Peer Recovery Support Specialist - Welcoming

EOE Statement 

At HOPE, we are committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.  Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the community we serve.  We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. 

SUMMARY  

Under immediate to general supervision, the Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) of the Access Program provides peer support services; serves as an advocate; provides information and peer support for consumers as they initiate services with the agency.  The RSS performs a wide range of tasks to assist consumers in orientation to the agency and services. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. 

Adheres to agency policy and procedures, as found in the online SharePoint Folder.  Also adheres to CARF and DMHSAS standards and criteria, federal and state confidentiality rules and regulations, and any special funding source requirements including Medicaid and HCA regulations. 

Supports and promotes a service environment for individual in need of behavioral health and/or co-occurring services that is recovery focused, welcoming, and attentive to the needs of individuals who may have experienced trauma in their lives.  Attends annual core competencies training in relationship to individuals with co-occurring disorders or who have experienced trauma in their lives. 

Establishes and maintains professional working relationships with supervisor and peers. Can effectively work within a team or group setting cohesively. 

May perform routine duties of other program staff during absences including accurate admission paperwork, fee agreements, and timeshares. 

Escorts clients to Access Department waiting area and oversees this area to assist with any concerning behavior, assist in reducing negative feelings of anxiety, concern, fear, etc. 

Communicates with supervisor, access staff, peers and consumers to coordinate the intake process. 

Establish a welcoming environment sensitive to culture, gender, and trauma informed needs of the consumers. 

Initiates contact with clients to establish trust, rapport, and assist in orientation for new consumers. 

Utilizes knowledge, skills and abilities to teach and mentor the value of every individual's recovery experience; model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies; assist service recipients in articulating personal goals for recovery; assist service recipients in determining the objectives needed to reach his/her recovery goals. 

Provides a therapeutic environment for peers to assist each other in developing wellness and recovery focused goals and skills.  Provides and advocates for effective recovery oriented services 

Provide and coordinate referrals to other services as appropriate when a client does not meet eligibility requirements for participation in agency services, or as requested by the client. 

Assists consumers in obtaining services that suit that individual's recovery needs. 

Informs consumers about community and natural supports and how to utilize these in the recovery process. 

Assists consumers in developing empowerment skills through self-advocacy. 

Responsible for maintaining strictest confidentiality guidelines for interactions regarding consumer and family information. 

Provides a minimum of 85 hours billable services with consumers per month. 

Utilizes the philosophy of Collaborative/Therapeutic Documentation to meet clinical record keeping documentation standards and ensure documentation is completed with the Consumer to the extent possible and all documentation is completed on the same day of the date of service. 

Responsible for seeking out supervisory assistance for additional training and to enhance skill set as needed. 

Interacts with other professionals to discuss therapy or treatment, new resources or techniques, and to share information.  Works closely with Access Therapists, Access Case Managers, other Welcoming Unit staff, and others to assist clients with admission process. 

Reports and documents services in accordance with agency policy and procedures.  Adheres to HOPE policy and procedure of having documentation completed by the end of the next business day. 

May be required to work evening or weekend hours. 

May be required to provide services in a community setting. 

May be required to provide client transportation using personal vehicle or agency owned van or small bus. 

Performs other related duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE  

High School diploma or GED and have demonstrated recovery from a mental illness, substance abuse disorder, or both. 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS 

Required to obtain and maintain RSS Certification. 

Required to complete, Therapeutic Options, or approved safety training and annual updates. 

May be required to obtain and maintain First Aid and CPR Certifications. 

In order to provide client transportation in private or agency vehicles, must possess current, valid Oklahoma license, and meet HOPE's vehicle insurance requirements. HOPE will annually obtain copy of Motor Vehicle and Record from the State Department of Public Safety. 

LANGUAGE SKILLS  

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence and clinical writing/documentation in medical records chart. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to families, clients, and other employees of the organization. 

REASONING ABILITY  

Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to seek out supervisory assistance for additional training when needed and make application of techniques or other skills to meet essential job duties and responsibilities. 

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES  

Ability to relate to person with severe mental illness and/or substance use in a positive, helpful and constructive manner.    

Ability to establish and maintain effective and tactful working relationships with co-workers; to express ideas and facts clearly and concisely in written or oral form. 

Possess knowledge about various mental health settings and ancillary services (i.e. Social Security, housing services, and advocacy organizations). 

Personality and mature presentation of oneself demonstrating the ability to work with various systems while maintaining objectivity and cooperative attitude. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and stand. The employee frequently is required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee must have vision enough to read written or typed data. The employee must have hearing and speech enough to communicate effectively with staff, clients, and public in person or by phone. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.