"Peer Support Specialist III (STAR Mercer)"

Rutgers The State University is seeking a Peer Support Specialist III in the Community Outreach Services – Support Team for Addiction Recovery (STAR) of Rutgers University Behavioral Healthcare.

The Peer Support Specialist III (Recovery) is a member of the Support Team for Addiction Recovery (STAR) program who will provide non-clinical recovery support services for individuals with opioid use disorders (OUD). The Peer Support Specialist III (Recovery) uses lived experience and basic peer support skills to engage and empower individuals served to support their wellness. Offers insight into the experience of living with a mental and/or substance use disorder and relevant recovery supports in order to assist staff in identifying program environments and treatment approaches that are conducive to recovery.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Engages individuals served in a collaborative supportive working relationship.
• Uses his/her own lived experiences with mental health and/or substance use recovery as a vehicle to establish rapport and build relationships with the person served and/or family member(s).
• Shares experiential knowledge, hope, and peer recover support skills.
• Maintains relationships with the individual in order to assist him/her in the treatment engagement and recovery process.
• Reinforces, guides, and assures individuals served that recovery is possible, and is built on multiple strengths, coping abilities, and the resources of each individual.
• Visits individuals served in their home throughout the county as per schedule developed with supervisor.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• At least three (3) years of experience in the guiding principles of recovery is required.

City: Mercer County

State: NJ

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Standing, sitting, walking, talking or hearing. No special vision requirements.
• Ability to speak clearly and write proficiently.
• Hearing is essential.
• The ability to focus on the task at hand despite numerous interruptions.
• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time and document into an electronic medical record.
• The employee spends much time driving, walking, standing, bending and talking with individuals served in the community located throughout the County.
• Transport of individuals served in state vehicles.
• The employee can expect to lift up to 30 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The work environment includes both office based services and community outreach.
• Individual wellness checks and crisis intervention required.
• Subject to unpredictable situations, patient crises, to include behavioral, medical and psychiatric.
• Occasionally exposed to patients exhibiting assaultive behaviors.
• Exposure to blood borne pathogens that requires use of personal protective equipment.