Recovery Support Specialist

Overview:
POWER's mission is to help women reclaim their lives from addiction and related emotional health issues and improve the well-being of future generations. We are an agency committed to providing quality gender-responsive, trauma-informed treatment and recovery supportive services to women with substance use and co-occurring disorders.

Role Summary:
The Recovery Support Specialist is a member of the Treatment Team, provides recovery supportive services and on-site supervision for the residents of POWER Halfway House for all shifts, and is responsible for maintaining a therapeutic, gender-responsive and trauma-informed environment for clients that is safe and reflects POWER’s mission.

Responsibilities of the Role:

• Functions as a member of the treatment team, using a strength-based and trauma-informed approach to work collaboratively with other treatment team members to provide compassionate and non-judgmental support for clients in their treatment and recovery.

• Functions autonomously using appropriate judgment in problem solving of daily situations.

• Managing client crisis situations and utilizing on-call clinical staff or supervisory support as appropriate.

• Facilitates and helps coordinate daily client activities at POWER House (PH) in a consistent manner to support client success. Recovery Support Specialists should be knowledgeable of the daily schedule and prepared to assist any external providers/volunteers who are providing groups/activities for the clients.

• Assist client’s understanding and compliance with POWER House expectations and assignments using a collaborative and strength-based approach.

• Provide verbal change of shift report to oncoming staff to include all applicable and relevant information to include but limited to, new admissions, discharges, medication issues, and other pertinent information to ensure seamless continuity of care.

• Maintains daily written documentation of each client’s activities, attitude, behavior, and progress in the daily shift log and individual chart.

• Manages client self-administration medication process. Follows all protocols on this process to include navigation to the client Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and oversight of the self-administration process, recording the administration of medications, documenting any issues per policy, and escalating concerns and issues to the treatment team and leadership quickly.

• Facilitates/attends in-house Community Meetings, Meditation, Gratitude, Physical Activity, Education Sessions and other related in-house meetings or groups as scheduled. Provides coverage for front desk as needed.

• Monitors residents’ daily chores and works collaboratively with residents to strengthen their skills and ensure proper housekeeping standards are met.

• Conducts and records routine room/ and POWER House inspections one time per shift at a minimum. Address any issues that arise

• Maintain all regulatory compliance for the house to ensure staff and clients are safe. This includes reporting broken or damaged items in our building management system, conducting and recording fire drills, recording refrigerator/freezer temperatures checks, and any other required duties assigned in this arena.

• Provides transportation for residents outside AA/NA meetings, doctor appointments, DPA office visits, and other appointments as needed. Maintains a clean driving record and insurance.

• Supervises client’s family/friend visits in accordance with agency policy and procedure.

• Conducts random and as needed drug testing on clients per agency policy.

• Assists with admissions and discharges of PH clients to include but not limited to cleaning rooms and packing client belongings at time of discharge.

• Completes all documentation requirements in our EMR.

• Participates in staff development, training, and meetings as required.

• Maintains knowledgeable and compliance with internal and external policies, procedures, regulations, and standards; including, for example, all of POWER’s policies and procedures and Quality Assurance Plan, DDAP requirements, State Licensing standards, County Monitoring requirements, and managed care regulations.

• Maintains a level of proficiency with information technology and navigation of our Electronic medical record, Microsoft Office 365 and its applications, POWER’s internal Sharepoint, POWER’s building management system and other technology applications necessary to perform the job.

Minimum Required of the Role:

• High school diploma or GED

• One year experience working with addicted individuals.

• Knowledge and understanding of addiction, recovery, and 12-Step Programs.

• A valid PA driver’s license and clean driving record

• Proof of active Insurance

• Minimum of 1-2 years legal driving experience (In order to transport clients in POWER vehicles).

• Act 73 FBI, Act 34 State Criminal Patch, and Act 33 Child Abuse clearances required.

• Ability to rotate shifts as needed and take On Call coverage on regular rotation.

• Certified Addiction Counselor and/or Certified Recovery Specialist preferred.

• Experience in a women-centered treatment environment or with gender-responsive care preferred.

• Personal recovery experience is not required; however, knowledge of recovery support systems and 12-Step programs preferred. (If in recovery, a minimum of 3 years of personal recovery is required.)

Skills and Knowledge:

• A level of proficiency with information technology and navigation of our Electronic medical record, Microsoft Office 365 and its applications, POWER’s internal Sharepoint, POWER’s building management system and other technology applications.

• Effective interpersonal and engagement skills including sharp critical thinking skills.

• The ability and desire to work with all types of women, and a willingness to exhibit nonjudgement, patience and compassion.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.

• Value for and ability to deliver excellent customer service.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

• Self-directed, flexible, and the ability to multi-task.

• Understanding and support of a trauma informed system of care.

• Model and support clients and staff in health and wellness activities using healthy coping skills.

• Support organization’s mission with a sensitivity to Dignity, equality, and belonging to assure there is workplace harmony.

Working Conditions

• Working in POWER’s Swissvale, PA campus.

• The ability to navigate up and down several flights of steps, multiple times throughout each and every shift.

• The ability to lift supply boxes under 25 lbs.