drug screening (to include medical marijuana) as a Drug Free Workplace pursuant to the Drug Free Workplace Program under Florida's Workers' Compensation Law.