Peer Recovery Specialist

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Job Summary: This position is assigned to the Addiction Sciences Division of MUSC. The Peer Recovery Coach will provide non-clinical services intended to aid patients in establishing recovery from substance use disorder or high-risk use of substances. The individual will work as part of the Emergency Department Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (ED MOUD) team to provide peer support for patients seeking treatment for substance use disorders. The candidate will assist in screening patients admitted to the MUSC ED and hospital with substance misuse. The candidate will use motivational interviewing skills to assess motivation for change and help patient set and obtain goals. The candidate will facilitate coordination and promote successful linkage to outpatient substance treatment and provide a warm hand-off to community treatment providers. The Peer Recovery Coach will also serve as a patient advocate for individuals they are serving and integrate with hospital staff to reduce stigma. The individual will be available for patients after discharge for support and to troubleshoot any outpatient barriers to care. Services will be provided in the MUSC ED setting with appropriate follow-up. Geographic responsibilities include MUSC Charleston as well as other MUSC locations.

This role is research grant funded.

Minimum Training and Education: High school diploma or G.E.D. is required. Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, Counseling, or related field preferred. The candidate must be actively engaged in his/her own recovery program with a minimum of three years demonstrated personal recovery and sustained abstinence from alcohol and/or drug use.

Preferred Qualifications: Individual must have completed the SC course for Certified Peer Support Specialist. The applicant should demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to relate to patients and health professionals, as well as an 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate a willingness to learn and an interest in acquiring new skills.

Duties and Responsibilities of Role:

25% - Identify and screen ED patients for problematic substance use and conduct brief intervention. The individual will also further assess patients who have screened positive for problematic use by other hospital staff. Once identified, they will assess patient’s readiness to change and use motivational interviewing techniques to support a plan. The peer navigator will work closely with clinical staff to refer for psychosocial needs and evaluation for medication assisted treatment.

25% - Work with patient and ED team to identify community support services and facilitate and coordinate successful linkage to outpatient treatment, or other treatment options as appropriate. The individual will assist patients and family members with understanding how to utilize community services. This includes helping patient identify barriers to successful linkage to outpatient treatment, transportation, lack of photo ID, etc.) and help the patient problem solve. Peer Recovery Coach will provide warm hand-off to community providers.

10% - Act as a peer support to hospitalized patients and help patient facilitate attainment of patient’s goals in collaboration with inpatient peer team, complex care case manager and social workers and other support staff. This includes providing patient and family with recovery resources and information and providing warm handoffs as appropriate. The individual will model healthy coping techniques and self-help strategies.

10% - Contact patients and serve as a resource post-discharge. Consent patients for contact after discharge by the team and attempt to contact within 48 hours of discharge to assess any barriers to transitions of care.

10% - Contact treatment providers and patients to check status of treatment after discharge. Contact treatment centers to verify if patient attended follow-up appointment. Contact patients by telephone that have missed an appointment to assess barriers.

10% - Attend required staff and weekly meetings and complete required documentation and reports. Report patient outcomes.

5% - Serve as a patient advocate and integrate with hospital staff to reduce the stigma of addiction. The individual will act as a resource to other clinical team members on recovery support.

5% - Performs other duties as required.

Physical Requirements: Ability to perform job functions while standing. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions while sitting. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions while walking. (Frequent) Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work from elevated areas. (Frequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Infrequent) Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions. (Infrequent) Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to squat and perform job functions. (Infrequent) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions. (Frequent) Possess good finger dexterity. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 15 lbs. unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift/lower objects 15 lbs. from/to floor from/to 36 inches unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift from 36 inches to overhead 15 lbs. (Infrequent) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand or at a distance. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (Continuous) (Selected Positions) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to work in a latex safe environment. (Continuous) *Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Frequent) *(Selected Positions) *Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (Frequent) *(Selected Positions) *Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and as required. (Continuous) (Selected Positions).

Additional Job Description

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

Medical University of South Carolina participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees