Job Description

SERVICE AREA: Housing & Justice Related Services (HJRS)

DEPARTMENT: Forensic Services

PROGRAM: Philadelphia Treatment Court Enhancement Project (PTCEP)

JOB OVERVIEW:

PHMC’s Forensic Services department is looking for a part-time Peer Recovery Specialist to provide peer recovery support to Philadelphia Treatment Court Enhancement Project (PTCEP) participants, within the Housing & Justice Related Services division. PTCEP will serve high-clinical-need individuals at high risk for criminal recidivism. Peer Specialists will operate as members of the Project Team and will provide services to participants with opioid use disorders or mental health concerns. The Peer Recovery Specialist will work in collaboration with the recovery/case manager to provide a diverse array of recovery services that include but are not limited to: substance abuse treatment; psychiatric evaluation; mental health counseling; education; employment and vocational services; family involvement; medical assistance application; and housing coordination support to program participants.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide regular face-to-face meetings and phone contacts with participants to identify strengths and challenges to support recovery.
• Identify community linkages to support their recovery efforts, including job readiness, educational, vocational, medical, mental, housing, and family support.
• Provide additional support to participants who find court and/or treatment compliance challenging.
• Provide new participants with initial outreach and orientation to the program.
• Provide outreach to participants at treatment facilities and in the community, including recovery houses, homes, and workplaces, to support engagement throughout participation in Treatment Court.
• Attend case management team meetings.
• Accompany individuals to appointments as needed to model interaction and provide support.
• Engage Treatment Court participants by sharing a personal recovery story.
• As needed, attend recovery plan meetings with the participant and assigned case manager.
• Assist participants in recovery with self-esteem enhancement, conflict resolution, assertiveness, and other recovery skills.
• Meet participants at community-based appointments such as self-help meetings (e.g., AA, NA), physician appointments, food pantries, etc.
• Alert the case management unit to any current or potential behavioral or health-related problems of participants.
• Complete Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) assessments along with all other PHMC-required assessments.
• Provide on-call support as required.
• Provide comprehensive wellness support to participants, which includes routine primary care and mental health services, as needed.
• Maintain a flexible work schedule to meet program participants' needs.

SKILLS:

• Good people skills
• Knowledge of behavioral health and social services networks in Philadelphia County
• Knowledge of services and supports for individuals in reentry
• Ability to work as a team member to provide comprehensive and supportive services to individuals
• Ability to document service provision within an online database system required
• Ability to communicate utilizing a recovery-based problem-solving approach and past experiences to support a recovery lifestyle
• Ability to establish trusting and therapeutic relationships
• Commitment to recovery, choice, empowerment, and the ability of people with co-occurring disorders to find meaningful lives in the community

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: High school diploma or GED

Certification: Must be a Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) or Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) at the time of hire or within the first 90 days of employment

Lived Experience:

• Must have lived experience in the area of substance abuse
• Must have lived experience with the criminal justice system
• Preferred: Lived experience with mental health concerns

Work Experience: 1-2 years of experience collaborating with individuals with substance use and/or mental health disorders

Other:

• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Must be willing to travel locally to treatment programs, recovery houses, court, worksites, and program sites
• Must be flexible to work hours required to support participants, including evening and weekend hours
• Must be willing to participate in on-call rotation

PHMC is an Equal Opportunity and E-Verify Employer.