Recovery Advocate

Detailed Overview

Within the context of a client and family-centered care model and in accordance with established standards of professional practice and vision and values of the organization, works as a member of a community recovery-based team to provide individual and group recovery support and information sessions to a designated client population/community. Provides advocacy for clients to access substance use recovery-based services free of discrimination, stigma, and barriers and supports clients and their support network with locating health, social and substance use services for the designated client population/community.

Develops relationships based on respect. Provides outreach services, assists with coordinating recovery support programming, and organizes venues and materials for educational sessions and social and recreational activities. Performs word processing duties, assists with research and other special projects, maintains and compiles statistics, participates in committees, task groups, and/or corporate initiatives and engages in and assists the Clinical Coordinator with ongoing team planning, development, evaluation, and quality improvement activities.

Responsibilities Provides and facilitates individual and group psychosocial educational sessions and conducts information sessions with members of the designated client population/community by interviewing clients to determine their needs. Provides recovery-based support and guidance to mental health and substance use clients including outreach services. Provides information sessions such as accessing substance use and medical services, income assistance and community resources consults and brings up concerns to the attention of the Clinical Coordinator, makes referrals to other community resources, as appropriate and follows protocols for obtaining assistance in an emergency/crisis.

Facilitates client’s physical, recreational, educational and employment needs by arranging, planning, escorting and transporting/accompanying individuals to a variety of health care, community and outreach programs/services, as needed. Develops relationships based on respect with clients and their family, friends, partners, allies and members of the designated client community by encouraging informed decision-making. Helps to create and support a non-judgmental environment for the client and their support network, sharing experiences and insight, developing a social network and promoting clients in empowering themselves throughout their recovery journey.

Advocates on behalf of the clients by speaking out on behalf of clients in settings such as substance use programs, the justice system, hospitals and the community. Assists clients and their support network with locating substance use, health, social and/or legal services that are relevant to their recovery journey by providing information on how to connect with service providers. Supporting, collecting and organizing a BC-wide resource list of recovery community-based services and maintaining electronic and paper-based up-to-date referral information.

Creates linkages to other community resources and programs, contacts relevant organizations, businesses, and services and provides information on procedures to attain services and assistance with accessing services. Provides advocacy for client-centered services free of discrimination and barriers for the designated client population/community by providing information regarding access to services to the client and the family members, partners, friends, and other loved ones.

Supports the client with the development of their recovery capital including physical, social, emotional, and life skills. Develops educational materials to meet the client’s needs, as required. Attends meetings and workshops to represent the designated program and members of the designated client recovery community and assists clients in completing forms and letters concerning barriers to services. Notifies the Clinical Coordinator of systemic advocacy issues by receiving/documenting complaints or ideas for improved service and ensuring action steps are taken with issues…