Lead Certified Recovery Specialist

Position Summary:

The Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services continues to support a pilot project within the Journey of Hope Project (JOH) to demonstrate the results of implementing a holistic model for treatment and post-treatment services for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and substance use disorder.

A crucial part of the pilot project is providing Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) support, including a Lead CRS, to JOH Members and Alumni. DBH and JOH Project will be supporting the hiring of two CRSs via state reinvestment funds, to learn and implement a promising model of peer support services. This JOH Project will also be hiring 3 Peer Stipend Worker (PSW) positions to offer paid internships to JOH alumni seeking to re-enter the workforce and explore becoming a full time CRS.

This position will work closely with JOH supervisory staff to lead, guide, and coordinate the provider CRS positions, as well as the PSW positions, as well as support current participants and alumni of the JOH project in their overall recovery process.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The overarching responsibility for the Lead CRS in the JOH Project will be to provide coaching and mentorship to JOH a growing JOH peer staff team and provide support to JOH members as they reintegrate into their communities to sustain their recovery and wellness and pursue their desired life.

To do so, this staff person will:

• Participate as a full member of the pilot site's integrated service team.
• Work in a leadership role among the JOH Peer Staff Team to support the skill development of PSW and CRS staff; offering mentoring, coaching, and feedback as individually needed among peer staff team.
• Offer assistance with scheduling and shadowing opportunities in the field with PSW and CRS staff.
• Strategically share personal recovery experiences and develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships.
• Assist members with identifying their interests, gifts, skills, passions, life goals, and hopes for the future, as wells as personal sources of resilience and hope.
• Assist members with identifying and connecting with the supports and services that will help them sustain their wellness and recovery over time.
• Assist members with identifying their short- and long-term needs, preferences, and goals related to services.
• Support members in practicing new skills learned in treatment and developing routines to prepare for community integration.
• Work with people who may be actively using.
• Work in partnership with clinical staff to provide individualized services.
• Support members with identifying and strengthening their relationships with recovery allies.
• Assist members in identifying their personal obstacles to recovery.
• After housing match, assertively connect members to relevant community resources and activities in their preferred neighborhood.
• Accompany members to appointments and other recreational activities, while conducting warm handoffs, when appropriate.
• Continuously expand knowledge of the community resources, services, and programs available to members, and build ongoing relationships with these organizations.
• Facilitate peer support groups including but not limited to weekly JOH Alumni Group and SMART Recovery group(s).
• Assertively engage and support members who have transitioned from residential treatment to community housing.
• Participate in orientation, training, staff meetings, and supervision.
• Write chart notes that describe individual encounters and group experiences.
• Keep accurate and timely documentation.
• Track information needed for pilot project.

Skills Required:

• Lived experience with a substance use condition.
• Open-mined and willing to work with people of diverse races, backgrounds, genders, sexualities, religions, ages, and abilities.
• Willing to explore biases and improve interpersonal communication.
• Ability to use lived experience to engage, establish rapport, and promote change.
• Ability to deliver services and activities at times and locations that are necessary to meet the needs of the target population.
• Ability to work directly with people who may be actively using.
• Ability to work full time.
• Ability to use public transportation.
• Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, as needed.
• Knowledge of recovery support services, including a basic understanding of peer support services.
• Knowledge of services in the community.
• Commitment to supporting multiple pathways to recovery, including medicated-assisted treatment (MAT), medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and harm reduction interventions/approaches.
• Basic computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) and ability to use a computer/keyboard/mouse/laptop including using virtual platforms for various meetings (i.e., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.).
• Work with program leadership to ensure all staff are knowledgeable about the role of peer staff
• Provide direction to CRS staff on how to access supports and services across Philadelphia that will help members to sustain their wellness and recovery over time in the community of their choice.
• Coordinate with other JOH project CRS staff to ensure they have access to resources and materials to effectively and timely respond to members' needs and preferences.
• Model for CRS staff in JOH Project how to strategically share personal recovery experiences and develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships.
• Foster a means to work with members in the community.
• Support CRS staff in the JOH project in accessing training opportunities and practicing new approaches as well as developing routines to integrate recovery-oriented values and practices into daily operations.

Education and Experience:

• Must have current CRS credential/certification
• Must be willing/able to obtain CRSS credential/certification within 9 months of hire
• Strongly preferred lived experience with homelessness
• Strongly preferred lived experience as a Journey of Hope Alumnus
• GED
• People who identify as trans, non-binary, Spanish-speaking, BIPOC, or women are strongly encouraged to apply

Equal Opportunity Employment:

PMHCC, Inc. is committed to equal opportunity. It is our policy to support equal employment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual preferences, age, national origin, disability, behavioral health status, military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

Employees as well as applicants who are currently, or become disabled, must be able to perform the functions of the job with either reasonable accommodation or unaided. PMHCC, Inc. will examine reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the law