BCORE Peer Support Specialist

POSITION OVERVIEW Member of the BCORE team to provide outreach and peer support services to individuals who use or abuse opiates and other substances, diagnosed with a mental health disorder or dually diagnose in the community and coordinate health and social services between the Agency, community and home settings. A peer support specialist is someone with lived experience of recovery from mental illness, addiction, or serious trauma such as long-term homelessness or incarceration.  They use their personal experience to offer mentorship, hope, and advocacy to help others in their recovery journey REPORTING STRUCTURE There are no staff reporting to this position. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES Conduct canvassing and visits to various street locations, agencies, shelters, and hospitals to engage clients who may be eligible for the BCORE program. Earn and maintain clients’ trust through consistency, integrity, honesty, managing expectations, unconditional positive regard, and persistent follow-up; impart this approach throughout the team through role modeling, coaching, and close consultation. Provide outreach and engagement, one-on-one peer support, group peer support, and case management as needed within an interdisciplinary team. Work effectively and collaboratively with other specialists as part of an interdisciplinary team. Coordinate client care and collaborate with the BCORE team and other social and community agencies, advocating for clients; referring clients to other treatment facilities/community resources as required. Provide assistance with housing and benefits applications, including but not limited Coordinated Access, SSI/SSDI, and SNAP and participate in professional development to maintain housing and benefits expertise. Keep up-to-date, quality services documentation following PEP, HMIS, and other approved policies and procedures. Ensure timely and appropriate follow-up to referrals and excellent communication and coordination with referral partners. From a peer perspective, educate clients and their families in regard to: nutrition, medication, side effects, and physical/psychiatric illnesses, dental care, drug user health (wound care, harm reduction), addictions and mental health treatment levels of care, , health maintenance, and preventative care, including activities related to diagnostic testing preparation and prescribed acute and short-term treatment. From a peer perspective, provide education in communicable disease prevention; prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, within expertise and scope of training. Provide advocacy and appropriate resources for clients. Act as a liaison between the Agency and various community programs. Participate in BCORE-related meetings, client care conferences, training programs, etc. Follow training in Housing First, Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma/Resilience, Peer Support, Person-Centered Care Coordination/Case Management, Street Medicine, and other evidence-based practices. Provide on-call and/or rotating shift duty as needed on nights and weekends and during emergencies. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES Community Canvassing and Outreach Client outreach and engagement for the BCORE program EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE AND JOB REQUIREMENTS Education: High School Diploma and/or equivalent work experience. Skill Requirement: One to six months OJT required for efficient job performance. Job Requirements: Currently possess a Maryland Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credential. Excellent communication, problem solving, and organizational skills. Valid Driver's License Access to a personal vehicle COMMENTS Must exhibit knowledge of mental health and/or addictions treatment and experience working with unhoused populations NOTE: INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DESCRIPTION IS A SUMMARY OF THE ASSIGNED DUTIES AND NOT INCLUSIVE OF ALL REQUIREMENTS THAT MAY BE ASSIGNED. ADDITIONAL DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS