MAHEC, Mountain Area Health Education Center - Peer Support Specialist-Family Health

JOB SUMMARY:
This Peer Support Specialist will function in the primary role of providing peer support services to individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. This position will work collaboratively with the MAHEC staff throughout departments to provide patients with support and resources to maintain recovery.
Peer Support Services (PSS) are an evidence-based mental health model of care that provides community-based recovery services directly to an adult diagnosed with a mental health or substance use disorder. PSS provides structured, scheduled services that promote recovery, self-determination, and self-advocacy, engagement in self-care and wellness and enhancement of community living skills of individuals. PSS services directly provided by Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPSS) who have self-identified as a person(s) in recovery from a mental health or substance use disorder.
The Peer Support Specialist will be responsible for providing essential expertise and consultation to the entire interdisciplinary healthcare team to promote a culture in which each individual's point of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected and integrated into treatment, rehabilitation, and community self-help activities while serving as an advocate for patients.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
To provide individualized, ongoing guidance, coaching and support to patient receiving PSS
To provide training in the use of personal and community resources and supports to PSS patients related to their recovery
To protect the patient's rights and to assist in reducing associated stigma
To work in cooperation with other providers, family members or significant others involved in the patient's recovery plan
To attend department staff meetings, Case Conferences and Individual and Group Supervision
To attain established standards of productivity. PSS services provided in 15-minute increments and delivered via phone, in the community, or in a MAHEC facility
0% of contact is encouraged to be face-to-face with individual receiving services
Each individual may receive a maximum of 80 units per week and 20 units per 24 hours period by any peer support staff
To observe all rules of confidentiality relating to clinical information and treatment, both internally and when dealing with external agencies and/or individuals
To be responsible for understanding patient's rights policy and procedures
To participate in staff training and development
To serve on designated committees within the organization
To observe the guidelines established within MAHEC policy and procedures related to boundaries and professionalism
To perform other related duties as assigned
This role description is a general description of the essential job functions. It is not intended to describe all the duties the Peer Support Specialist may perform.
KEY COMPETENCIES:

Communication Skills
Effectively and respectably communicate with other individuals, whether it be a colleague, patient, or patient's family member and appropriately enumerate information in a manner easily understood by all parties. We do this to foster a culture of understanding between all parties, especially in complex and difficult situations, to ultimately provide the best care possible to our patients and their families.

Decision Making
Ability to make the most appropriate decision in a given situation and then taking the next steps to ensure appropriate and timely completion. This requires conflict resolution skills, critical thinking skills, confidence in your ability to make the right decision in most situations. This also includes ability to prioritize your workday appropriately to ensure the most important tasks are completed on time.

HealthCare Knowledge
Having the drive to keep yourself abreast and up to date on the new breakthroughs in your area of expertise and communicating them to the rest of the team, as appropriate. This also includes keeping up with your licensure and yearly training requirements within your area expertise along with MAHEC's organizational training. Finally, the ability to apply the depth of knowledge maintained and gained through this process in real life scenarios as appropriate.

Interpersonal Skills
Showing the ability to meet difficult situations with grace, professionalism, and understanding. Within your area of expertise, showing respect and showing empathy where appropriate with your colleagues, patients, and their family at all times, even when its most difficult to do so. This is done, in part, by effective listening, being your authentic self, showing responsibility and dependability, and being patient with others.

Organizational Values
Adherence to MAHEC's founding principles and incorporating them every day. This includes, among others, having integrity and accountability, reverence for other cultures and equitable practices, ability to manage change, and displaying a clear understanding of organizational dynamics. Doing these things creates a culture where people want to do the best for each other and gives personal ownership towards the goal of helping people in their time of need.

Problem Solving
Having an analytical mind and ability to work autonomously to solve complex problems that may arise. The wherewithal to think logically through a difficult problem and come to an appropriate resolution for a given issue. This helps to drive continuous improvement by thinking through where we can improve in a novel way. Measures success by understanding where we are currently and where we want to go and then applying those new ideas to affect positive change.
SPECIFIED SKILLS

Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing required.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
Effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
Effective time management skills and ability to work under pressure
Exceptional organization skills and attention to detail
Valid driver's license and ability to operate MAHEC vehicles and be covered under MAHEC insurance.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Not Applicable.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

High School Diploma or Equivalent
1 year of experience working with persons with mental illness or substance use disorder
Certified Peer Support Specialist

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's Degree in a related healthcare field
CPR, First Aid, NCI

REQUIRED LICENSES:


SCHEDULE:
Regular attendance on-site is an essential function of this position. Typical business hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (or flexed to best meet the needs of the clients and/or the Division); 40 hours per workweek; weekend, holiday, or evening coverage is occasionally required. Work hours will need to be flexible in order to respond to special work assignments, or evening activities, as requested by the team leader.
POSITION COMPENSATION: $18.56/hour, full time with full benefits available