ACT Peer Recovery Specialist

General Statement of Duties:

This position requires that the incumbent provide recovery and support services to individuals with serious and persistent mental illness who may also have identified substance use disorder related needs as part of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team. Incumbent will participate in collaborative client assessment and treatment planning.  Incumbent will provide services in the client’s home and in the community to support integration and stabilization.  All services are provided as part of a comprehensive treatment team. Services are based on a proactive field-based approach and require a strong team orientation, flexibility, and creativity.

The specific team role of the Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) is to serve as the ACT Team liaison in supporting clients in achieving outcomes related to mental health and substance use disorder recovery. Peer Recovery Specialists are individuals who identify themselves as having a mental health and/or substance use disorder diagnosis and are in long-term active recovery.  Peer support is a system of giving and receiving help founded on the key principals of respect, shared responsibility and a mutual agreement of what is helpful.  A PRS is in long-term active recovery and shares their recovery experience as appropriate.  PRS act as a positive role model for clients.  PRS actively listen, support, offer hope to, teach, coach, and connect individuals to community resources. PRS will provide non-clinical, person-centered, strength based, wellness focused, and trauma informed support to ACT clients. The position will work as a member of the ACT team under the direct supervision of the Peer Program Coordinator, and in coordination with the ACT Supervisor, with ACT participants being the priority population served.

Persons in this position are classified non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Major Essential Functions:

Assists in the development, implementation, and maintenance of ACT team services;

Collaborates with other members of ACT Team to provide comprehensive mental health and supportive services to clients;

Participates in daily ACT treatment team meetings to discuss client treatment goal and needs;

Models and coaches recovery behavior and skills for identified caseload of clients;

Supports clients in locating, and applying for, employment opportunities, educational programs, and housing as appropriate;

Provides goal directed interventions that provide skill development to individuals who have serious and persistent mental illness so that they can reside independently in their communities in the least restrictive environment. Interventions may include: helping consumers acquire basic skills in symptom management and adherence to psychiatric treatment plans; assisting consumers in developing medication adherence skills; helping consumers acquire basic functional skills and appropriate behavior related to the individual’s health and safety; helping consumers with individualized training in development and appropriate use of social skills and personal support system; and assisting consumers with skill development for improved personal hygiene, food preparation, and money management;

Performs assessments, determines client service needs, and develops treatment/service in coordination with ACT team;

Provides support to clients and families during times of crisis, and assists in linking clients to appropriate crisis stabilization services;

Links clients to appropriate substance use disorder recovery services in the community as appropriate (i.e. AA, NA) and other natural supports;

Refers clients at risk for HIV infection, AIDS, TB, hepatitis, and STDs and other health concerns to appropriate agencies for testing and treatment;

Collaborates and liaisons with law enforcement officers, local hospitals, medical providers, and others in the planning, provision, and evaluation of these services;

Produces client related service records and maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation consistent with agency policies and procedures. Maintains detailed documentation that is commensurate with requirements for Medicaid reimbursement and licensure regulations;

Receives regular individual guidance and supervision from Peer Program Coordinator, as well as the ACT Supervisor;

Makes effective use of available technology, including, but not limited to, voicemail, e-mail, electronic health record (EHR) system, and other computer resources;

Maintains effective relationships with co-workers and customers based on courtesy, compassion, and respect;

Maintains a current level of knowledge regarding substance use and mental health disorders and available resources;

Assures compliance with Agency policy, client rights, and confidentiality;

Performs other duties as assigned consistent with established operational policies and procedures of the Harrisonburg Rockingham Community Services Board.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Personal lived experience with mental illness and/or substance use disorder and treatment and are in long-term active recovery;

Demonstrated awareness of ethical boundaries and human rights guidelines as they pertain to treatment and community services;

Understanding of the recovery model as it pertains to mental illness and substance use symptoms and disorders;

General knowledge of various mental illness and substance use symptoms and disorders;

Principles of record keeping and documentation as required;

Basic ethics appropriate to a helping relationship and understanding of confidentiality requirements;

General knowledge of community resources;

Skills in behavior management;

Skills in providing ongoing support as needed to promote ability to live independently and participate in the community;

Good interpersonal communication;

Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely (written and oral);

Shows good judgement;

Allows an individual with a disability to assume appropriate degree of responsibility for themselves.

Additional Requirements:

Possession of a current, and valid, driver’s license with an acceptable driving record;

Background check with favorable results;

MANDT Training;

CPR/First Aid Certification;

Trauma Informed Training;

Additional trainings and required.

Minimum Education and Experience:

Peer Certification or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.  Must become a Certified and Registered Peer Recovery Specialist within 9 months of start date. One year of experience with SMI/SUD population is preferred but at least some amount of experience required. High school diploma required, some college experience preferred, but not necessary.

Other Information:

Equipment: Telephone, copy machine, agency and/or personal vehicle, agency laptop, word processing, agency cellular phone, EHR software.

Work Environment: Community settings (homes, workplaces, shelters, streets) with highly variable work environments. General office environment with normal lighting, temperature, air quality, ventilation and noise levels. Vehicle.

Work Location: 1241 North Main Street, Harrisonburg VA 22802; variety of community settings, mostly within Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

Work Hazards: Hazards associated with working in variety of community situations, the characteristics of which may be difficult to predict. Hazards associated with working alone in community settings.

Work Schedule: ACT is a 24-hour program and flexibility is required in order to meet and respond to coverage needs and individual residents’ needs. Shifts will vary to meet the needs of the program.  Full-time employees are required to work 40 Hours each week.  Monday through Friday- day and/or evening shifts. Weekends and Holidays- evening shifts on a rotating basis with ACT team members. Overnight and weekend on-call on a rotating basis with ACT team members. Regular and reliable attendance is required.

HIPAA Access Level 2:  Full read/write access to protected health information (PHI), limited to the minimum necessary, for all clients directly served or assigned, as well as all clients indirectly served through case consultation, clinical supervision, program management, or coverage requirements. Staff at Level 2 are allowed to seek out client PHI as necessary to perform their assigned duties, but are expected to exercise due precautions to limit exposure to any PHI which is outside the scope of their need to know. Utilization of information will be in accordance with HIPAA regulations regarding use limitation, disclosure and requests of PHI.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States..

HRCSB is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. Applicants who require accommodation to participate in the job application process may contact Human Resources at recruitment@hrcsb.org.