Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

Overview

Job Summary Reporting to the Mobile Crisis Supervisor, the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) will serve as a recovery agent for participants of the Mobile Crisis Program who are experiencing acute psychiatric crises. The CPRS will provide and advocate for effective recovery-based services to aid in creating a stable environment for individuals with a substance use disorder or a dual diagnosis (substance use disorder and mental health).

The focus is on improving daily living skills and improving access to programming. The CPRS brings firsthand or learned recovery experience to empathize with and relate to program participants, offering hope and support in overcoming obstacles. A knowledge of the recovery process, signs and symptoms of substance use and mental health issues, and community resources that support independent living is essential.

The CPRS’s role is to support others in recovery from a substance use disorder. The CPRS will serve as a role model, mentor, advocate and motivator to recovering individuals to help prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery. The CPRS will demonstrate an ability to share personal recovery experiences and to develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships.

• Provide recovery education to clients for every phase of the recovery journey from pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance.
• Assist clients to identify their personal interests, goals, strengths and opportunities regarding recovery.
• Promote advocacy by assisting clients to identify their needs, goals, and objectives consistent with recovery and reintegration.
• Facilitate groups and individual sessions concerning various topics.
• Assist clients in articulating personal goals for recovery using one-to-one and group sessions.
• Support clients in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, support and resources to aid them in achieving desired goals.
• Utilize motivational and coaching techniques, with supervision, to support clients in actively engaging in their care by providing reminder calls and wellness checks.
• Identify barriers (internal and external) to full participation in community resources and develop strategies to overcome those barriers.
• Complete discharge planning and procedures for clients completing the program.
• Complete discharge follow-up contacts to ensure appropriate transition from the program.
• Document within required guidelines all contacts with individuals in their clinical record.
• Develop, implement, and promote ongoing community training opportunities.
• Provide coaching and education either at the client’s home or within the community on daily living skills and community integration, including linking them to recovery networks and offering guidance on household responsibilities.

• Certified Peer Recovery Specialist certification (CPRS).
• High School Diploma or GED.
• Must have 2 or more years of sustained recovery from a substance use disorder.
• Must have acquired or meet the qualifications as a Certified Recovery Specialist.
• Must complete training and maintain certifications for Basic First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Crisis Intervention and drug testing procedures.
• Must understand and respect clients’ unique path to recovery.