Peer Support Specialist -Toole-06143
Employment Type : Full-Time
Peer Support Specialist -Toole-06143Tucson, AZ, USA Req #482 Thursday, January 21, 2021
Community Bridges, Inc. (CBI) is an integrated behavioral healthcare agency offering a variety of different programs throughout Arizona. CBI provides residential, outpatient, inpatient, patient-centered medical homes, medication-assisted treatment, and crisis services to individuals experiencing crisis, opioid use disorder, homelessness, and mental illness.
JOB SUMMARY
The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) is an individual who is in recovery from Alcohol or Drugs (AOD) and/or SMI/GMH for a period greater than or equal to 1 year. The PSS provides experience, strength, and hope to individuals, their families, and significant others presenting for care to minimize the emotional impact of treatment and increase the likelihood of recovery along with the likelihood of continued care once discharged. The PSS also assists in the transition to the most appropriate level of care available in conjunction with the established treatment team, which includes ensuring coordination of care with all parties who are currently involved in the patient’s case and ensuring that family and other social supports identified in the patient’s treatment plan are involved in the discharge planning process. The PSS works in conjunction as part of a multi-disciplinary team made up of a Nurse Supervisor, Registered Nurse (RN), Patient Care Technician (PCT), and Behavioral Health Clinician (BHC). ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES OR RESPONSIBILITIES- Assists when needed to ensure each patient who presents without verifiable insurance has an AHCCCS application submitted.
- Ensure that family members and those who play a supportive role are identified and assists the patient in completing a Release of Information so that they may be involved in the patient’s care and discharge planning.
- Ensures that all patients are given the opportunity to identify supportive parties to involve in their care and discharge planning, and completes coordination to offer strength, hope and knowledge through experience to involved parties.
- Protects each patient’s confidentiality within the guidelines of established policy and process.
- Assists the patient in the identification of unique needs and strengths for ongoing recovery.
- Provides education related to outpatient services and works to enhance motivation and readiness for individuals to participate in outpatient services or another appropriate after-care program.
- Daily consultation with a Community Bridges Registered Nurse and/or Behavioral Health Clinician in conjunction with the treatment team to determine the appropriate next steps and what behavioral health services will be provided to the client for the period of time that the patient is expected to remain in the program.
- Leads and documents groups to support and enhance individual’s knowledge and motivation for recovery and ongoing treatment.
- Assists individuals in connecting to appropriate resources, such as a community-based recovery home, as identified by the Behavioral Health Clinician, or designee.
- Assist in greeting individuals presenting to the assigned program in a welcoming and non-judgmental manner.
- Assist individuals accompanying the individual seeking services through information sharing that adheres to HIPAA regulations.
- Assists the individual in identifying their support system and how they can be involved in treatment and discharge planning. Assist the individual in completing a Release of Information in the electronic health record to allow for coordination in the assessment, triage, treatment planning, and transition planning processes.
- Provide emotional support to individuals in the program who appear unsure or fearful, using calm reassurances, positive feedback, and sharing of personal recovery as appropriate. Extends this support to the individual’s family or other support system as needed.
- Incorporate Motivational Interviewing techniques into interactions with individuals presenting to the program for services.
- Ensure that identified supports are contacted and educated on CBI Continuum of Care Programs.
- Will advocate and provide redirection and de-escalation for patients when appropriate.
- Assist family members and significant others in understanding the assessment treatment planning, treatment delivery, and transition planning processes. Giving referrals when appropriate.
- Assist the individual, family members, and significant others understand the necessity for continued care and support following discharge from the crisis, inpatient or Transition Point/residential program. Giving referrals when appropriate.
- Provides for immediate safety for all patients and staff according to Community Bridges Policies and Procedures.
- Observe universal precautions related to individuals presenting for services.
- Promotes a clean and healthy environment through participation in regular cleaning/sanitation, and removal of debris in or around the facility.
- Assists Patient Care Technician in meal pass as necessary.
- Participates in Report/Shift Change staffing with oncoming and off-going shift to receive important patient care information and direction.
- Shares all pertinent information with the Treatment team.
- Provide patients and any parties involved in their continuum of care with dignity and respect.
- Implement skills learned during on-the-job training and required competencies related to Intake, Crisis, Inpatient and Residential Unit Clinical Operations and ensuring that all required documentation is completed prior to the end of shift.
- Document the specific interactions and engagements with patients being detailed and thorough reporting of the facts.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisory and administrative support.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIESThis position has no supervisory responsibilities. MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED- Highschool diploma or GED required. Associate Degree or higher preferred.
- Must be in recovery from Alcohol or Drugs and/or GMH for equal to or greater than 1 consecutive year.
- Health Care related experience where his or her prior experience would provide adequate exposure to both behavioral and medical crisis situations preferred but not required.
- Or equivalent combination of education and experience
LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, CREDENTIALS, REGISTRATIONS- Current AZ Driver’s License
OTHER SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED- Able to read and comprehend information without difficulty.
- Able to type 30/wpm.
- Able to utilize Microsoft systems such as Outlook, Word, and Excel.
- Able to coherently communicate with others.
- Able to synthesize complex information and report it to others in a calm and precise manner.
- Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
- Able to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organizations.
- Able to speak clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions.
- Able to work well with others and can be depended upon to follow through with task completion and be available to assist.
- Able to follow the established chain of command and does not create situations that would call into question the authority of supervisor or impede their ability to manage the facility or program.
- Ability to treat everyone in a positive, courteous, and healthy way. Actively engages employees with meaningful efforts to foster a culture of positive morale.
- Able to adhere to a principle of “Do no Harm” by demonstrating personal integrity in interactions with staff, patients, and public. This is also demonstrated by one’s ability to perform assigned duties in a competent manner without the violation of Community Bridges policies/processes, patient and/or employee rights, or violation of State, Federal, or local laws.
- Able to perform work neatly and completely. All work is completed within the time allowed for task per policy.
- Ability to treat community stakeholders (police, fire, probation, businesses, clergy, insurance companies, providers, Health Plan, concerned citizens, etc.) with the utmost respect and assisted to the best of our ability in each case. Never saying “no” but always assisting each request within the context of the agency mission and purpose. Is evidenced by not receiving a community complaint or excelling in customer service.
- Ability to remain focused on their professional skill and does not deviate into areas for which they have no training or expertise.
- Ability to alert and awake throughout the entirety of a scheduled shift. Schedules time off or other related absences within the time allotted by Community Bridges Policy and adheres to the policies around absenteeism
- Able to promote empathy, warmth and understanding; Treats each patient with respect and dignity while always keeping in mind their cultural, psychological, medical, social, and humanistic needs.
- Ability to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner.
- Ability to make sound and accurate judgments.
- Ability to set and achieves challenging goals.
- Ability to write clearly and informatively.
- Able to improve and promote quality.
- Able to follow policies and procedures.
- Able to prioritize and plan work activities; uses time efficiently;
- Able to approach others in a tactful manner; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position.
- Able to observe safety and security procedure; Reports potentially unsafe conditions.
- Able to meet productivity standards.
- Able to adapt to changes in the work environment.
- Ability to display original thinking and creativity; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work.
COMPLEXITY AND SCOPE OF POSITIONStaff level - Able to assist individuals and families experiencing crisis. Able to share personal experience and knowledge in a meaningful and therapeutic way with individuals of different backgrounds. Able to understand direction and accept delegation on assignments or tasks requiring time management skills. Applies knowledge of care delivery skills within scope of assignment and training at an entry level position to achieve tasks and goals in a timely manner. Assist in problem solving as part of the patient’s treatment team. Able to work in a fast-paced environment and can adapt to changing conditions. WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS- Able to move around quickly and freely in response to crisis situations
- Must be able to move and/or lift a minimum of 150 pounds
- Able to interact with people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
- Able to interface with members of a multidisciplinary team and provide timely information regarding patient behaviors and symptoms.
- Able to demonstrate understanding of mental illness and associated symptomology.
- Must have compassion and understand basic tenets of recovery.
CBI Offers an excellent benefits package!- Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life, Supplemental plans - Hospital indemnity/ Critical Illness, Pet Insurance, Dependent Care Savings, Health Care Savings, 401K with employer match - 100% vested upon enrollment, Generous PTO accrual, Wellness programs, Tuition Reimbursement and Scholarship Programs, incentives, and more!
- For the past four years, The Phoenix Business Journal has recognized CBI as one of the top ten healthiest mid-size employers in the Valley.
CBI treats patients from all different walks of life and believes in maintaining the dignity of human life. Recovery is possible!Other details