Certified Peer Support Specialist

Central City Health•Detroit, MI

14h•Onsite

About The Position

Central City Health’s Peer Support Specialist provides peer support to clients experiencing mental illness, chronic health conditions, and/or homelessness. As an active member of the integrated care team, the specialist serves as a role model, patient advocate, and source of information and support, drawing on personal recovery experience and coping skills. The role helps patients regain independence and develop mastery over their recovery through skill building and supportive interventions, including connecting with resources, managing symptoms, and developing daily living skills. The specialist conducts outreach and helps patients access primary care and community services, supports recovery education and individual wellness planning, and provides ongoing assistance to patients and families to increase health literacy. This is a full-time, in-person position. Central City Health prefers employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but vaccination is not required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Peer Support Specialist Certification.
Current Michigan Chauffeur’s Driver’s License; applicants without one may apply but must obtain it within 30 days of employment.
Maintain an insurable driving record in accordance with Central City Health’s commercial auto insurance carrier and adhere to State of Michigan driving laws.
Ability to work cooperatively with staff and others involved in delivering services to patients.
Ability to maintain composure during stressful situations related to workloads and/or deadlines.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with patients exhibiting severe and persistent mental illness.
Two years of experience as a certified peer support specialist.
Chauffeur’s License is listed as preferred in the application section, although the qualifications section requires a current license or acquisition within 30 days of employment.
BLS or CPR Certification is listed as preferred in the application section, although the qualifications section requires BLS certification.

Responsibilities

Represent the organization professionally through actions, job performance, personal conduct, and communications.
Conduct outreach to individuals who need a medical home and/or have chronic disease.
Help patients access and navigate primary care and community-based social services, including behavioral health, housing, and dental services; facilitate communication with the treatment team about steps toward goals.
Conduct eligibility determinations, enrollments, and follow-up for uninsured or underinsured patients, both on and off site; assist with enrollment in an appropriate comprehensive provider network when applicable.
Provide recovery education throughout all phases of the recovery journey, from pre-recovery engagement through sustained recovery maintenance.
Help patients create individual wellness plans, identify goals, and develop plans using their skills, strengths, supports, and resources.
Connect individuals with appropriate resources and encourage hope and involvement in community activities, including work, school, spirituality, relationships, physical activity, and hobbies.
Use and teach problem-solving techniques, independently or with periodic assistance from the care team.
Teach patients to identify and combat negative self-talk and identify and overcome fears; model the possibility of recovery for patients and staff.
Provide ongoing assistance to patients and families to increase health literacy.