Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Peer Support Specialist III in Community Based Services – INTENSIVE RECOVERY TREATMENT SUPPORT (IRTS) for Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.

The Peer Support Specialist III (Health Navigator) is a member of the IRTS team who is responsible for the provision of pre and post release services to individuals with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD) to facilitate continuity of care for the OUD and other SUD treatment for those DOC eligible individuals who will re-enter society.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Uses his/her own lived experiences with incarceration and/or substance use recovery as a vehicle to establish rapport and build relationships with the individuals served.
• Functions as a role model, mentor, sounding board, advocate, and an ally to individuals served.
• Communicates hope and encouragement to individuals served.
• Conducts a Recovery and Wellness Planning Assessment.
• Engages individuals in the prison that initiates service planning activities to prepare for release into the community.
• Gathers information for the determination of health and wellness dimension needs including housing, employment, and education.
• Assists individuals in need to “navigate” through the maze of the criminal justice, treatment, health care and social service systems.
• Visits individuals served in their home or living situation throughout the state as per schedule developed with supervisor.
• Demonstrates the ability to engage and establish a working relationship and provides services to individuals with opioid use disorders (OUD) and other substance use challenges.

Position Status: Full Time

Annual Minimum Salary: 23.59

Annual Mid Range Salary: 24.09

Annual Maximum Salary: 24.81

Standard Hours: 40.00

Union Description: Teamsters, Local 97

Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. For details, please go to http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview.
Rutgers also offers a benefit program to eligible full-time postdoctoral fellow students. For details, please go to https://finance.rutgers.edu/healthcare-risk/insurance/postdoctoral-health-insurance.‍

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least three (3) years of previous relevant experience.
• Direct experience with incarceration and/or substance use.  May not have been incarcerated or on probation or parole for past five (5) years.

Certifications/Licenses

• Valid driver’s license. Must possess own vehicle or alternate means of transportation for use to outreach individuals served.
• Must be certified or eligible for Certification as a Peer Support Specialist, Peer Health Navigator, or Peer Bridger. If not certified, complete a Peer Support Certification within twelve (12) months of hire is required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Be able to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Serves assigned shift which may include one (1) weekend day.
• On-call duties as assigned.
• Have good knowledge of public transit system or willingness to learn and teach.
• Be able to use computer to record services or be willing to learn.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with community based service provision to adults with addictions.
• Bilingual skills (English/Spanish).

Equipment UtilizedPhysical Demands and Work Environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to speak clearly and write proficiently. Hearing is essential. The ability to focus on the task at hand despite numerous interruptions. Must be able to sit for extended periods of time and document into an electronic medical record. The employee spends much time driving, walking, standing, bending and talking with individuals served in the community located throughout the County. Transport of individuals served in state vehicles. The employee can expect to lift up to 30 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment includes both office based services, services provided in the NJ Prison system and community outreach. Individual wellness checks and crisis intervention required. Subject to unpredictable situations, patient crises, to include behavioral, medical and psychiatric. Occasionally exposed to patients exhibiting assaultive behaviors. Exposure to blood borne pathogens that requires use of personal protective equipment.

Special Conditions

Must be approved by the Department of Corrections (DOC) and adhere to all DOC requirements. Employees will be subject to and must comply with all security regulations and procedures of NJ Department of Corrections and the assigned facility(ies) including, but not limited to sign in logs or electronic time clocks, searches of person and property, etc. Violations of NJ Department of Corrections and/or being banned by the Department of Corrections to work at a NJ Department of Corrections’ facility are grounds for a disciplinary action and potential termination.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * Do you have a high school diploma or equivalent (ex. GED)?
2. * Do you have at least three (3) years of related experience?
3. * Do you have a valid driver's license and possess a vehicle or alternative means of transportation from one site to another?

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. Certifications/Licenses

Optional Documents

1. Cover Letter/Letter of Application

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Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (UBHC), established in 1971, offers a full continuum of evidence based behavioral health and addiction services for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors throughout New Jersey. UBHC’s 1,060 experienced behavioral health professionals and support staff are dedicated to treatment, prevention, and education. UBHC, one of the largest providers of behavioral health care in the country, has a budget of $260 million and has 15 sites throughout New Jersey. Services are readily accessible and include: inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, screening, crisis stabilization, family/caregiver support, community outreach and case management, supportive housing, supported employment, prevention and consultation, employee assistance programs, and a licensed therapeutic school from preschool through high school. Specialty services include the New Jersey suicide prevention helpline and peer help lines for police, veterans, active military, teachers, mothers of special needs children and child protective service workers. In FY2016, UBHC treated 16,199 consumers, had 24,502 admissions, and touched the lives of 19,441 individual callers through peer support. In addition, UBHC is the primary mental health training resource for the New Jersey departments of Human Services, Children and Families, and Corrections, delivering 16,000 trainings each year.