Peer Specialist

Job DescriptionJob Description

Peer Specialist – Harm Reduction

 

Peer Specialists are part of our Addiction Response Team and utilize their lived experience to walk side by side with individuals seeking recovery from Substance Use. Peer Specialists will assist individuals in meeting their goals surrounding substance use across the continuum of care through a harm reduction lens including treatment and recovery. This individual will work alongside SummitStone and Northern Colorado Health Network and other local providers to expand existing harm reduction services in Northern Colorado including other local providers and community agencies through education, outreach, connectivity to harm reduction services, treatment, and other recovery services. We believe that the ability for a Peer Specialist to use their lived experience to assist others is crucial to the success of our work and vital to these services in the region.

 

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

● Minimum 2 years in active personal recovery

● Strong written and verbal communication skills

● Experience with persons who have an addiction, experience with opioid use disorder is especially preferred

● Experience partnering with local and regional health and human services resources

● Cultural Competence especially as concerns substance related stigma and poverty (Medicaid, Medicare, uninsured populations)

● Honesty with one’s own experience and ability to empathize with others addiction and recovery process

● Ability to maintain non-reactive and calm when engaging with individuals who may or may not be intoxicated, belligerent or have a history of behavior health issues

● Ability to adjust priorities quickly as circumstances and needs dictate for member success

● Ability to Build relationships with those with a substance use disorder including but not limited to those who are justice involved and those with complex medical and/or mental health issues.

● Strict Confidentiality

● Basic Computer Skills preferred for navigation through multiple Electronic Medical Record Systems and data collection tools as determined by organizational needs and our grant partner needs

● Willingness to partner with local and regional health and human service resources

● Ability to work independently and within a team

● Reliable transportation

● Valid Driver License

 

Education or Formal Training

· HS Graduate or GED required

 

 

Working Environment Physical Activities

● Primary Job Location is at the North Colorado Health Alliance in the Loveland Community Health Center with up to 80% travel to other parts of the region

● Contact with the public by phone and in person.

● Sitting

● Standing

● Walking

● Climbing up and down stairs

● Bending and reaching

● Must be fully vaccinated against COVID as a condition of employment

● Annual Influenza vaccine

 

Job Responsibilities:

● Act as member of the Northern Colorado Health Alliance and the Addiction Response Team and support the Northern Colorado Health Network and SummitStone Health Partners to expand and support Harm Reduction Services in Northern Colorado

● Facilitates council of lived experience to support with advisement of the grant deliverables.

● Facilitates educational presentations and marketing in the community, including individual and group level interventions, outreach events, and other materials.

● Provides in person support during the operation of the syringe access program including, but not limited to, safe disposal; distribution of syringes and safe injection/snorting supplies; overdose education; data entry; and intakes.

● Represents NCHA at community events and collaborative meetings as needed.

● Maintains current understanding of overdose, treatment, and recovery best practice in addition to HIV/HCV prevention issues and trends; participates in additional trainings when offered.

● Maintains and develops referral network of People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) support and prevention services and provides linkage to care (LTC) as needed.

● Works collaboratively with NCHA’s Addiction Response Team and Peer Recovery Team, the SummitStone Harm Reduction Manager, the NCHN Prevention Services Manager & Prevention Services team

○ Collaborate in the advancement of harm reduction education and syringe access programs regionally

○ to develop and support programs that are culturally competent and responsive to clients accessing services regionally

○ maintain accurate and timely documentation and reporting of services

○ manage member/participant/client, conflict of interest, ethics and support issues that arise

● Help design and implement community events and participate in community workgroup meetings.

○ Participate in family support programs. These programs will address families and friends of people with SUD to increasing knowledge of opioid/naloxone, assist on how to move loved ones towards treatment, and advocating for their own health amidst their loved one’s recovery.

○ Help plan and implement community events that will raise awareness Addiction, Treatment, Recovery, and Overdose (i.e. Opioid Awareness Day, Harm Reduction Symposium)

○ Attend a variety of community workgroup meetings and help connect community members to supportive services.

■ Responsibilities include presenting and sharing at meetings and events, engagement, and outreach to persons in the community for involvement and input in grant strategies, and monthly social networking responsibilities to recruit event attendees and promote training and events.

● Act as an ambassador to people currently experiencing substance use disorder by connecting them to the CO-SLAW network and other relevant supportive/harm reduction measures.

● Completion of a 40-credit hour course as a Peer Recovery Coach.

○ This will provide the experience necessary to support the traumas of other community members, navigating other’s recovery while also living out the Peer Specialist’s own to

■ Advocate for People struggling with Substance Use or in recovery

■ Share Resources and assist in building strength based skills

■ Help to build community and relationships

■ Mentor and assist in setting goals

■ Help to remove barriers and obstacles to treatment, and recovery

■ Learn the roles of a Recovery Coach – Motivator/Cheerleader, Ally/Confidante, Truth Teller, Role Model/Mentor, Problem Solver, Advocate, Community Organizer, Lifestyle Consultant, Friend/Companion.

● Enrollment of members using appropriate assessment tools and completion of GPRA Survey at enrollment and then at 6 month follow up

● Support persons to continue engagement with care coordination plans as needed including both medical and behavioral health treatment plans

● Participate in telephone contacts, office/hospital visits, and other means of connecting with members to reach identified goals

● Attend member appointments with providers and community resources as needed

● Assist members in scheduling appointments, follow up care, referrals, medication refills, etc. to coordinate for the members Care Plan.

● Enter all documentation, contacts, and assessments into required databases

● Support with transporting members to and from Harm Reduction, Treatment and Recovery Services using NCHA company vehicle across the region as needed

 

Other Duties as Assigned:

● Support of the mission and vision of NCHA

● Provide input into development of policies and procedures

● Compliance with NCHA programs overall

● Meeting and training attendance

● Participation in ongoing performance improvement activities

● Participates in departmental and agency retreats and meetings.

● Works days and evenings as needed, some evenings and weekends required.

● Additional duties as assigned.

Company DescriptionThe North Colorado Health Alliance convenes partners and co-workers in education, community service, health care, business, faith-based organizations, and government. The Alliance’s mission is to see Northern Colorado become the healthiest region in the healthiest state by developing and supporting a healthy population with 100% access to quality service and care at a sustainable cost.Company DescriptionThe North Colorado Health Alliance convenes partners and co-workers in education, community service, health care, business, faith-based organizations, and government. The Alliance’s mission is to see Northern Colorado become the healthiest region in the healthiest state by developing and supporting a healthy population with 100% access to quality service and care at a sustainable cost.

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