Peer Recovery Support Specialist

PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALIST

University of Alabama at Birmingham

General Responsibilities

• To work with substance abuse and/or other mental health related program participants in groups and/or on a one-on-one basis to provide advocacy and personal coaching/mentoring.

• To serve as a vital member of the case management team.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Maintains group and/or individual supportive interaction with participants, their families and social supports.

• Facilitates recovery support groups as assigned.

• Assists case managers in directing clients to available resources in the community to promote community integration.

• Prepares clients for the challenges they will face.

• Transports clients to various community entities as deemed necessary by case manager or program administrator.

• Assists in the orientation process for participants who are new to substance abuse and/or other mental health related programs.

• Keeps case management team (case managers, counselors, program administrators, etc.) informed about patients/clients strengths, accomplishments and obstacles in relation to their recovery goals.

• Provides education and advocacy within the community and agency that promotes awareness of substance abuse and/or other mental health related disorders and criminal thinking while reducing misconceptions, prejudice and discrimination.

• Attends training and development as required.

• Provides training documentation as required.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to encourage and persuade people

• Ability to train others

• Ability to mentor others

• Ability to work as part of a team

• Ability to work independently

• Conflict resolution skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Leadership skills

• Written and verbal communication skills

Additional Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one advocacy and personal coaching/mentoring to patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose after they are discharged from UAB Hospital per the study protocol

• Interact with physicians and study team to support peer care delivery and serve as a vital member of the study team.

• In conjunction with investigators or clinical research staff, support efforts to recruit and enroll patients in a program to link OUD cases to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) services, and psychosocial counseling, and addiction treatment programs.

• Provide follow-up services to encourage and motivate patients with OUD to follow through with plans to access MOUD services and community-based treatment programs.

• Link/refer patients to next addiction programs and clinics for continuity of care

• Attend study-related team meetings.

• Be familiar with study protocol and may provide study-related summaries and reports to study team.

• May also assist with data dissemination in peer-related conferences.

• Attend study-related team meetings.

• Keep a good record of peer service

• Enter some study-related data

• Perform other duties as assigned

Preferred

• Prefers BA or BS behavioral health or psychology.

• At least two year related experience as a peer support specialist in addiction.

• Certified as a peer support specialist by ADMH

• Ability to operate various office machines including printers, computers and various software packages

• Interpersonal skills

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products

• Written and verbal communication skills

• Be a good team player and flexible with tasks at work

Hourly Range: $15.00-$21.15

Education

• High School diploma or GED

• And one (1) year of relevant experience in a peer recovery support environment required.

Licenses/Certification/Registrations

• Certified or eligible to be certified as a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) by The Alabama Department of Mental Health

• OR Certified Peer Support Specialist through FORMLL OR Nationally Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS) by the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC).

• NCPRSS preferred.

• Must obtain certification within one (1) year from date of hire into classification.

UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, and veteran's status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB's Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.