Recovery Support Specialist - Middletown CT Courthouse - Military veterans preferred

Job Description

About The Village: The Village was one of the first agencies in the country to provide homes for neglected children. Today, we continue to achieve our mission “to build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children” by providing a full range of behavioral health, early childhood and youth development, substance use treatment and support services for children, adults and families in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut region.

Named a Connecticut Top Workplace for five consecutive years with national distinction for workplace culture and diversity, equity and inclusion practices, you can be sure you’re joining an organization that’s just as committed to your success as we are to those we serve.

Starting annual salary:$47,000

JOB SUMMARY

The Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) has lived experience with recovery from mental health issues, Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) or other substance use issues or has family members who have experienced such issues. This lived experience allows the RSS to serve as a role model and resource to assist others in their own recovery. The RSS works with individuals, family/significant others and the community to engage and assist people affected by these mental health and/or substance use issues. The RSS will connect people to a closely linked network of services and supports with a focus on dignity, respect and personal growth. The network will include inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, including community-based treatment services for mental illness, substance use disorders and OUD, including Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), as well as other supports in areas such as housing and employment. Through knowledge of the recovery community and other community support resources, each RSS will help connect individuals to services that enhance their recovery plans, while supporting their goals in developing a safe support network. The RSS does not replace clinical services, but rather enhances them. If recovery support services occur within a clinical setting, the RSS acts as a member of the person’s clinical team.

Treatment Pathways Program

The Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) is a vital member of the CSSD Treatment Pathways Program team, providing peer-based recovery support services to individuals involved in the criminal justice system who are experiencing substance use and/or mental health challenges. The RSS uses their lived experience in recovery to inspire hope, promote wellness, and support clients in achieving their recovery goals. This position works 35 hours in the courthouse and 5 hours for the clinic and VERV RV.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Establishes effective professional relationships with medical, behavioral health and community organizations to encourage referrals of persons identified with MH/SA disorders.
2. Responds to every referral within 2 business days, maximum, and sooner if indicated by the person’s circumstances or requests by referring providers.
3. Engages with each person from referral through transfer/discharge from service, including initial outreach to individuals when they are identified.
4. Provides emotional support and connection to the program participants.
5. Provides education, advocacy, coaching and mentorship to individuals choosing to work with the RSS.
6. Provides Individual and/or Group Coaching sessions to participants.
7. Speaks publicly about the program and how people can access and benefit from it.
8. Participates as an integral part of the treatment team, including participating in treatment sessions, as appropriate and under oversight of the clinician(s) or other providers.
9. Coordinates referrals to services and role models self-advocacy skills to each participant
10. Participates in multidisciplinary team meetings with community and clinical teams throughout the region, as appropriate.
11. Participates in educational programming and individual services to individuals and their families/significant others to provide information about recovery, mental health treatment, OUD/SUD, and related topics.
12. Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with other community agencies, organizations and referral sources in consultation with supervisor to provide comprehensive and effective treatment referrals for clients (i.e. schools, courts, hospitals, etc.).
13. Performs Community Outreach activities, including Advocacy, outreach across diverse communities, community awareness events, OUD/SUD prevention initiatives and local community awareness and education.
14. Collects program-specific data for the CCBHC program, as assigned. Enters the data into the electronic health record or other data management system, as directed.
15. Meets all standards for timeliness and accuracy in performing data and reporting functions, including communication with referral sources.
16. Complies with all agency policies and procedures, HIPAA regulations, Joint Commission standards and funding sources requirements.

Experience and Skills

EDUCATION

• Must have completed the peer certification program at Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) or Advocacy Unlimited (AU). Documentation of successful completion required.
• Must have or be able to attain Recovery Coach or RSS credentials.

EXPERIENCE

• Must be a self-identified person in recovery or a family member of someone with MH/SA issues, now or in the past.
• Must demonstrate a wide knowledge of community-based recovery and treatment services in the Greater Hartford region and statewide.
• Must be able to communicate comfortably with individuals, family members and significant others, and community resources and medical professionals about recovery-oriented topics, including the RSS’s personal recovery.
• Must be organized and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Should be flexible and able to multi-task.
• Must be able to use relevant computer software, including word processing and electronic health records. Ability to learn and work with specific applications used by The Village and its referral sources is necessary.
• Must be culturally competent to serve diverse client population; bi-lingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.

Job Benefits