Peer Support Specialist III (STAR Mercer)

Rutgers University

United States, New Jersey, Piscataway

Sep 05, 2024

Position Details

Position Information

Recruitment/Posting Title	Peer Support Specialist III (STAR Mercer)
Job Category	Staff & Executive - Healthcare
Department	UBHC-Case Management Srvcs-PISC
Overview	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.
Posting Summary	Rutgers The State University is seeking a Peer Support Specialist III in the Community Outreach Services - Support Team for Addiction Recovery ( STAR) of Rutgers University Behavioral Healthcare. The Peer Support Specialist III (Recovery) is a member of the Support Team for Addiction Recovery ( STAR) program who will provide non-clinical recovery support services for individuals with opioid use disorders ( OUD). The Peer Support Specialist III (Recovery) uses lived experience and basic peer support skills to engage and empower individuals served to support their wellness. Offers insight into the experience of living with a mental and/or substance use disorder and relevant recovery supports in order to assist staff in identifying program environments and treatment approaches that are conducive to recovery. Among the key duties of this position are the following: Engages individuals served in a collaborative supportive working relationship. Uses his/her own lived experiences with mental health and/or substance use recovery as a vehicle to establish rapport and build relationships with the person served and/or family member(s). Shares experiential knowledge, hope, and peer recover support skills. Maintains relationships with the individual in order to assist him/her in the treatment engagement and recovery process. Reinforces, guides, and assures individuals served that recovery is possible, and is built on multiple strengths, coping abilities, and the resources of each individual. Visits individuals served in their home throughout the county as per schedule developed with supervisor.
Position Status	Full Time
Hours Per Week
Daily Work Shift
Work Arrangement
FLSA	Nonexempt
Grade	177
Position Salary
Annual Minimum Salary	50190.40
Annual Mid Range Salary	51230.40
Annual Maximum Salary	52769.60
Standard Hours	40.00
Union Description	Teamsters 97
Payroll Designation	PeopleSoft
Benefits	Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. For details, please go to http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview.
Seniority Unit
Terms of Appointment	Staff - 12 month
Position Pension Eligibility	PERS

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience	High school diploma or equivalent required. At least three (3) years of experience in the guiding principles of recovery is required.
Certifications/Licenses	Must be certified or eligible for certification as a Peer Support Specialist or Family Advocate. If not certified, documented demonstrated progress toward completion of Peer Support Certification within 12 months is required. Valid driver's license.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities	Must attend a three (3) day Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) State mandated training that delineates peer role functions, competencies, responsibilities and includes an orientation to DMHAS multiple treatment initiatives. Must possess own vehicle or alternate means of transportation for use to outreach individuals served.
Preferred Qualifications	Associate's Degree preferred. Experience with community based service provisions to adults with addictions preferred. Bilingual skills (Spanish/English) is preferred.
Equipment Utilized
Physical Demands and Work Environment	PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Standing, sitting, walking, talking or hearing. No special vision requirements. 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 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

Posting Details

Posting Number	24ST2130
Posting Open Date
Special Instructions to Applicants
Regional Campus	Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS)
Home Location Campus	Piscataway (RBHS)
City	Mercer County
State	NJ
Location Details

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate's offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement