Certified Peer Specialist Senior - Pathways to Hope - First Episode Psychosis

Wellspan Health • York, PA

94d

About The Position

Be part of launching Pathways to Hope, an innovative program in Lancaster County supporting individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis. As a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS), you'll use your lived experience to support individuals through a challenging time, empowering them to achieve their goals and live their most successful life. You'll work as part of a collaborative team, delivering care in both home and community settings. This is your opportunity to shape a new program, make a lasting impact, and help individuals and families build resilience and hope. Pathways to Hope is a specialized program offered through WellSpan Philhaven, designed to support individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis. Grounded in evidence-based practices, this program provides early, intensive, and coordinated care to help individuals stabilize, recover, and move forward with their lives. The goal of Pathways to Hope is to reduce the long-term impact of psychosis by promoting early engagement, personalized treatment, and community integration. Our multidisciplinary team partners with individuals and their families to support wellness, resilience, and hope from the very first step.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED Required.
• Experience in navigating/personal knowledge and experience in the mental health system.
• 1 year General work/volunteer/credit hour experience.
• Professional office work experience preferred.
• Must possess a valid driver's license in the current state of residence.
• Driving record must meet requirements established by WellSpan Risk Management.
• Excellent human relations and oral/written communication skills.
• Knowledge of and ability in the care and support of individuals in a specific age group.
• Microsoft office experience (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Responsibilities

• Facilitates recovery and enhances wellness by sharing personal/practical experience and first-hand knowledge to the team and clients.
• Provides expertise about the recovery process, symptom management, and the persistence required by patients to have a satisfying life.
• Serves as a role model for recovery for both staff and peers and partners with peers in developing recovery tools and building support networks in a community setting.
• Draws on common experiences as a peer to provide guidance and encouragement to patients to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
• Assists designated peers with rehabilitation social support, advocacy, educational and vocational mentoring, and self-maintenance.
• Provides side-by-side support and coaching to help patients socialize, such as going with a patient to the grocery store, drop-in centers, libraries, community events, etc.
• Supports patient participation in community self-help groups.
• Coaches or teaches basic individual living skills, such as food preparation, meal planning, laundry, bill payment and personal hygiene.
• Provides education about symptoms of mental illness to assist patients in understanding their mental illness and identifying relapse symptoms.
• Works with patients in supporting their individual choice and preference regarding medications, under the direction of the physician and nursing staff.
• Promotes participation in Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and Psychiatric Advance Directives (PAD) planning among peers.
• Partners with peers to create, review and attain goals on the Individual Recovery Plan.
• Completes necessary documentation for each peer encounter within 48 hours of encounter.
• Completes all other required documentation required for the Peer to maintain services.
• Acquires knowledge or resources in assigned counties while maintaining an excellent working relationship with all providers.
• Acts as a liaison with other community agencies/groups, funding sources and businesses that relate to the services provided to peers.
• Participates in training as needed/assigned to maintain CPS certification through PCB.
• Attends all meetings with supervisor, staff, and team meetings as well as trainings and in-services.
• Reinforces hope and the potential for recovery to peers and others.
• Encourages and provides support for peers to advocate for themselves.
• Models coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Completes yearly annual safety education modules in compliance with WellSpan Philhaven policy.
• Performs and participates in outcome measurement, performance improvement and customer satisfaction studies designed to measure and improve the quality of services delivered.
• Contributes to a safe work environment through knowledge and practice of safe behavioral management practices, fire safety, physical plant safety, safe emergency practices, and universal precautions for bodily fluids.
• Provides after hours telephone support to enrolled peers as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Ambulatory Health Care Services
• Education Level: High school or GED