POST Certified Peer Recovery Specialist - Pittsburgh, United States - City of Pittsburgh

Description

Salary: See Position Description

Location : Pittsburgh, PA

Job Type: CS Exempt, Full Time - Temporary

Job Number: 24-CPRS-01

Department: Office of Community Health and Safety

Opening Date: 02/23/2024

Closing Date: Continuous

FLSA: Exempt

Bargaining Unit: 01

POSITION SUMMARY

Project Summary

The Office of Community Health and Safety was established to address longstanding health, safety, and justice issues in the City of Pittsburgh. The office is tasked with redirecting city resources to better address community needs by housing social services, public health, and social work experts who can assist community members and first responders in situations that require longer-term support, harm reduction approaches, and other services.The Office of Community Health and Safety is developing programs that properly address individuals' health and safety needs, guided by evidence-based practices and community input. This includes hiring social workers, outreach workers, and other professionals to connect residents with services that will provide long-term support and address the root causes of the challenges that they face.

The Post Overdose Support Team (POST) is a collaborative program involving local first-responders, certified peer recovery specialists, case managers, treatment providers, and social service providers designed to provide supports to individuals who have experienced an overdose and refused medical care. The POST initiative for the City of Pittsburgh will provide people with substance use disorder and co-occurring needs with person-centered social services and intense case management focused on harm reduction and compassion in lieu of criminalization and stigmatization. These individuals will be engaged in supportive services with the goal of reducing their likelihood of experiencing another overdose and improving quality of life.

Job Summary

Certified peer recovery specialists are essential members of the POST team, as they help the case managers navigate the complexities of being in active use, the effects of overdosing, and the complexities of behavioral/mental health challenges. Certified peer recovery specialists will empower individuals in active use to self-advocate for their needs and ensure access to services and support. Within the POST unit the certified peer recovery specialist will advocate, mentor and help participants cope with stressors and overcome barriers. Additionally, they will guide the case managers in the complexities of being in active use and help coordinate access to services and navigating the healthcare systems. The certified peer recovery specialist will provide long term support to participants and will develop strong communication relationships in order to ensure they are receiving the necessary care and services. They will aid participants in goal setting, building strengths and ensuring they have access to the desired services. Lastly, the certified peer recovery specialist must attend and participate in the case conferences to share updates, support and connect participants to the necessary services.

Certified peer recovery specialists self-identify as being in active use or in recovery of substance use as well as being former or current consumers of behavioral/mental health and recovery services. Therefore, their lived experience help guide not only the participants but the case managers and service providers.

This position is funded for one (1) year from the POST SAMSHA Grant. Future years of funding are contingent on grant availability and other funding sources.

Department: Office of Community Health & Safety

Posting Type: Announcement

Salary: $54,260 per year.

Union: None, this is a non-union position.

Civil Service Classification: Exempt

REQUIREMENTS

General Application Requirements:

You must submit or show proof of all of the following at the time of filing your application (unless otherwise indicated below) or your application will be disqualified. Disqualifications based on any of these General Application Requirements are not subject to a Civil Service appeal.

• Applicants must submit a complete application including education, work experience, a resume (if applicable) and completed supplemental questions.
• Applicants must be or become residents of the City of Pittsburgh prior to employment and remain a resident throughout employment.
  • Click to view a map of City of Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
• Applicants must comply with the City of Pittsburgh's COVID 19 vaccination mandate.
• A current, valid Class C Pennsylvania Driver's License is required prior to appointment and must be maintained throughout employment. Written requests for accommodation based on the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act will be considered by the Department of Human Resources & Civil Service on an individual basis.

NOTE: The City of Pittsburgh, as a matter of policy, conducts pre-employment and promotional background investigations on all candidates being considered for positions. The background investigation includes but is not limited to criminal background, driver's license and City of Pittsburgh real estate tax payments. Candidates may be disqualified from consideration for employment based on the results of their background investigation (as it relates to the job for which the applicant is being considered).

NOTE: Candidates being considered for employment will be required to submit official transcripts to verify of their post-secondary education (college/university, trade school, etc.) prior to being hired by the City of Pittsburgh. Transcripts must be submitted at the time of any/each job interview you have with the City of Pittsburgh.

Qualifying Requirements:
Your City of Pittsburgh application will be reviewed, and your work experience and education/training will be evaluated to determine if you meet the qualifying eligibility requirements listed below for this position. You will be sent an eligibility letter regarding your eligible/ineligible status.

• WORK EXPERIENCE: The application must clearly show two (2) years of full-time experience working with individuals experiencing substance use issues. (Less than full-time experience will be calculated on a pro-rated basis.)
  
• EDUCATION/TRAINING: The application must clearly show a High School Diploma or equivalent and a Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) or Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) certification. A bachelor's degree is preferred. (See NOTE under the General Application Requirements Section above regarding the verification of education/training).
  
• EQUIVALENCY: Education/training and/or work experience may be substituted on a year for year basis if the application clearly shows the required number of years to meet the Total Qualifying Requirement for this position (based on the sum of work experience and education/training listed above). The Total Qualifying Requirement is two (2) years.

CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS

If you meet the qualifying requirements listed above, you will be sent a letter of admission (when applicable) for the following examination(s). You must pass the written and/or performance examination(s) in order to have your name placed on the official Civil Service eligibility list for this position. Candidates who receive job offers must pass a medical examination (when applicable) prior to start date.

• Written: None required for this position.
• Performance: None required for this position.
  
• Medical: None required for this position.

POSITION DUTIES

• Communicates with individuals experiencing active substance use issues to build trust, promote wellness, and mitigate risk.
  
• Aids case managers in formulating individualized service plans (ISP) for program participants.
  
• Provides secondary response to opioid overdoses and de-escalates individuals who have recently experienced an opioid overdose and refused additional medical treatment.
• Advocates, with the case manager, for program participants as they navigate treatment services, mental health services, and the criminal legal system.
  
• Collaborates with EMS personnel who have recently responded to an opioid overdose to ensure a successful warm handoff to the POST unit.
  
• Alternates between working 1st shift (9am 5-pm) and second shift (3pm - 11pm) depending on program and program participant needs.

to view the full job description including knowledge, skills, and abilities, and working conditions for this position. Locate and click on the position title to view the complete job description.

Full-time City employees receive a comprehensive benefit package including:

• Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
• Pension
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Vacation
• Personal Days

(Benefits may be modified based on collective bargaining unit terms.)

01

The City of Pittsburgh welcomes all applicants, including those who would need to relocate to satisfy the Residency Requirement prior to starting this position. Please elaborate on your plans to relocate to Pittsburgh if you do not already live within the City of Pittsburgh municipality. If you already reside within the City of Pittsburgh, please write N/A.

02

Do you have a current, valid Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Operator's License (Class C - regular) or a current valid driver's license from another state or the U.S. Armed Forces?If you do not possess a current, valid PA Class C Driver's License: Are you able to obtain one prior to appointment if you are selected to fill this position?

• N/A- I already possess the required driver's license.
• YES, I AM able to obtain a PA Class C Driver's License prior to appointment if I am selected to fill this position.
• NO, I am NOT able to obtain a PA Class C Driver's License prior to appointment if I am selected to fill this position.

03

Please select the one answer most closely describing your minimum professional work experience/education:

• I possess a high school diploma or equivalent and three (3) years of full-time experience working with individuals experiencing substance use issues.
• I possess an unrelated associate degree and three (3) years of full-time experience working with individuals experiencing substance use issues.
• I possess a related associate degree and one (1) year of full-time experience working with individuals experiencing substance use issues.
• I possess an unrelated bachelor's degree one (1) year of full-time experience working with individuals experiencing substance use issues.
• I possess a related bachelor's degree.
• I possess a related master's degree.
• I do not possess any of the minimum amounts of education/and or work experience listed above.

04

Please briefly describe your full-time experience working with individuals experiencing substance use issues. If you do not possess this experience please type N/A.

05

Did you read and understand this position is funded for one (1) year from the POST SAMSHA Grant. Future years of funding are contingent on grant availability and other funding sources.

• Yes
• No

06

Due to the City of Pittsburgh's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the City of Pittsburgh requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.Do you agree to provide proof of vaccination if you are selected to fill this position?

• Yes
• No

Required Question