Peer Recovery Apprentice - Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center

FLSA Status

Nonexempt

Job Role Summary

The Peer Recovery Apprentice learns on-the-job under the supervision of a certified Peer Recovery Specialist, field trainer, and/or clinical leader while working toward certification as a peer recovery professional.  During the apprenticeship, the Peer Recovery Apprentice learns and demonstrates their ability with assisting clients to access recovery-oriented substance use and mental health treatment, resources and community recovery supports in a variety of care settings by program completion.  The Peer Recovery Apprentice starts with basic tasks in utilizing their lived experience with substance use and/or mental health disorders and progresses to more skill-based tasks as they gain experience. 

The Focus of the Peer Apprentice

The program is a 6 month paid, full-time (40 hours per week) apprenticeship for eligible individuals to develop and demonstrate program knowledge, skills, and abilities and complete the Indiana Certified Peer Support Professional (CPSP) certification. Apprentices will perform job tasks aligned to the peer recovery specialist role with supervision and coaching from Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center (SEMHC) certified peers, trainers, and other behavioral health professionals. Apprentices will also participate in on-the-job trainings intentionally designed to further their knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for a peer recovery specialist role. SEMHC will cover all fees associated with the Indiana Certified Peer Support certification for peer apprentices including training costs, membership and application fees, and exam preparation materials. Upon conclusion of the 6 month program, peer apprentices will be eligible to apply for peer recovery specialist roles within SEMHC. 

Where You Fit In

Peer apprentices are individuals with lived recovery experience looking to become a certified peer recovery coach to empower clients in their recovery. In collaboration with other peers and training staff, peer apprentices will complete on the job training and certifications in preparation to serve as a peer recovery specialist within the organization. This includes completion of online and in-person trainings and job shadowing,  in a variety of clinic and client settings. Upon completion of the 6 month program, peer apprentices will be guaranteed a first round interview for open peer recovery specialist roles. Please note to qualify for full-time positions after the apprenticeship, you must have a valid Indiana driver's license and driving record that meets Eskenazi Health's driving policy requirements.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Embraces, understands, and operates under the Recovery Model, including AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, Thank You) and the spirit of motivational interviewing
• Completes structured on-the-job training and traditional coursework experiences in peer recovery
• Learns and progressively demonstrates competency in identifying and engage individuals who can benefit from peer recovery services.  By program completion, identifies and engages current clients with initial and ongoing treatment and support
• Observes and assists with services under the supervision of a certified Peer Recovery Specialists in a variety of locations including clients’ homes, community, emergency departments and outpatient treatment settings     
• Prepares and assists certified Peer Recovery Specialists
• Works with clinical team to learn and progressively demonstrate competency in conducting initial needs assessments, reviews of the client’s substance use and/or mental health history, and assisting with identifying the client’s goals and expectations 
• Learns and progressively demonstrates competency in helping clients identify and address any barriers to on-going engagement with the treatment system
• Observes and accompanies clients to appointments, meetings and social service agencies as needed
• Integrates cultural awareness and sensitivity of diverse needs into client care in daily work 
• Develops positive rapport with clients and their families while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries 
• Communicates effectively with cognitively impaired clients; remains composed and effective when faced with unexpected situations
• Explains actions reasonably and clearly to clients  
• Enters data into the electronic medical record and other record systems as needed to track outcomes;
• Meets the agency’s standard of timely completion of all documentation including ensuring independent billing meets guidelines for timeliness and accuracy
• Learns and progressively demonstrates competency in providing the appropriate service at the right time, right place, and right frequency as determined by the client’s level of need
• Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, peer support workers help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse. Peer support services can effectively extend the reach of treatment beyond the clinical setting into the everyday environment of those seeking a successful, sustained recovery process. 
• Learns and progressively demonstrates competency in providing community resource referrals, client advocacy, support, outreach and follow-up as needs are identified within the client’s home and community 
• Learns and progressively demonstrates competency in initiating advocacy/liaison role for clients in referrals to and from community partners 
• Learns and progressively demonstrates competency in teaching problem solving skills
   

Job Requirements

• Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent required
• Minimum one (1) year in recovery required, except as noted below:
• Caring Recovery Opioid Treatment Program Only: Three (3) years in recovery required
• Ability to obtain an Indiana-recognized and Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center-approved peer recovery credential at the soonest opportunity available and no later than program end required; must submit a plan to obtain an approved peer recovery credential during new hire orientation
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification
• Preferred: Valid Indiana driver's license and driving record that meets Eskenazi Health's driving policy requirements
• Preferred: Ability to meet the Indiana Medicaid requirements as an Other Behavioral Health Professional (OBHP) or Qualified Behavioral Health Professional (QBHP)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge

• Basic knowledge of substance use disorder and/or co-occurring disorders
• Knowledge of client rights and responsibilities 
• Must meet all population-specific competencies for role and service area

Skills

• Basic computer skills
• Strong interpersonal skills 
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize work

Abilities

• Ability to learn how to teach a skill based upon person-centered learning needs and learning styles 
• Ability to be both clear and concise in written and verbal communications
• Ability to work cooperatively in a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to think critically and problem solve efficiently
• Ability to provide hands-on client care
• Ability to perform safety interventions including physical safety interventions required for service area
• Ability to be flexible to changing priorities
• Ability to lift a minimum of 50 lbs

SUD, Substance Use, Mental Health, Recovery, Peer Support