Peer Recovery Support Specialist/Wellness Coach Level 1: Office Based

DEFINITION: Assist clients and their families with their recovery journey through the perspective of lived experience and specialized training. Advocate, coordinate, and integrate physical health and behavioral health care, addiction treatment, and social services with an emphasis on wellness activities. Perform a wide range of tasks to assist patients in the recovery process and to reclaim their life from mental illness, addiction and/or trauma. This position is expected to meet productivity guidelines, as outlined by the outpatient management team.

SUPERVISION: Position is supervised by Program Supervisor.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide integrated services that are welcoming, engaging, and accessible. These services address physical health care, behavioral healthcare and social needs that are recovery focused, strengths based, culturally competent, client centered, trauma informed, and co-occurring capable.
• Promotes a warm and engaging organizational culture in line with NorthCare values, trauma informed care, and health and wellness.
• Perform health promotion services with individuals and in group settings. Health promotion will minimally consist of the following, but is not limited to, checking and monitoring client’s vitals; providing health education specific to client’s condition; developing self-management plans with the client; providing support for improving social networks and providing health promotion lifestyle interventions including substance use prevention; smoking prevention and cessation, obesity reduction and prevention; nutritional counseling; and increasing physical activity.
• Perform individual and family support services, including but not limited to, teaching individuals and families self-advocacy skills; assisting with obtaining and adhering to medications and other prescribed treatments; building social skills in the community that will enhance quality of life, creating a crisis plan and/or psychiatric advanced directive, and identifying resources to support the client in attaining their highest level of health and functioning in their families and in the community. This may include providing transportation to and support during medically necessary services.
• Provide advocacy on the client’s behalf within NorthCare and the community to assist the client in the recovery/independent living processes.  
• Facilitate peer support groups, including but not limited to, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).
• Support clients to recognize and utilize their own strengths, skills, talents, and ability to increase the client’s independence and self-sufficiency in the community. Support the client in development and/or maintenance of relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and significant others in the community.
• Support the completion of assessments to include gathering of information about the patient’s symptoms, behavior, functioning, history, needs, goals, and preferences and develop a care management plan to integrate physical and behavioral healthcare needs and establish goals. 
• Support the monitoring and tracking of outcome measures for clients.
• Maintain clinical records in a timely manner, as required by agency policy, funding sources and accreditation authorities.  Complete all required forms in a manner consistent with requirements.
• Maintain professional competency in the area under one’s responsibility through appropriate readings, attendance at workshops and training. Comply with all requirements to maintain professional certification(s).
• Knowledgeable regarding: NorthCare’s electronic record system and public folders; CCBHC requirements, ODMHSAS Services manual, contract requirements, and benchmarks; National Outcome Measures (NOMS); Medicaid rules and regulations.
• Return phone calls and cell text pages promptly. Check and respond to email daily. 
• Maintain consistent work attendance and contact supervisor on timely basis for needed late arrivals or absences. Meet dress code expectations.
• Complete all NorthCare required courses and training and comply with all agency policies and procedures, including but not limited to documentation deadlines and productivity expectations.
• Performs any reasonable work requested that falls within the qualifications but not specifically described in work performed.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Candidate/employee must meet the ODMHSAS criteria for Peer Recovery Support Specialist, which requires a high school diploma or GED, knowledge in the area of mental health recovery and wellness and be a current or former consumer of mental health services. Must obtain ODMHSAS Peer Recovery Support Specialist within 60 days of hire, if not currently certified and complete annual continuing education requirements to maintain certification. Must obtain ODMHSAS Wellness Coach Certification within 60 days of hire, if not currently certified and complete annual continuing education requirements to maintain certification. Certification as a WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) facilitator preferred.

This position requires a high degree of flexibility and efficiency. Must display proficiency in the MS Word processing software and intermediate general computer skills. Must demonstrate good interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate verbally with English-speaking clients. Employees must have excellent written and oral communication skills. Must be able to move about facilities freely. Casual professional dress is required with adherence to dress code requirements.

Must have access to reliable transportation. Local travel is required. Must possess and provide verification of valid Oklahoma driver’s license during employment with NorthCare. Must maintain and provide verification of current automobile liability insurance including uninsured motorist coverage.

Must possess and maintain CPR, First Aid and Therapeutic Options certifications; or obtain within 30 days of employment with NorthCare. Must have and/or complete Co-Occurring Training and Trauma Informed Training within 60 days of employment with NorthCare. Must have TB test within 12 months prior to employment with NorthCare or obtain within 30 days of employment with NorthCare.

Every NorthCare employee is responsible for adhering to any and all laws, professional standards and ethical codes that apply to his/her/their job responsibilities.