Certified Peer Recovery Supporter - Peer Bridger

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescription:

Zepf Center has been serving the Lucas County community for over 50 years. We are the leading provider of behavioral health and substance use disorder services in Northwest Ohio. Services include adult and child psychiatric, substance abuse, case management, residential, Crisis Care, and therapy programs, as well as career development and wellness services. Zepf Center also offers primary care medical services to our patients to contribute to their continuum of care. Zepf Center is a trauma-informed agency and environment for both patients and staff.

General Summary:

The Certified Peer Supporter serves as a role model and advocate for individuals experiencing mental health and/or co-occurring substance use disorders. Utilizing personal lived experiences in recovery, the specialist provides mentorship, facilitates recovery-based interventions, and assists individuals in navigating available services. This role focuses on empowering individuals, promoting self-determination, and providing education on recovery resources, including community-based programs and support networks. This position operates in accordance with Rule 5122-29-15 and Rule 5122-29-15.1, which define peer support services and the certification requirements for adult, family, and youth peer supporters.

Work hours vary based on the department the CPS works in.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This position will provide a variety of the 14 elements Peer Services outlined below:

1. Ongoing exploration of recovery, resiliency, and wellness needs:

• Assist individuals to identify healthy steps they will take to assist in their recovery including safety plans, self-care plans and recovery support groups
• Facilitate group and individual interventions that help individuals plan for their recovery

2. Supporting individuals and their caregivers and families in achieving goals through increased knowledge, skills and connection as identified by the individual or family:

• Educating individuals on available services, including peer support programs, advanced directives, living wills, and client rights processes.
• Promote coordination and linkage among other providers (communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual resources, mutual self- help groups, professional services, etc.)
• Provide individual recovery interventions that assist the individual function at the highest level possible in the home, community, workplace and school

3. Encouraging Hope:

• Inspire and encourage hope through developing trust and rapport with individuals in or seeking recovery
• Provide vision-driven hope and encouragement for opportunities at varying levels of involvement in community-based activities (e.g., work, school, relationships, physical activity, self-directed hobbies, etc.)
• Provide a model for both people in recovery, family members and staff by demonstrating that recovery is possible through clinical treatment and recovery supports

4. Support the development of life skills:

• Provide skill development interventions that help the individual in such areas of healthy eating, healthy activities, building effective relationships, employment survival skills,
• Facilitate peer-led support groups that provide support and empowerment

5. Developing and working toward achievement of individualized recovery, resiliency, and wellness goals;

• Assists individuals in identifying personal recovery goals and developing plans to achieve them.
• Provide recovery education to individuals for every phase of the recovery journey from engagement, recovery planning, recovery treatment, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance.
• Assist individuals in recovery in developing their own plan for advancing their recovery and improving functioning in the home, community, workplace and/or school. Teach and coach skills to navigate systems effectively and efficiently utilize services

6. Modeling personal responsibility for resiliency, recovery and wellness;

• Demonstrates healthy recovery behaviors that roles models growth and change

7. Teaching and coaching skills to effectively navigate systems to effectively and efficiently utilize services;

• This includes being a mentor and role model for individuals in recovery, offering guidance and support through personal lived experiences (when appropriate).
• Provide recovery education to individuals for every phase of the recovery journey from engagement, recovery planning, recovery treatment, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance
• Provides support with applications for supplemental programs such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, Housing, vocational rehabilitation, food pantries and other similar services

8. Addressing skills or behaviors, through processes that assist an individual, caregiver, or family in eliminating barriers to achieving or maintaining recovery, resiliency, and wellness;

• May co-facilitate groups that focus on recovery and skill building activities (SUD, WMR, WHAM, NEWR etc.)

9. Assisting with accessing and developing natural support systems;

• Promote self-advocacy by assisting individuals in expressing their voice, needs, goals and objectives.
• Provide ongoing exploration of recovery, resiliency and wellness needs

10. Promoting coordination and linkage among providers;

• Aids individuals in completing required forms and navigating healthcare and social service systems.
• Maintain contact by phone and/or e-mail with recovering person after they leave the program to ensure their ongoing success and to provide re-engagement support in partnership with others in the agency if needed. Long-term engagement, support, and encouragement.

11. Coordinating or assisting in crisis interventions and stabilization;

• Coordinate or assist in crisis interventions and stabilization
• Engage with medical professionals, client rights officers, and other staff to facilitate problem-solving and advocate for individuals as they engage in crisis services.

12. Conducting outreach and community education;

• Uses assertive outreach techniques to engage individuals into agency services at the courts, hospital, shelters, and other community organizations
• Represents the organization at community meetings, technical assistance calls, and stakeholder presentations, providing information on peer recovery support services. Provides training on peer recovery service delivery for staff, interns, and program participants.

13. Attending and participating in team decision making or specific treatment team; or,

• Collaborates with treatment teams (with consent) to support intake, discharge planning, and ongoing recovery efforts.
• Participates in the integrated team meetings

14. Assisting individuals, caregivers, or families in the development of empowerment skills through advocacy and activities that mitigate discrimination and inspire hope.

• Acts as a liaison between individuals in recovery and service providers, ensuring effective communication and problem resolution

Other vital duties:

15. Ensure compliance with Ohio Law and Licensing requirements by maintaining proper documentation, reporting, and adherence to ethical standards in peer support services.

16. Documents all activities and interactions as directed by the supervisor.

Specific/Individual Competencies:

• Strong communication and active listening skills.
• Must have computer skills needed to document service interventions
• Must have the ability to use electronic health records
• Ability to establish trust and build positive relationships with individuals in recovery.
• Understanding of mental health and substance use disorder recovery principles.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Demonstrates cultural competence and sensitivity to diverse populations.
• Maintenance of at least one CPS certification in Ohio

Organizational Competencies:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the agency mission, vision, goals and philosophy as well as the policies and procedures.
• Strives for high client satisfaction by providing leadership and/or assistance to coworkers and clients through the integrated care process.
• Demonstrate consistent professionalism.
• Demonstrate teamwork.
• Abide by the agencies and/or professional code of ethics.
• Strives to improve own and agency operations.
  

Requirements:

Position Qualifications:

• Must be an individual with lived experience in mental health and/or co-occurring substance use disorder recovery.
• Must meet state requirements for Certified Peer Recovery Supporter, including:
• Registration through OhioMHAS as a Certified Ohio Peer Recovery Supporter.
• Completion of 16-hour online OhioMHAS E-Based Academy Course.
• Completion of a minimum of 40 hours of peer service delivery training or three years of formal experience in peer service delivery.
• Successful passage of the OhioMHAS Certified Peer Recovery Supporter exam.
• High School Diploma
• Specialty designation in mental health and/or substance use disorder based on personal recovery experience.
• Must adhere to HIPAA and confidentiality regulations.
• Must adhere to Ohio Law/Licensing board requirements for certification and service delivery standards

Those eligible to drive company vehicles must have a valid driver's license and be eligible for coverage as defined by the agency commercial insurance carrier. Those who drive personal vehicles in the course of business must be able to provide proof of insurance.