Recovery Coach (CSP) at Casa Esperanza in Tewksbury, MA

About Casa Esperanza

Casa Esperanza, Inc. is a bilingual/bicultural behavioral health treatment provider serving Boston and the Merrimack Valley. Our mission is to empower individuals and families to recover from addiction, trauma, mental illness, and other chronic medical conditions; overcome homelessness and discrimination; and achieve health and wellness through comprehensive, integrated care.

About the role

The role of the Recovery Coach (RC) is to provide non-clinical services intended to aid individuals in establishing and maintaining individual and family recovery from addiction and mental illness, participate in recovery-oriented activities, and develop a network of sober supports.

The RC will facilitate patient access to substance use disorder treatment, resources, and community recovery groups. The RC will act as a knowledgeable resource providing information on resources and navigating barriers. This position will maintain ongoing patient support regardless of relapse and will serve as a motivator, ally, role model, and advocate for patients with substance use disorders. The RC will work to identify appropriate prospective patients and to facilitate rapid and effective intake to the treatment program. The RC should possess a thorough understanding of community culture to address the barriers to successful recovery, be able to tailor healthcare messaging, and provide links to community resources and treatment options. The RC demonstrates competency in their recovery from addiction, if applicable, and utilizes their own lived experience and their use of successful coping skills to support persons in their own recovery journeys. The RC models behaviors and attitudes consistent with a recovery-oriented culture in which each person's point of view, experiences, and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected, and in which persons' self-determination and decision-making in treatment planning are maximized and supported.

As part of the Casa Esperanza, Inc. team, the Recovery Coach will provide services in a fully integrated, holistic, and collaborative manner using a team-treatment approach to ensure the coordination of all client services, both across Casa programs and with external providers. This integrated model aims to facilitate clear communication amongst all providers and eliminate duplication of efforts or conflicting approaches to care; details necessary for follow-up and assignments; and ensure wrap-around support services are in place to maximize treatment effectiveness and clinical outcomes.

The Casa Community Support Program (CSP) addresses the health-related social needs of individuals living with substance use and co-occurring behavioral health disorders to help them thrive and live successfully in the community. Peer recovery coaching delivers support to individuals from peers with similar experiences to gain hope, explore recovery, and achieve life goals. It is a nonclinical and nonmedical service; however, the Peer Recovery Coach also works with the multidisciplinary team to provide support for individuals as part of our integrated care model, which includes primary care, mental health, and addiction treatment. The Peer Recovery Coach must be able to initiate and complete work independently to fulfill the responsibilities of the job and work collaboratively with all members of the care team. While the expectations of the coach are different than those of the clinical and medical staff, their contributions are equally valuable. With a career at Casa, you will be joining a vibrant team of dedicated and talented people. While there may be opportunities for occasional work from home, this is primarily an in-person, community-based role that requires travel, providing transportation for patients, and in-office time.

What you'll do

• Connect with persons early in the intake/admission process to offer an introduction to program services and to promote recovery by providing support, engagement, and hope to persons contemplating recovery from addictions.
• Assist clients in developing an Individual Recovery Action Plan
• Help clients navigate recovery support systems and access resources, including health and wellness, housing, employment, and other professional and non-professional services.
• Facilitate support groups such as but not limited to NA/AA/HARP/Dual Recovery Group through Zoom as needed and document group notes in the electronic health record.
• Document all client encounters and other data as required and maintain up-to-date client records in the electronic health record.
• Train four peer leaders to deliver peer-facilitated educational groups and organize pro-social activities for participants.
• Assist clients with applying for health insurance
• Provide transportation assistance to and from aftercare treatment and support services
• Assist clients in feeling connected to a community of recovery through active outreach efforts to encourage attendance and participation in recovery-oriented, self-help, and pro-social groups.
• Share personal recovery experiences, if applicable, and demonstrate and model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Help clients to modify attitudes and patterns of behavior by increasing understanding of self, personal problems, and the client's part in creating them; assist persons to build skills that help promote their own recovery and self-sufficiency by providing them education about how to take an active role in their own treatment.
• Provide clients with ongoing education regarding substance abuse, mental health, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tobacco, nutrition and exercise, and other health and wellness information.
• Utilize motivational enhancement techniques to explore treatment options and resolve ambivalence towards care to tip the scales towards treatment.
• Advocate on behalf of patients to help decrease barriers to care
• Works closely with the multidisciplinary team to ensure client needs are met;
• Provides interpretation for clients, as needed
• Actively participates in biweekly supervision with the program director
• Attends mandatory MDT weekly meeting
• Support Lead Recovery Coach and Project Director with reporting requirements as needed.
• Serves as a liaison between administration, staff, clients, and volunteers; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Experience Required:

• Minimum high school diploma or equivalent required
• Minimum 2 years demonstrated personal recovery experience
• Bilingual Spanish/English required
• Current and valid Massachusetts driver’s license and a proven record of safe driving
• Experience with homelessness, mental illness, domestic violence
• Experience with ZOOM or other virtual platforms
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English
• Knowledge of community/recovery resources
• Ability to work both as a team member and independently
• Understanding of relapse prevention and harm reduction techniques
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong communication and technical skills
• Crisis management skills
• Must be able to effectively use computer programs, including web-based database systems
• Ability to meet the physical and training requirements of the position.

What we offer:

Casa Esperanza Benefits Package:

• Compensation: $21.63-$22.12/hr
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: All eligible employees may elect to participate after 1 year of service. Casa Esperanza, Inc. will match a contribution of up to 6% of your annual salary
• Holiday Pay (12 days per year + 1 floating holiday)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)—18 days in year one, 20.5 days in year two, 23 days in year five
• Sick Pay—10 paid days per year
• Long/Short-Term Disability
• Paid by Company Life Insurance
• Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
• FSA/DCA (Flexible Spending Account & Dependent Care)
• ComPsych Guidance Resources - EAP
• Educational Opportunities
• Tuition Remission
• Employee Ticket at Work (Discounts for Entertainment, Travel, Movies, etc.)
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Increased Salary for Credentials
• and more...

Physical & Mental Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

At Casa Esperanza, Inc., the health and safety of our people is our number one priority. That’s why all offers of employment are contingent on the candidate showing proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (currently one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and a booster, when eligible) to pass the pre-employment requirements. Individuals with medical issues or religious beliefs that prevent them from getting the vaccine may request an exemption from the vaccine requirement.

Casa Esperanza’s EEO Statement

Casa Esperanza is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Casa Esperanza, Inc. also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief, in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about an accommodation or need assistance with completing the application process, please email hr@casaesperanza.org.