Job Title: Peer Recovery Coach (Emergency Department)

REPORTS TO: On-Site Supervisor

Job Summary:

The Peer Recovery Coach provides a collaborative, strengths-based, and non-clinical approach to aid patients in reducing the risk associated with their use of alcohol and/or drugs. The Peer Recovery Coach will work as part of the care team to provide peer support and motivation for patients who use drugs or alcohol. The Peer Recovery Coach will assist patients in overcoming obstacles to reducing the risk associated with their use by providing education, identifying and linking patients to resources, and guiding, advocating, supporting, and assisting individuals to improve their health and wellness. Services will be provided primarily in the hospital with appropriate follow-up.

SKILLS: The Peer Recovery Coach must demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to relate to patients and health professionals, as well as the ability to develop professional working relationships with partner agencies. The candidate must possess excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills, as well as good problem-solving skills. The incumbent must be able to read, interpret documents and write routine reports. Basic computer skills are required. Must be able to demonstrate patience and tact when dealing with patients, families, and other staff, to integrate Continuous Quality Improvement principles for service and organization work improvements. Ability to work with people of all social, economic, and cultural backgrounds; be flexible, open-minded, and adaptable to change. to develop collaborative relationships with physicians, families, patients, interdisciplinary teams, and other community agencies. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate a willingness to learn and an interest in acquiring new skills.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Conducts encounters with patients identified as engaging in risky alcohol and/or drug use through universal screening, consult, or another process
2. Identifies patient's history of drug/alcohol use, treatment history, motivation to change behavior to improve health & wellness, and present needs for community support services
3. Identifies patient's readiness to change and uses motivational interviewing techniques and other communication skills to support a plan for improving health and wellness, which may include reducing the associated risk or eliminating harmful drug and/or alcohol use.
4. Provides education on risks of overdose, discusses harm reduction strategies, and assures that patient and family/social support have naloxone and are trained to use it. Assist patients and family with understanding how to utilize these community services.
5. Works with ED, medical unit, Care Navigation, Behavioral Health, and other care team members to plan for services and support based on patients' level of readiness Acts as a peer support throughout the hospitalization and post-discharge, as appropriate to facilitate attainment of goals.
6. Introduces patient to community-based recovery support services, including treatment, and assists them with understanding how to utilize these services to support their recovery and wellness
7. Assists patients in linking to community-based recovery support and substance use treatment services, including securing appointments and transportation and addressing barriers to care Models coping techniques and self-help strategies.
8. Provides peer support throughout the hospitalization and post-discharge, as appropriate, to facilitate the attainment of recovery and wellness goals.
9. Participates in trainings to continually gain new skills.

Additional Duties:

1. Provides family members with recovery support materials
2. Models coping techniques and self-help strategies
3. Maintains knowledge of and relationships with representatives from community agencies and institutions to ensure access to services for clients, identify gaps in services and support quality improvement and program growth
4. Consults with licensed hospital professionals regarding clinical situations and maintains close communication with the supervisor
5. Participates in training to continually gain new skills and meet certification requirements
6. Completes required documentation and reporting
7. Demonstrates ability to meet the productivity requirements set in accordance with program goals
8. Attends required staff and other meetings; other duties as assigned

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or G.E.D. is required.
• The candidate must be actively engaged in his/her own recovery program with a minimum of three years of demonstrated personal recovery and sustained abstinence from alcohol and/or drug use.

LICENSE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION:

• N/A