Peer Recovery Specialist - Gaudenzia

We need hope-bringers and changemakers — because the work we all do matters. If you’re passionate about making an impact with your time and being someone’s light in the darkness, we want you on our team.

Come Join Us to Do Mission-Based, Meaningful Work

Who We Are

Gaudenzia is one of the largest nonprofit providers of treatment to people with substance use and co-occurring disorders in the nation. We operate in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.  

Our caring, compassionate team is on a mission to save thousands of lives each year and bring hope to people devastated by substance use disorder. Together, we help individuals, families, and communities heal and thrive in the face of one of the most devastating public health crises of our time.

As our organization grows and evolves to meet the needs of our clients and communities, we’re seeking passionate, empathic individuals to help us make an impact. With your help, we can turn the tide on substance use disorder.    

Who We’re Looking For

A successful Certified Peer Recovery Specialist enjoys working with people from diverse backgrounds and doesn’t shy away from honest and caring — yet sometimes difficult — conversations. This position is for you if you’re able to treat others with dignity, compassion, and respect, even in life’s most challenging moments.

Your responsibilities in this role may include:

1. Provide hope and encouragement needed for the client in reaching his/her goal(s) for recovery;
2. Reinforce the process the recovering person has learned for identifying weaknesses such as negative self-talk, while also assisting the recovering person with identifying his or her own strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences.
3. Assist the person in recovery in articulating of their personal recovery goals.
4. Assist the recovering person in the development of their aftercare (wellness recovery) plan;
5. Provide resources for the recovering person about community and natural supports and how to utilize these in the recovery process;
6. Promote empowerment skills through self-advocacy and stigma-busting tools;
7. Advocate for effective recovery based services;
8. Attend mandatory treatment team meetings to discuss the client’s recovery process while in treatment including stabilization, behavior modification, MAT options, discharge and aftercare planning.
9. Become a referral source and act as a liaison with established 12 step and other identified community support groups;
10. Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies;
11. Support the vocational choices of the recovering person and assist him/her in coping with job-related anxiety, support groups;
12. Teach and utilize problem solving techniques and coping skills;
13. Assist the recovering person in building and reinforcing newly learned social skills in the community that will enhance his/her job acquisition and tenure.
14. Accompany recovering person to appointments, meetings, and other events in the community including leisure activities while maintaining ethical boundaries and communication with supervisor;
15. Document in MyAvatar progress, his/her objectives, goals, and development of treatment plan.
16. Document plans and interventions collaboratively with recovering person.

Benefits & Perks:

Gaudenzia is a diverse, inclusive workplace where purpose-driven people thrive. We think our team members are real heroes, and we believe those who devote their lives to making the world a better place deserve competitive salaries, generous health benefits, and unbeatable work-life balance in return.

Benefits & Perks at Gaudenzia include:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance (At No Cost)
• Short-Term Disability Insurance (At No Cost)
• Life Insurance (At No Cost)
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (At No Cost)
• Vision Insurance
• Various Supplemental Benefits (Aflac, Legal, Identity Theft & FSA)
• You generate two banks of time off: Personal and Vacation
  • Paid Time Off (PTO) Accruals at 80 hours minimally during your 1^st year of employment
  • Vacation Accruals at 80 hours minimally during your 1^st year of employment
• 10 Paid Holidays Per Calendar Year
• Paid Bereavement Leave
• Education Assistance Benefit (Tuition Reimbursement)
• Full reimbursement for the cost of professional license/certification renewals
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with an Employer Match Up to 5%
• Employee Assistance Program

Gaudenzia is an equal opportunity employer. We do not practice or permit discrimination based on race, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, religion, creed, disability, or veteran’s status.

Minimum Requirements

1. Education and training: GED or High School Diploma and successful completion of Pennsylvania Certification Board training for Certified Recovery Specialist.
2. Experience at least 12 months of volunteer service or related employment.
3. No substitutions for education or training.
   

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
2. Must be able to express relevant personnel recovery experience in a clear and effective manner.
3. Must be able to travel to programs, service and appointments independently.
4. Must conduct self in a manner that is conducive to growth, learning, and independence
5. Must maintain confidentiality at all times.
6. Must be knowledgeable of the services and regulations pertaining to recovery from co-occurring disorders and confidentiality
7. Must be able to function as a team member.
8. Must possess the ability to develop positive, ethical therapeutic relationships with individual, promoting their personal growth while maintaining their dignity.

What Matters to Us? Our Mission & Our Operating Principles

Our Mission 
Gaudenzia aspires to connect individuals and families to addiction and mental health treatment so they can attain long-term recovery and achieve a fulfilling life embraced by a broad community of mutual support. 

Our Operating Principles:

We, as members of the Gaudenzia Team, are committed to these principles. They guide the way we perform Gaudenzia business, every day.

1. We hold client care as our top priority.
2. We assume good intentions.
3. We are present, we connect, and we communicate with transparency, dignity, and respect.
4. We make data-driven decisions with courage, challenge the status quo, and find innovative ways to grow Gaudenzia and each other.
5. We support each other publicly and privately in all circumstances.
6. We provide and accept constructive, honest, respectful, and timely feedback with an open mind and without personalization.
7. We operate with integrity, focus on outcomes, and have a bias for action.
8. We follow through on agreements and honor commitments prioritized with a sense of urgency — someone’s life may depend on it.

Gaudenzia is proud to be an employer of choice — and a treatment provider of choice — in the substance use and co-occurring disorders treatment field. We work hard to foster an inclusive, supportive environment where our employees and clients always feel safe and welcome. Come work with us!