Sunrise Community is looking to fill a temporary (9 month), full-time position. The Strategic Community Opioid Response/MAT Jail Certified Peer Support Specialist works collaboratively with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Detention Center to provide supportive services to individuals returning to the community from Buncombe County Detention Facility. This individual works with these individuals post-release by supporting their sustained recovery and health needs through provision of system navigation and engagement support.
STRATEGIC COMMUNITY OPIOID RESPONSE/MAT JAIL PEER
JOB DESCRIPTION
Purpose/Role
The Strategic Community Opioid Response/MAT Jail Certified Peer Support Specialist works collaboratively with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Detention Center to provide supportive services to individuals returning to the community from Buncombe County Detention Facility. This individual works with these individuals post-release by supporting their sustained recovery and health needs through provision of system navigation and engagement support.
Responsibilities/Tasks:
- Participate in all Community Care Program related meetings as requested from Harm Reduction Coordinator, consistently, and as a representative of Sunrise Community and the Peer Support credential itself.
- Provide individual and group level Peer Support as requested.
- Help inform policy and protocol changes for this position and program, from a lived-experience perspective (as requested)
- Advocate for and with program participants for their acceptance into all recovery, health, and wellness circles available pre & post-release.
- Timely navigation and handling of traditional system-gap hurdles with participants.
- Provide community health care system navigation.
- Provide legal and behavioral health system navigation.
- Assist individual with applications for benefits, housing, and other Social Determinants of Health
- Assess financial needs regarding Social Determinants of Health
- Maintain participant level budget and invoice Sunrise for participant expenses
- Provide community health resource education internally and externally as requested.
- Maintain integrity and upkeep of all files and requested data tracking protocols.
- At the initial meeting, the PSS will attempt to establish a supportive relationship and assess the individual’s readiness/motivation to participate in recovery and/or harm reduction activities. Utilizing Motivational Interview techniques help guide persons from Pre-Contemplation phase towards Contemplation/Action
- Follow-up with the identified individual/family within 24 hours of referral (or as soon as can be arranged).
- Facilitate a group and provide training that will focus on learning about the addiction model and gaining recovery and social skills.
- If the individual is willing, the PSS will guide the individual in the development of a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP.). During the first week follow-up the PSS will guide the individual to develop a WRAP plan.
- PSS will attempt to establish a supportive relationship with each participant; strength based, person centered support.
- Address questions and suggestions from engaged participant.
- Connect participants to Ride Health when transportation is needed.
Competencies/Knowledge/Qualities:
- Positive, strength-based leadership.
- Organizational skills.
- Personal & professional Boundaries.
- Flexible work hours.
- Possess mentoring abilities and positive, strength-based leadership.
- Self-motived and self-driven to perform tasks at hand.
- Ability to take initiative and the ability to work away from the office.
- Ability to present information and ideas clearly both orally and in writing, and to understand and retain information and ideas presented orally and/or in writing.
- Proficient in verbal, written or electronic communication and ability to communicate across business and social service culture.
- Interpersonal awareness, persons centered planning
- Must possess organizational skills including follow through.
- Ability to set and meet performance goals
- Sensitivity to issues concerning diverse culture(s) and settings.
Reports to:
- Operations Director
Supervisory Responsibility:
- None
Requirements:
- Maintain healthy self-care and work balance.
- Maintain peer support certification with North Carolina and all required CEU hours needed for recertification.
- Abide by PSS Code of Ethics
- Must have Criminal Justice involvement, lived experience, with no personal Criminal Justice involvement for 1+ years.
- Minimal 2-year experience in the MH/SU field (education experience a plus but not required)
- Possess and maintain a valid NC driver’s license and proper registration and insurance on personal vehicle.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Category:
Non-Exempt
Sunrise is a living wage organization and we provide dental insurance and primary care health membership (not insurance).
TO APPLY: Please send Resume and references to acarlisle@sunriseinasheville.org