Peer Recovery Specialist

Job Summary:

MedStar Health is looking for a Peer Recovery Specialist to join our team! We are looking for someone with excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to relate to patients and health professionals, and to develop professional working relationships with partner agencies. Must possess excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills, as well as good problem-solving skills. The incumbent must be able to read, interpret documents and write routine reports. Basic computer skills are required. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate a willingness to learn and an interest in acquiring new skills.

Peer Recovery Specialists are individuals who identify as living in long-term recovery from a behavioral health disorder (i.e., mental health and/or substance use disorder) for two years or more. The Peer Recovery Specialist applies their personal, lived experiences to the non-clinical work of coordinating follow-up care, providing linkages to community resources and sharing their experience, strength, and hope to patients in need. Peer Recovery Specialists will work with the Care Management/Social Needs Team at MedStar Health's Care Transformation Organization (CTO). They provide peer support and motivation to encourage patients who are seeking treatment for mental health, alcohol or drug dependency and addiction issues. They complete referrals to treatment services and help develop care plans to promote successful linkage to treatment services. Services are provided in the office, patient homes, and community settings.

Join one of the largest healthcare systems in the Baltimore-Washington metro region, also recognized as one of the "Healthiest Maryland Businesses". Apply today and learn how MedStar Health can be your next great career move!

 
Primary Duties:

• Acts as peer support throughout the patient’s course of care with the Care Transformation Organization. Acts as a resource to other clinical team members on recovery support. Assists patients and family with understanding how to utilize community services Assists patients in linking to community support services and substance treatment services including securing appointments and transportation. 

• Completes required documentation and other reports. Conducts brief interventions to patients that screen positive for alcohol and/or drug use. Identifies patient’s history of mental illness and/or drug/alcohol use, treatment history, motivation to change behavior and other needs for community-based supports. Identifies patient’s readiness to change and use motivational interviewing techniques and other communication skills to support a plan for reducing or eliminating harmful drug and/or alcohol use. Models coping techniques and self-help strategies. 

• Participates in training to continually gain new skills. 

• Provides patient’s family members with recovery support materials. Provides community based in-person outreach and services to patients to assist with linkages and continued peer support. 

• Telephones treatment providers to verify patient showed up for an appointment; and follow-up by telephone with any patient that misses an appointment. Works with CTO staff to identify community resources. Consults with care management and social needs staff.