The Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) maintains an caseload of active Ashley patients and facilitates regular, individual peer support sessions with each assigned patient throughout their treatment episode. The CPRS adheres to the Principles and Guidelines for the CPRS credential that are required by Maryland Addiction & Behavioral-Health Professionals Certification Board. The CPRS serves as a part of a patient’s assigned treatment team and actively engages with the interdepartmental members of this team to ensure quality of care. The CPRS provides patients with resources deemed appropriate for ongoing care and helps connect patients to these resources throughout the course of treatment.
Key Responsibilities
Peer Recovery Support
Maintains an active caseload of current patients and provides individual, scheduled peer support services for each assigned patient
Manages new patient assignments for peer support services through internal referral system
Adheres to the domains of the Maryland CPRS credential: Advocacy, Ethical Responsibility, Mentoring/Education, Recovery/Wellness Support
Adheres to the “Principles and Guidelines” of the Maryland CPRS credential
Meets with each assigned patient weekly for an individual peer support session lasting 30 minutes or more
Intentionally engages with each assigned patient during each scheduled shift
Actively collaborates as a member of each assigned patients’ treatment team to support patients through residential treatment and their discharge planning process
Facilitates community topic groups, mutual support groups, discussion groups while adhering to the correct procedures and skills necessary
Provides educational and experiential lectures, workshops, and presentations to the patient community
Participates in clinical interventions when requested
Successfully addresses behavioral issues in a professional, compassionate manner, relaying behavioral issues to the appropriate parties
Utilizes the peer support skills necessary to best serve the patient population including, but not limited to active listening, patient re-engagement, de-escalation, advocacy, and accountability.
Adheres to the Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Discharge Planning
Identifies resources aligned with the recommended level of aftercare and presents them to assigned patients
Assists patients in connecting with aftercare resources through phone calls, virtual interviews, online applications, etc.
Assists patients in solidifying appointments/services with aftercare resources through navigating insurance verifications, medical records transfers, financial discussions, and transportation arrangements
Provides each assigned patient with a printed or electronic Continuing Care Plan reflecting all appointments and/or recommended resources
Collaborates with clinical staff to ensure any involved family members are aware of aftercare arrangements and, when appropriate, communicates with family members of patients to provide pertinent aftercare information
Patient Accountability/Safety and Security
Maintains an understanding of the patient schedule for each program
Shares the responsibility of facilitating programming through signup sheet (i.e., scheduled lectures, workshops, patient phone time, “Welcome Tours”, etc.)
Understands the layout of the Ashley campus (room numbers/locations, offices, building amenities) and can accurately provide this information
Performs scheduled rounds of the campus.
Utilizes Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) skills when necessary
Uses proper radio etiquette
Effectively carries out CA responsibilities during emergency drills and events
Documentation/Communication
Uses professional, objective, person-centered language when documenting in the patient’s medical record
Documents all Individual Peer Services in TIER with accurate timestamps and content
Maintains communication via email with clinical staff regarding the progress, participation, and behavior of assigned, mutual patients
Proficiently documents patient behavioral concerns in EMR
Proficiently enters Clinical Aide Notes for new admission “Welcome Tours”
Utilizes Outlook to communicate patient/programming needs to the department
Competently enters incident reports in RL6 software
Ensures all new admissions sign Laundry Services, Evacuation Procedures, and Ashley Patient Guidelines consent forms in TIER
Proficient in operating and troubleshooting the A/V systems for each lecture hall
Intake
Facilitates thorough “Welcome Tours” for all new admissions
Collaborates with PSS management and clinical staff to ensure each new admission is assigned to a CPRS caseload
Reviews the Ashley Patient Handbook and competently answers questions regarding the inpatient treatment experience
Carries out the administering of Trac9 assessments
Transportation
Safely transports new admissions, discharging patients, and performs other trips as assigned
Adheres to the procedure for transporting patients to medical appointments/LOAs
Proficiently utilizes GPS as well as safely navigating during inclement weather conditions and varying times of the day/evening
Accurately documents information in the pre-trip safety inspection log
Documents accurate patient transport logs
Reports behavior of passengers to appropriate Ashley clinical staff;
Maintains a clean and serviced vehicle
Reports accidents or moving violations through the proper channels