Certified Peer Recovery Worker (35 Hour) (Office/On-site)

State of Connecticut; Middletown (CT); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive state employee benefits

Professional growth and development

Healthy work-life balance

Job summary

Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown is seeking Certified Peer Recovery Workers to empower clients to define and pursue recovery goals using evidence‑based tools and person‑centered planning.

You will support clients in employment, education, and community involvement, and help them understand their rights while strengthening recovery management in a peer capacity. This state position emphasizes teamwork and client advocacy.

Qualifications

• Six months of experience working in the mental health and/or substance use recovery field.
• Six months of experience may be substituted by a Certified Peer Recovery Worker Trainee.
• Experience facilitating peer-led meetings, groups, or activities is preferred.
• Experience working in an inpatient psychiatric hospital setting is preferred.
• Experience working with a multi-disciplinary team is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Guides clients in defining personal recovery goals using evidence‑based tools and person‑centered planning.
• Supports clients in carrying out tasks in their recovery plan related to employment, education and community involvement.
• Provides information, guidance and skill-building to help clients understand their rights and strengthen recovery management.
• Participates in rehabilitative and recovery‑oriented interventions to meet client needs and goals.
• Observes and reports clients’ behavior and updates notes in the medical record as required.
• May coach adaptive client behaviors and provide outreach and transportation as needed.

Job description

Introduction

Use your lived experience to support others in their recovery and strengthen peer‑driven services at Connecticut Valley Hospital.

The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) has multiple openings for Certified Peer Recovery Worker within Patient Central Services at Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) in Middletown.

Schedule for PCN 103620*

Full‑time, 35 hours per week
Tuesday, Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Schedule for PCN 130948*

Full‑time, 35 hours per week
Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Monday, Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM

Schedule for PCN 117298*

Full‑time, 35 hours per week
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Wednesday, Thursday: 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday, Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

*Note, these positions may occasionally require travel to the Blue Hills Campus in Hartford

What We Can Offer You

• Comprehensive state employee benefits
• Access the State Employee Benefits Overview page to explore available options
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A commitment to promoting a healthy work/life balance

Position Highlights

• Guides clients in defining personal recovery goals using evidence‑based tools and person‑centered planning
• Supports clients in carrying out tasks in their recovery plan including goals related to employment, education and community involvement
• Provides information, guidance and skill‑building to help clients understand their rights and strengthen recovery management
• Participates in rehabilitative and recovery‑oriented interventions to meet client needs and goals
• Encourages community integration by helping clients build networks, access resources and engage in wellness activities
• Observes and documents client progress through reporting, record updates and required data entry
• Other duties as assigned

A comprehensive medical examination, including drug screening, is required following a conditional offer of employment. All state employees must comply with Connecticut’s Drug‑Free Workplace Policy.

About Us

DMHAS is dedicated to promoting the health and wellness of individuals with behavioral health needs through an integrated, holistic network of services that foster dignity, respect, and self‑sufficiency.

CVH provides trauma informed gender responsive treatment that empowers individuals to manage recovery, improve quality of life and return to the community.

Purpose of Job Class (Nature of Work)

In the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services this class is accountable for using shared life experiences and recovery management techniques to engage, motivate, educate and mentor clients in achieving individualized goals for successful community living.

Examples of Duties

• Guides clients through the process of defining personal goals for their recovery plan using existing evidence-based workbooks or person-centered planning tools;
• Supports and guides clients in following tasks outlined in their recovery plan (i.e., pursuing goals related to employment, education, community involvement and the use of natural supports);
• Guides clients in identifying and exercising their rights;
• Participates in rehabilitative and recovery-oriented interventions to meet client needs and goals;
• Provides information and support to clients and encourages their development of community networks and activities relating to community integration;
• Provides instruction and skill training in recovery management to clients and families;
• Acts as a peer health navigator to engage clients who have, or are at risk for, co‑m­orbid medical conditions in wellness activities;
• Supports clients to secure information about resources relevant to their wellness;
• Supports clients in obtaining services that meet their recovery needs;
• Supports clients in dealing with internal and external stress;
• Attends medical/clinical appointments with clients in a peer capacity;
• Accompanies clients as peers on volunteer opportunities and activities;
• Organizes and conducts workshops on topics related to recovery and wellness including New Employee Orientation at the local level;
• Observes and reports clients’ behavior;
• Prepares and submits incident or other related forms;
• Updates clients’ notes in the medical record as required;
• Enters computerized data as required;
• May coach adaptive client behaviors through verbal communication;
• May provide outreach and transportation;
• Performs related duties as required.

INPATIENT SETTINGS:

• Accomplices clients off the unit and on to the hospital campus or community to practice entering unexpected situations and managing stress and disorientation;
• Accomplices clients on day passes to the community to acclimate the client to their new community;
• May provide coverage at Peer Desk Center to engage and offer peer support to the general hospital population.

Knowledge, Skill and Ability

• Knowledge of community support systems and resources;
• Person-centered planning, Wellness Recovery Action Planning and other recovery management techniques;
• The principles and procedures of psychiatric rehabilitation;
• Considerable interpersonal skills;
• Oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to observe and redirect client behavior;
• Utilize computer software.

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience

• Six (6) months of experience working in the mental health and/or substance use recovery field.

Minimum Qualifications - Substitutions Allowed

• Six (6) months of experience as a Certified Peer Recovery Worker Trainee may be substituted for the General Experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience facilitating peer‑led meetings, groups, or activities
• Experience working in an inpatient psychiatric hospital setting
• Experience providing recovery‑oriented services for adults with severe mental health and co‑occurring substance use disorders
• Experience working with and communicating as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Special Requirements

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain the Certified Peer Support & Recovery Professional (CPSRP) credential administered by the Connecticut Certification Board, Inc. (CCB).
• Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual or fluent in American Sign Language.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and maintain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

Conclusion

An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Acknowledgement

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all‑inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.