Career Opportunities

Becoming part of the Sweetser family means you can make a difference in the lives of Maine children, adults, and families every day. As a nationally recognized and accredited leader, we offer competitive salaries, a wide range of benefits and the opportunity to join a passionate team of more than 700 employees. 

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The OPTIONS Recovery Coach works in collaboration with OPTIONS Liaisons to help members of the community connect with needed substance use and harm reduction services.  The OPTIONS Recovery Coach is assigned to a community to provide both short- and long-term recovery coaching services to community members in need using a harm reduction approach and fidelity to the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) model of recovery coaching.

Starting Rate: $23.00 per hour

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Foster and maintain collaborative partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, community partners, and emergency medical services.
• Embrace evidenced based practices, harm reduction, motivation interviewing, and the many pathways to recovery.
• Provide short term intervention with a focus on harm reduction.
• Provide people in need with linkage to HQHC providers, harm reductions sites, naloxone resources, recovery community centers, withdrawal management, inpatient treatment, housing referrals, and/or other necessary resources (i.e. food pantries, heating assistance, etc.)
• Support individuals in application for applicable benefits to include MaineCare, non-emergency transportation resources, housing and/or food security services.
• Utilize supervisory supports appropriately and participate in all team/program meetings.
• Help people in need to create their own recovery plans and develop their own recovery pathways.
• Meet independently with participants to determine their needs and barriers to recovery by connecting through shared experiences.Work with people in need to create plans to reduce these barriers.
• Earn Maine Recovery Coach Certification within 180 days of hire and maintain certification throughout tenure in the position.
• Ensure that the Human Rights of clients in the program are respected and protected.
• Ensure that all documentation is completed in an accurate, complete, and timely manner in compliance with contractual, legal, licensing and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure that all participant records and privileged consumer information is kept strictly confidential in conformity with state and federal law and regulations. Ensure the confidentiality of all participant information and release of information from area(s) of responsibility.
• Provide outreach to persons experiencing street and sheltered homelessness to provide harm reduction, hygiene, and safety supplies.
• Other duties as assigned.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:

• Balance the duty to care with the dignity of risk.
• Follow Suicide Safer Care practices.
• Demonstrate accountability for personal, professional, ethical, and legal standards.
• Demonstrate support for the philosophy of the organization by adhering to standards, policies, procedures, and established practices.
• Demonstrates responsibility for own standards of practice by reporting for work on time and avoiding work-related injuries through the application of proper practice techniques and safety policies.
• Communicate with all colleagues and peers in a respectful, professional, responsive manner that promotes teamwork and supports positive outcomes for clients.
• Use listening skills, flexible collaboration and a consistent problem solving focus in working to resolve differences with colleagues, peers and clients.
• Ensure that relevant information is reported to a supervisor, program director, and/or the team in a timely manner.
• Utilize clinical supervision as a learning experience.
• Assures quality in work performed to facilitate the delivery of quality services.
• Reports accidents and injuries in a timely fashion, demonstrates safe housekeeping practices, notifies supervisor of potential health and safety concerns immediately, participates in health and safety training as required, understands and follows all Sweetser health and safety policies.

EXPERIENCE:

• Lived experience of Recovery with Mental Illness, Trauma or Substance Use and is willing to self-identify with peers on this basis in the community.
• Paid or unpaid peer support experience preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

• Valid state driver’s license.

EDUCATION:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Demonstrates knowledge of personal Recovery.
• Ability to be "emotionally present"; recognize when you are not, seek support, and communicate this to the assigned manager.

• Ability to work with diverse populations and accept differences in perspective and values.
• Basic computer skills, including receiving and sending emails and data entry to spreadsheets. 

Comprehensive Benefits Package Includes:

•    Medical/dental/vision insurance and HSA/FSA options with generous employer contributions
•    Employer-paid life insurance and disability coverage
•    Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and household members
•    403(b) retirement plan with employer match
•    Generous paid time off, paid holidays, and float day
•    Paid Family and Medical Leave
•    Employee discount program
•    Milage reimbursement, applicable incentive and differential pay programs
•    Eligibility for annual increases and referral bonuses
•    Tuition reimbursement and educational partnership discounts
•    30% tuition discount for UNE's Online Graduate Programs
•    Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
•    Free professional development and training opportunities through the Sweetser Training Institute