Position Summary
The Peer Specialist Clinic provides care management and support services to individuals accessing services within the agency. Additionally, the Peer Specialist works in partnership with the clinical staff to facilitate engagement, communication, person-centered planning, self- advocacy and empowerment.
Responsibilities:
- Liaisons with community resources, especially those concerning peer-run services and advocacy (e.g. Mental Health Association (MHA), New York Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS). Interacts appropriately with referral sources and collateral contacts with the highest professionalism and customer service standards.
- Participates actively, avoiding distractions and using time. This includes avoiding the use of technology for personal purposes.
- Facilitates appropriate referrals to internal and external programs, as needed, to provide an appropriate level of services. This includes appropriate documentation of referrals.
- Completes documentation according to document submission standards of the agency and OMH. Demonstrates an understanding of the need to provide services in the context of generating income. Demonstrates an understanding that generating income leads to continued agency viability, continued job security, and continued improvement of services for clients.
- Completes progress note documentation effectively to demonstrate the service provided, the purpose of the service, and how the service is related to treatment goals and/or core problems. Progress notes are completed the same day using concurrent documentation.
- When appropriate, shares personal experience and recovery journey in the mental health system with program participants to model principles of recovery and wellness.
- Actively monitors caseload and makes necessary changes with the supervisor. This includes seeking supervision on how to increase or decrease caseload, and end peer services in a timely and appropriate way, per agency and OMH standards and requirements.
- Assists program participants with paperwork demands when needed. Provides care management on site, at satellite sites, in the field and/or in the program participant’s home.
- Assists program participants to link them to needed resources in the agency and the community.
- Contacts new or disengaged program participants to facilitate engagement in treatment. Makes home visits to program participants who have missed appointments and are unresponsive to calls.
- Demonstrates cultural competency.
- Other related responsibilities and tasks may be assigned.
Ethical Standards:
- Acts in a manner that is in accordance with current ethical standards and promotes a positive public image for the organization and the profession. In addition, acts in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and in accordance with the established professional standards.
- Participates in peer advocacy training, providing documentation for personnel files, and using learned information to improve peer advocacy skills.
- Makes decisions that demonstrate a balance between client needs and professional needs.
- Demonstrates an understanding of how employees’ own strengths and weaknesses affect client care.
- Practices self-care and recognizes signs of vicarious traumatization and work-related burnout.
- appropriate coaching for resolving vicarious traumatization and work-related burnout issues.
- Displays appropriate boundaries with clients and co-workers.
- Participates in interdisciplinary team rounds and conferences
Communication, Cooperation, and Collaboration:
- Exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views.
- Provides and accepts both positive and negative feedback.
- Communicates assertively and directly.
- Communicates effectively with all departments in the agency with a focus on teamwork and the vision of providing excellent service and working toward the agency’s continued viability.
- Brings conflict into the open and facilitates a beneficial conclusion.
- Anticipates problems and proactively addresses issues.
- Seeks adequate supervision regarding both clinical and administrative issues. Prepares for supervision.
- Values and contributes to a teamwork environment.
- Builds trust, respect, and credibility for a congenial work environment.
- Accepts change and adapts to new situations.
- Writes clearly and informatively.
- Adheres to confidentiality standards.
- Follows proper disclosure request procedures for all written communication.
- Documents internal and external contacts 100% of the time.
- Communicates progress and changes regarding assigned tasks without prompting.
Administrative:
- Submission of timesheets in a timely manner.
- Communicates any possible schedule changes as soon as possible and always considers client needs and agency coverage when asking for flexible scheduling.
- Maintains high consumer satisfaction as evidenced by no more than 1 client request for staff transfer every 3 months.
- Maintains UM/UR compliance with charts by entering information into chart correctly and on time, per the following standards: Notes completed and signed daily; outreach within 1 week of last missed contact; within 30 days of last missed contact, documentation entered in chart and to other providers that service is ending.
Administrative Relationships:
Position reports to Clinic Supervisor.
Physical Demands:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- The employee must be able to sit and remain in a stationary position for 60 minutes.
- The person in this position needs to constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery.
- The employee must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.
- The employee must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. The employee must be able to observe details within 3-6 feet.
- The employee must be able to lift/or move up to 5 lb. and occasionally lift/or move up to 10 lb.
Qualifications:
- Education – High School Degree or equivalent required. Some college/bachelor’s degree and/or some experience working in the mental health field preferred.
- Experience – Lived experience in navigating mental health/substance use services and ability to model principles of recovery and wellness are required
- Must have basic computer literacy and excellent verbal and written skills. Valid driver’s license required, and use of own car may be needed
- Other – Background check clearance
CoveCare Center offers a comprehensive benefits package for all full-time employees! Our benefits include excellent paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life, short term, and long-term disability insurance along with a 401(k) plan with an employer match. All benefits start 1st of the month following 30 days of employment.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
Job Type: FT
Salary: $18.50- $19.50 per hour