Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center, Indiana's first community mental health center, provides comprehensive care for emotional and behavioral problems, including severe mental illness and substance abuse. The Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Centeroffers both inpatient and outpatient services, including several outreach centers as well as clinic- and community-based services.
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.
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 high school diploma or equivalent required
Minimum one (1) year in recovery required except as noted below:
Narcotics 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 by program end required; must submit a plan to obtain an approved peer recovery credential during new hire orientation
Strong customer service skills
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
Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center's primary mission is to serve individuals with serious mental illness and chronic addiction as well as seriously emotionally disturbed children and their families. Patients of all ages are welcomed, from children to seniors, with a philosophy of care that stresses strength-based and family- and community-centered treatment utilizing the Recovery Model of treatment.