MOUD Peer Support Specialist bei High Country Community Health

Description

Organization 

High Country Community Health (HCCH is a federally funded Community and Migrant Health Center with medical locations in Watauga, Avery and Burke Counties. The mission of High Country Community Health is to provide comprehensive and culturally sensitive primary health care services that may include dental, mental and substance use disorder services to the medically underserved population of Avery, Burke, Surry and Watauga and the surrounding rural communities. 

Job Summary and Responsibilities 

This position will serve as the peer support specialist for the Medication for Opioid Use Disorder program to support patients addressing substance use disorders. This individual will need to be able to use their own recovery as a source of inspiration and motivation for others. Individual must have an understanding of and respect for each individual’s unique path to recovery. Will have a working knowledge of the drug and alcohol treatment system and a demonstrated commitment to the recovery community. The role of peer support specialist will serve as role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator to recovering individuals in order to help prevent relapse and promote long term recovery. Individual must demonstrate an ability to share personal recovery experiences and to develop authentic peer to peer relationships.

Requirements

Responsibilities include:

- Supporting individuals to achieve their personal recovery goals while enhancing the development of natural supports, coping skills, and self-management skills. 

- Providing connection to community resources based on identified needs by the clinical staff. 

- Provide a model for both people in recovery and staff by demonstrating that recovery is possible. 

- Assisting recovering persons in identifying their personal interests, goals, strengths, and weaknesses regarding recovery.

- Actively identify and support linkage to community resources that support recovering individuals (recovery communities, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual, resources, mutual self-help groups, professional services, etc” that support recovering person’s goals and interests. 

- Connect recovering individuals to recovery supports including but not limited to inpatient rehabilitation, Intensive Outpatient programs etc. 

- Identify barriers to treatment and recovery and assist in developing strategies to overcome those barriers. 

- Maintain contact by phone with recovering person after they leave the program to insure ongoing success and to provide re-engagement as needed. 

- Other duties as directed by management. 

- Become certified as a peer support specialist, if not already. 

- Assist with harm reduction and outreach services as needed. Outreach services may include: initial assessments, lab draws, Hep C testing, collection of urine drug screens, distribution of harm reduction supplies, data tracking, and duties directed by management.

- Additionally, will transport patients to and from HCCH appointments and or community resources as needed/as available.

Supervisory Relationship:

Reports to: Burke MOUD program Manager 

Requirements/Skills/Experience 

- Ability to effectively communicate with a diverse population.

- Ability to interview patients with tact and cultural sensitivity in order to obtain necessary information to make appropriate referrals and follow-up. 

- Ability to establish and maintain effective and cordial working relationship with state and local agencies, other employees, and clients. 

- Ability to learn and utilize all relevant features of the Electronic Health Record in documentation of all clinical work. 

- Excellent time management and organizational skills. 

- Ability to provide patient and community education regarding harm reduction in a clear and concise manner. 

- Intermediate to advanced computer and spreadsheet skills, ability to learn and use electronic medical record systems. 

- Self-motivated and self-guided.

- Active program of recovery is a requirement for position.

- Possess valid NC drivers license

- Ability to perform lab draws or have willingness to obtain certification is preferred.

Qualifications:

High school diploma. Lived recovery experience. Peer support training or will obtain after employment. Experience in primary care, behavioral health, or addiction setting preferred. Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in a team setting. 

Travel Requirements 

Assists uninsured patients with transportation for HCCH appointments as needed and as available. 

Work hours

Part/Full time: 40 hours per week