Peer Support Specialist – Southern Colorado (e.g., Pueblo, El Paso Counties)

The CU College of Nursing is seeking a full-time (1.0 FTE) University Staff (non-classified) Peer Support Specialist for the CU College of Nursing. The position will support the grant-funded peer support specialist doula program in southern Colorado (e.g., Pueblo, El Paso Counties).

Standard working hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and this position may be required to work on some Saturdays/Sundays and evenings/nights (for events/clinic coverage). The position is eligible to request a hybrid schedule following the CU College of Nursing policy.

Supervision Received:

This position reports directly to Jessica Anderson, DNP, CNM, WHNP, FACM, Director of Midwifery Services.

Supervision Exercised:

None

Examples of Work Performed:

Clinical Care (75%)

• Under general supervision, receive training and serve as a Peer Support Specialist to implement peer-led interventions for clients in opioid medication-assisted and traditional outpatient client treatment.
• Conduct structured, peer-led individual and group interventions that focus on health education, and care coordination, as well as identifying and reducing barriers to care for clients.
• Conduct outreach activities in the community to engage pregnant and postpartum clients in substance use treatment.
• Provide connections to appropriate resources to clients as requested by the patient.
• Maintain a repository of resources, and track demand/utilization of resources by clients, communicating with leadership/supervisor of action items and additional resources required, partnerships to establish
• Collaborate with supervisor and staff, and coordinate efforts to ensure successful delivery of services.
• Attend and participate in training, team/staff meetings, and other events as needed.
• Identify any problems, challenges, or obstacles in the coordination of services, identify potential solutions, and resolve such problems, challenges, or obstacles promptly.
• Ensure all duties and responsibilities are performed for the effective and appropriate benefit of clients to whom care and/or services are being provided.
• Ensure confidentiality of client health information and/or health records.
• Complete paperwork for each participant served, as required by ICWB and/or any grant-specific paperwork requirements.
• Provide support to people who are admitted into evidence-based MAT treatment within their region.
• Establish and maintain communication, either on-site or by phone with care providers.
• Participate in regular community meetings focused on addressing opiate/substance use challenges, as assigned by the supervisor.
• Facilitate peer recovery support services in a group setting and/or individual setting.
• Assist participants with the creation of a personal recovery plan, as requested by the participant.
• Participate in projects and site meetings.
• Participate in any grant-specific meetings as required.
• Provide support during client labor admission.
• Complete program-supported peer supervision training to provide supervision to peer support specialists.

Customer Service (15%)

• Provide in-person and telephone reception.
• Provide excellent customer service to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide information on program services and respond courteously to queries.
• Work comfortably among clients with or without substance abuse disorder, who are referred from city and county parole/probation departments, the department of Social Services, and other relevant agencies.

Documentation (10%)

• Continuously maintain accurate and up-to-date records and/or notes as required by agency policy.
• Use electronic health record systems to ensure timely documentation, recording, and tracking of communications, interventions, and client data.
• Schedule and maintain multiple, internal, and external appointments.
• Enter data into, and maintain, accurate records of activities.
• Manage confidential client information and health records.
• Document intervention activities in an accurate and timely manner and seek consultation from the supervisor or other staff, as necessary.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation, and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 10/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

To see what benefits are available, please visit: https://nursing.cuanschutz.edu/about/careers/benefits

• High school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED).
• At least one (1) year of peer support or related work experience.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be willing and able to self-identify as having experienced the process of recovery from a mental health disorder, substance use disorder, trauma, or one or all of such conditions.
• Must be willing and able to obtain the Colorado Peer and Family Specialist (CPFS) certification within 1 year of the hire date (fee paid by employer):
• Candidate must provide evidence of earning 60 contact and training hours (CEs) of peer recovery-focused education and training.
• Must include at least 48 hours of peer recovery-focused education/training, including education in documentation, community/family education, case management, crisis management, Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC), screening and intake, identification of indicators of substance use and/or co-occurring disorders for referral, service coordination, service planning, cultural awareness and/or humility, and basic pharmacology.
• Must include at least six hours of ethics education and training within the last six years.
•  Must include six hours of HIV/other pathogens education and training within the last six years.
• Must be willing and able to work some evenings and weekends on an infrequent, as-needed basis.
• Must be willing and able to work in a normal client care environment with some exposure to biological hazards and infectious diseases.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior work experience in Client Navigation and connecting clients to required services or resources.
• Prior work experience in working with pregnant and postpartum individuals and families or people dealing with mental health or substance use.
• Experience with motivational interviewing techniques.
• Experience working with clients who are involved with the criminal justice system, probation/parole, human services, and/or other similar referral sources.
• Experience working with electronic health records.
• Must be willing and able to utilize bilingual skills (Spanish/English) at a conversation level in a professional setting.

Competencies:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of basic therapeutic confrontation and clinical site systems.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain rapport and positive relationships.
• Excellent critical thinking abilities
• Must honor, support, and accept all pathways to recovery.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to manage difficult behaviors.
• Ability to engage successfully with substance-dependent clients in treatment.
• Ability to comply with established rules, policies, and procedures and meet deadlines.
• Ability to be open-minded and nonjudgmental.
• Ability to develop healthy relationships and boundaries with clients.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain client confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA standards.
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultures and diverse socioeconomic situations.
• Ability to effectively and accurately check for typographical, grammatical, and/or spelling errors in documents.
• Knowledge of basic care coordination, medical/hospital, and/or community resources.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite products.
• Ability to successfully handle multiple tasks in a high-pressure environment.

1.     A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position, including prior experience with addiction substance use disorder, the path to recovery and time since use, and existing supports for maintaining recovery/sobriety.

2.     Curriculum vitae/Resume

3.     Five professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address.

4.     A copy of all relevant diplomas/certifications (i.e. Confirmation of high school diploma)

Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers.

Questions should be directed to: College of Nursing Human Resources at [email protected]

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125