State of Maryland

A Peer Recovery Specialist I, Certified is the entry level of work, in the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), providing peer recovery support services to clients with substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and/or co-occurring disorders to begin and maintain a path to recovery. Employees in this classification do not supervise other Peer Recovery Specialists.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a Peer Recovery Specialist Supervisor, Certified; clinical staff; Coordinator Special Programs Health Services; or a higher-level Administrator. Employees in this classification may be required to work evenings and weekends. The work is performed in State addictions mental health, and behavioral health programs located in local health departments, State institutions, facilities and offices including inpatient and outpatient facilities, halfway house facilities and community-based programs.              

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of a class specification.

 

The Peer Recovery Specialist I, Certified and Peer Recovery Specialist II, Certified are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these positions. The Peer Recovery Specialist I, Certified learns to performs duties under close supervision while the Peer Recovery Specialist II, Certified performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision. 

Knowledge of the purpose, goals and objectives of the peer recovery support practices procedures, and programs;

Knowledge of the recovery process for individuals with substance use disorders;

Knowledge of the signs of substance use disorders, mental health disorders, and/or co-occurring disorders;

Knowledge of ethical and behavioral standards of conduct in the helping relationship;

Knowledge of the proper techniques used in crisis response situations;

Knowledge to assist clients with accessing and obtaining entitlements ( food stamps, Temporary Cash Assistance, Motor Vehicle Administration identification, insurance, etc.);

Ability to obtain and report relevant background information by interviewing clients and third parties;

Ability to work with groups and clients who may display behavioral health issues;

Ability to communicate effectively with clients, their family and friends, treatment team members and the general public;

Ability to use helping strategies to reduce the negative effects of substance use, abuse and dependence;

Ability to use support systems and community resources available to clients and their significant others and to advocate for clients’ rights;

Ability to accurately document client information;

Ability to comply with established standards of ethics and confidentiality.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency  

                  certificate.

Experience:  None.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current certification as a Peer Recovery Specialist within 24 months from date of hire from the Maryland Addictions Professional Certification Board (MAPCB) located at 10807 Falls Rd., #1376, Brooklandville, MD 21022.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

1. Employees in this classification who fail to obtain the required certification by the end of 24 months of continuous employment with the hiring department shall be subject to disciplinary action including demotion, suspension and dismissal.

  

2. Applicants for this classification must be in a state of recovery for 2 years from a substance use, mental health or co-occurring disorder before they can be qualified to be hired as a Peer Recovery Specialist, Certified.

  

3. Employees in this classification must complete any additional training that is deemed necessary and appropriate maintain required certification.

 

4. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing, in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulation 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.  

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit D, Health and Human Service Nonprofessionals classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation. An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an   employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.