This position requires lived experience as someone with a minimum of 48 months of continuous recovery.

The Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) provides advocacy and support to individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) who are receiving services through Heartland Regional Alcohol and Drug Assessment Center (HRADAC). The Recovery Support Specialist will provide routine care and monitoring for consumers on the unit.

The primary purpose is to help bridge the gap between professional treatment and sustainable recovery and to help individuals begin, maintain, and improve the quality of individual and family recovery.

The RSS position is designed to connect with the client who is in early recovery or struggling to establish early recovery.

The RSS will be a part of the HRADAC clinical team with the responsibility to provide supervision and monitoring of clients, while promoting a safe and sober living environment.

The RSS position at Lansing Correctional Facility will participate and assist clients with educational, social and recreational activities on the unit, and escort clients when leaving the unit.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Please note that this is a brief outline of the position. Other tasks and duties may be assigned at the discretion of Heartland Regional Alcohol and Drug Assessment Center.

• Provide listening, support, and peer interaction to all individuals on the Unit.
•  Provide Motivational Interviewing and recovery engagement strategies, assisting clients in establishing their own path to recovery.
• Provide Informational Support by assisting clients with tools on recovery/health/wellness issues that will help in beginning recovery.
• Provide emotional support by interacting in a warm compassionate manner with clients, while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Monitor client’s compliance with program requirements, promoting client achievement of goals & objectives.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify behaviors that require intervention.
• Promote client progress and participation, documenting as assigned.
• Participate in Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement processes, identifying needs on the unit, maintaining appropriate levels of supplies needed on the unit, and attending all required trainings.

SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Maintain a professional presence within the stakeholder’s facility, complying with all policies and procedures of HRADAC, the Scope of Practice for Kansas Certified Peer Mentor, set forth by DCF/KDADS, and policies of the designated stakeholder location.
• Demonstrates considerable independent judgment and initiative when carrying out the position responsibilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Displays courtesy, tact, respect and acceptance toward clients, members of the general public, community members, and stakeholders.
• Ethical behavior as demonstrated through honesty, accountability, and maintaining confidentiality.
• Able to manage time and resources demonstrated by the ability to be organized and flexible while assisting the clinical team in identifying needs on the unit.
• Works well on teams; attentive and cooperative with others in order to successfully accomplish tasks.
• Detail-oriented, timely and accurate completion of documentation, paperwork and employment requirements such as timesheets, expense reports and calendars.
• Able to work with diverse clients and stakeholders.
• Reliable degree of behavioral stability, clean and sober.
• Understand and demonstrates appropriate boundaries at all times.
• Shift work may be required.
• A valid driver’s license, dependable transportation, and proof of auto insurance must be maintained.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Complete the 6 hour introductory course to achieve certification as Kansas Peer Mentor in Training, followed by 15 hour advance peer mentor training, to achieve certification as Kansas Certified Peer Mentor, within 1 year of employment.
• Familiarity with the need of persons with addictions through personal, lived experience in a recovery program.
• Must have a minimum of 48 months of continuous recovery and be working a stable recovery program (i.e. twelve step, church/spiritual, other recovery support group).
• Service work associated to recovery, such as sponsoring, holding positions in home group, district, and state level as well as volunteer activities in the community that demonstrate quality recovery may be considered in lieu of full 48 months of recovery.
• Experience and ability to use multiple computer applications, including but not limited to, Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel and Outlook, and electronic documentation, as required.

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APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Kris Carnahan, Director of Operations & Administrative Services
Heartland Regional Alcohol & Drug Assessment Center
913-789-0952 or 1-800-281-0029