Job Details
Job Summary:
The Recovery Specialist's (RS) role is to support others in recovery from various substance use disorders. The RS will serve as a role model, mentor, advocate and motivator to recovering individuals in order to help prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery. The RS must demonstrate an ability to share personal recovery experiences and to develop authentic peer to-peer relationships. The RS will be expected to co-facilitate or facilitate support groups and must have an understanding of and respect for each individual's unique path to recovery. The RS must have a working knowledge of the drug and alcohol treatment system and a demonstrated commitment to the recovery community.
What You Will Be Doing:
Provide recovery education to service recipients for every phase of the recovery journey from pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance
Provide a model for both people in recovery and staff by demonstrating that recovery is possible
Assist recovering persons to identify their personal interests, goals, strengths, and weaknesses regarding recovery
Develop and facilitate patient support groups
Update client notes in medical records after group or individual interactions
Promote self-advocacy by assisting recovering persons to have their voices fully heard; their needs, goals, and objectives established as the focal point of rehabilitation and clinical services
Collaborate with staff to actively identify and support linkages to community resources that support the recovering person's goals and interests
Visit community resources with recovering persons to assist them in becoming familiar with opportunities
Identify barriers (internal and external) to full participation in community resources and develop strategies to overcome those barriers
Maintain contact by phone and/or e-mail with recovering people after they leave the program to ensure their ongoing success and to provide re-engagement support in partnership with others in the agency
Engage with potential participants in the MAT program through pre-screening and community engagement
Other duties as directed by staff.
Education, Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications
Minimum of high school diploma/G.E.D. and 3 letters of recommendation
Strong oral communication skills; bilingual in Spanish and English
Must have worked within the last 12 months part or full time paid or voluntary in the recovery field
Holds or meets the qualifications for one of the following certifications: Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS), Certified Family Recovery Specialist (CFRS), Certified Drug or Alcohol Counselor (CADC), Certified Associate Addictions Counselor (CAAC) or similar certifications.
Intermediate computer skills, including updating client notes in medical records
Solid interpersonal skills, including the ability to deal with people effectively under stress. Must communicate warmth and be able to put people at ease.
Works in harmonious partnership with health center staff to further Esperanza's mission and vision, and to accomplish common goals and objectives
What We Offer:
Chance to work in a collegial work environment with like-minded experienced professionals
Three paid one-day retreats per year together with the whole staff
Vacation, sick, and holiday paid time off, plus one month of paid sabbatical leave after seven years of service
Medical and dental insurance, retirement plan, life insurance and long-term disability insurance
Tuition reimbursement program after one year of employment
You may qualify for federal student loan forgiveness
Recovery (if self-disclosed): Addiction and alcoholism are medical conditions, protected from discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended, Pennsylvania disability laws, and other laws. However, we believe alcoholics or addicts in recovery are often the best mentors for others still struggling. On the other hand, the early stages of recovery are subject to frequent relapse and uncertainty, which would make hiring an individual in the early stages of recovery inconsistent with our mission, and would likely make the individual unable to effectively perform the essential functions of any position that involves direct client contact. Therefore, if an applicant or employee discloses a history of addiction, and the position involves direct client contact, we do require the individual to confirm that they have been in recovery for a minimum of two years.
Disclosure: This job description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be a reflection of those principal job elements essential for recruitment and selection, for making fair job evaluations, and for establishing performance standards. The incumbent shall perform all other functions and/or be cross-trained as determined by management. Incumbent must be able to perform all job functions safely.