Mentor

Title: Mentor

Classification: Full Time/Non-Exempt

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Reports To: POWER Connection Supervisor

Overview

POWER's mission is to help women reclaim their lives from addiction and related emotional health issues and improve the well-being of future generations. We are an agency committed to providing quality gender-responsive, trauma-informed treatment and recovery supportive services to individuals with substance use and co-occurring disorders.

Job Summary:

Mentors at POWER are employees with lived experience, and they provide peer recovery support services to high-risk individuals who are 18 years of age or older in the community within Allegheny County. The services that mentors provide are non-clinical and are most successful when combined with professionally directed care including drug and alcohol treatment. Mentors serve as recovery and wellness coaches by traveling to their client in the community while modeling healthy recovery, teaching the skills necessary to achieve and sustain recovery, and supporting clients in their efforts toward making recovery-oriented changes in their lives. Through a client-centered approach and within a Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC), Mentors assist their clients by linking them to needed resources and services in the community and helping them develop their own system of natural support. The key to the Mentor’s work is forming healthy growth-producing relationships, sharing success in overcoming barriers, and motivating clients to responsible action.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide on-going recovery support services to approximately 20 – 30 individuals who are in various stages of the recovery process including, for example, those who are ambivalent or pre-contemplative about making recovery-oriented life changes and those who are already in recovery but need help sustaining their recovery gains as they continue to build a foundation for long-term success.

• Provide outreach and utilize assertive engagement strategies to connect with individuals and help motivate them to consider beginning or strengthening their recovery.

• Work collaboratively with the client to complete a needs assessment that identifies strengths and needs and develop an individualized Recovery Plan (within the first 6 months of admission) that is based on concrete, measurable, realistic goals that reflect the needs assessment. Review the Recovery Plan every 6 months and monitor progress toward goals per agency’s policies and procedures.

• Based on a needs assessment, work with clients to identify and access resources in the community to meet the needs identified. Promote the use of natural resources within the community. Help clients become familiar with treatment and other service options and resources. Link clients to needed services with an emphasis on modeling and teaching them how to access available services for themselves.

• Work with clients to identify and build upon their strengths and empower them by providing opportunities to direct their own recovery process. Teach skills, and support mastery of skills, needed to support and facilitate an individual’s recovery.

• Encourage and support individuals in accessing and remaining engaged in treatment for substance use disorders, as well as for co-occurring disorders or mental illness. Using Motivational Interviewing helps to motivate clients to consider treatment and link to appropriate assessment services.

• Work with POWER’s Nurse/Lead Health Navigator to assist clients in developing a holistic approach to overall health and wellness, paying particular attention to their primary health and preventive health care needs.

• Engage and maintain regular contact with various treatment providers and other health and human service agencies, including CYF and the criminal justice system to collaboratively support clients in their efforts.

• Provide education and information about self-help groups including, for example, 12-Step Programs, faith-based institutions or organizations, etc.; help connect clients to these community-based resources.

• Participate in assigned team meetings and/or consultations as requested.

• Participate in assigned and/or appropriate outreach activities to further the program or POWER.

• Provide all assigned paperwork, complete, accurate, and on time as determined by POWER.

• Participate in assigned meetings, staff development, and training.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age, have a minimum of 5 years’ experience living with a substance use disorder, and a minimum of 5 years’ of demonstrated recovery time. Must be willing to share personal recovery experience.

• High school diploma or GED

• Act 73, Act 33, and Act 34 clearances

• Valid PA Driver’s License and vehicle insurance with a clean driving record

• Reliable vehicle to transport clients, including children, on a daily basis

• CRS (Certified Recovery Specialist) credential preferred; or ability to complete required training for subsequent certification by the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) within three months of hire.

• Proficient IT skills include competency working with Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint systems, and functional navigation in other programs and software.

• Two years’ work history in a behavioral health care environment preferred

Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrate sensitivity to the complexities of problems with alcohol and other drug use and the challenges of recovery; ability to establish empathy with clients and their families and focus on and reinforce strengths and positive behaviors.

• Be open to a multiple-pathways approach to treatment and recovery services, including openness to supporting those engaged in Medication-Assisted Treatment as well as those choosing abstinence-based approaches.

• Model and support clients and staff in health and wellness activities and using healthy coping skills.

• Understand and support a trauma-informed system of care.

• A willingness to become knowledgeable about ROSC and guiding principles.

• Ability to work with diverse populations and cultural backgrounds; support POWER’s mission with a sensitivity of cultural diversity and workplace harmony.

• Comfortable working independently in community settings and demonstrating a high level of energy and commitment.

• Value for and ability to deliver excellent customer service.

• Self-directed and flexible to meet the needs of administration and management, and ability to manage multiple tasks.

Physical and Work Requirements:

• Ability to work and deliver services in the community; including but not limited to client’s homes, CYF offices, health care facilities/hospitals, the Allegheny County Jail, and other locations throughout Allegheny County.

• Ability to maintain a reliable vehicle and travel daily for the role. This includes weather changes.

• Ability to work the hours necessary to complete the work.

• The ability to withstand various weather patterns and traverse stairs to approach client homes

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