Recovery Coach - HOPE Clinic

The Recovery Coach (RC) is a vital, non-clinical member of the MGH HOPE Clinic team, supporting pregnant and postpartum patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and their babies for up to two years. The RC provides peer recovery support, helping patients define and work towards their recovery goals. This role requires knowledge of recovery resources, multiple recovery pathways, and the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum individuals.

This full-time (40 hours/week) position is based on-site at the MGH HOPE Clinic located at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) main campus.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a liaison between the recovery community, addiction treatment system, healthcare providers, and the participant's social networks to facilitate connections across systems of care.
• Collaborate with the care team to support evidence-based services for people with SUD.
• Address barriers to recovery, providing advocacy and serving as a role model.
• Conduct active outreach efforts to encourage participation in health care, self-help, pro-social and recovery-oriented groups and services.
• Support hospitalized pregnant and postpartum patients with SUD, helping create a welcoming environment and assisting with care transitions.
• Help participants navigate healthcare and social service systems, accompanying them to appointments as needed.
• Together with clinical staff, facilitate access to treatment and social services while advocating on patients' behalf to decrease barriers to care.
• Educate patients about addiction, safe use practices, and recovery pathways, using motivational techniques to promote healthy decisions.
• Provide peer coaching to help patients develop and maintain personal wellness and recovery goals.
• Advocate for patients during care planning, ensuring their voice is heard.
• Collaborate with participant and care team to support the development of a comprehensive patient-centered treatment plan.
• During business hours, be available to provide support to participants struggling with active addiction or risk of return to active use or for other time-sensitive matters; help participants identify support networks for other times.
• Maintain support for participant regardless of where they are in their recovery journey.
• Facilitate communication between patient, inpatient teams, HOPE Clinic members, and external providers, maintaining appropriate confidentiality procedures and boundaries.
• Maintain accurate records and initiate case discussions with supervisors as needed.
• Help lead in-person and virtual peer recovery and parenting support groups.
• Collaborate with statewide perinatal recovery coaches and participate in monthly calls.
• Attend multidisciplinary HOPE Clinic and perinatal hospital-based team meetings.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum of two years of sustained, uninterrupted recovery required; three to five years preferred.
• Completion of a CCAR-approved Recovery Coach Academy before hire or within four months of hire.
• CARC certification required within 18 months of hire.
• Experience working with individuals with SUD during and after pregnancy preferred.
• Familiarity with local resources for parents and infants/children preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Advocacy skills and knowledge of community-based services and recovery systems.
• Comfort with diverse recovery pathways and a patient-centered approach.
• Ability to provide and receive accurate nonjudgmental feedback.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and multitasking abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Familiarity with harm reduction techniques.