Peer Support Specialist-ACT

COLLIN COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH RETARDATION CENTER•McKinney, TX

23h•$16

About The Position

This position will perform care coordination, peer support, and outpatient behavioral health services to individuals in services across the entire LifePath system of care. This position maintains a caseload. This position uses initiative and a passionate commitment to provide access to care to individuals in services to ensure their success in recovery. Peer responsibilities include ensuring individuals receive timely access to quality care, working with the entire LifePath Systems team and other community organizations to identify needs and reduce barriers to care. Must be effective at troubleshooting and organizing support, interventions, and services to achieve outcomes. The Peer will ensure a seamless transition for individuals receiving services across a full spectrum of health and social services, provide referrals internally and externally as needed to meet needs of individuals, and will ensure that all gaps in care are reconciled within a trauma-informed, person-centered model of care. Other duties may be assigned as needed. This position exemplifies service excellence by providing care coordination, peer support, and outpatient behavioral health services with a trauma-informed and person-centered approach. This position practices good stewardship of resources by ensuring all required trainings are completed prior to due date and center-issued equipment is kept in good repair. Integrity is necessary to ensure adherence to the Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Administrative Code, contracts, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) grant, other applicable grants, and Lifepath Systems policies and procedures. This position will work closely with Adult Fidelity managers and the Program Administrator to ensure that all gaps are reconciled. This position builds positive relationships with community-facing agencies and always maintains a professional relationship with all community stakeholders and partners. This position demonstrates professional conduct with Peers, Leadership and Support teams at all times. In addition, close working relationships and professional conduct while coordinating care with local law enforcement is expected. Working independently and collaboratively to maintain appropriate boundaries and foster better outcomes for individuals served and community partners and facilitating improvement in measurable ways, is central to LifePath Systems mission to serve. This position must have the ability to assess and de-escalate behavioral health crisis situations in calm and respectful manner. Specific Targets: Engagement with individuals served and exceptional customer service will be provided and documented in the electronic health record a minimum of 80 hours per month. Responsible for assessing need for client support funds and providing open access and connection to the full array of behavioral health services. 90% of service notes are signed within 2 business days of service. 75% of full chart reviews receive a score of 80 or higher in following the Golden Thread. All required trainings are completed prior to due date. Facilitating community integration by understanding and implementing the Assertive Community Treatment model is a large portion of day-to-day responsibilities. Attendance at daily ACT huddles is mandatory. This person must be efficient in EHR, have ability to multitask, and must be able to provide exceptional customer service in a crisis or busy setting. Ensure that individuals receive timely access to quality care, working with LifePath crisis team, contracted facilities, and other community organizations to identify needs and reduce crisis episodes and help individuals in services establish a primary care relationship to address their medical needs. Core task is to ensure that services provided are in accordance with all federal and state reporting requirements and to create a seamless transition for individuals receiving services across a full spectrum of health and social services, so that all gaps in care are reconciled within a trauma-informed, person-centered model of care. This role is a key team player position in a constantly changing busy environment that requires accuracy, attention to details, initiative and a pro-active approach to duties and responsibilities while working with the individuals in services, clinical team, co-workers, and community partners. The qualified applicant must demonstrate a positive attitude, considerable latitude for independent judgment, as well as professional ethics, appearance, and conduct. Hours may vary based on the needs of the program and the individuals served.

Requirements

Must have either 1) a High School Diploma; OR 2) a High School Equivalency Certificate (GED) issued in accordance with the law of the issuing state.
Must have at least one cumulative year of receiving mental health community services with a primary diagnosis of mental illness and/or substance used disorder.
Must demonstrate, at minimum, one-year active recovery and/or sobriety.
Mental Health Peer Support Specialist Certification is required within the first 6 months of employment.
Knowledge, experience, and proficiency in using standard Microsoft Office programs and systems databases.
Strong professional verbal and written communication skills and the ability to empathize with, relate to and effectively partner with individual and team members.
Must have a willingness to disclose their lived experience, where appropriate, for the purpose of empowerment.
Must be willing to work flexible hours that are convenient for individuals.
Must have reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license.
Knowledge of mental health disorders and recovery concepts.
Able to travel to attend Peer Specialist Certification training if necessary.
Applicable knowledge of community resources, of case management principles, objectives, standards, and methods; and of program policies and procedures.
Be able to complete detailed, yet concise progress notes which meet fidelity standards on all services provided during the sessions.
Ability to assess individuals’ needs, to coordinate services, to communicate effectively and to train others.
Have knowledge of the social services system and the ability to connect individual with appropriate services.
Excellent knowledge in tele-platforms, including exceptional ability to engage via multiple tele platforms and guide individuals in tele set-up.
Knowledge and implementation of a strengths-based person-centered approach.
Ability to write clearly and professionally on all services and internal communication.
Ability to think clearly and logically to navigate potentially dangerous and/or emotional situations.
Ability to respond to individuals with patience, empathy and understanding.
Good time management, organization, attention to detail, and computer proficiency are integral.
Demonstrates strong multi-cultural competency.

Nice To Haves

Fully certified as Peer Specialist highly desired.
English/Spanish bilingual preferred.
Experience providing tele-mental health services/coaching highly desired
Experience in crisis response and criminal justice system strongly preferred
Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

Responsibilities

Perform care coordination, peer support, and outpatient behavioral health services
Maintain a caseload
Ensure individuals receive timely access to quality care
Work with the LifePath Systems team and community organizations to identify needs and reduce barriers to care
Troubleshoot and organize support, interventions, and services to achieve outcomes
Ensure a seamless transition for individuals receiving services across a full spectrum of health and social services
Provide referrals internally and externally as needed
Reconcile all gaps in care within a trauma-informed, person-centered model of care
Complete required trainings prior to due date
Keep center-issued equipment in good repair
Build positive relationships with community-facing agencies
Maintain a professional relationship with all community stakeholders and partners
Coordinate care with local law enforcement
Assess and de-escalate behavioral health crisis situations
Document customer service in the electronic health record a minimum of 80 hours per month
Assess need for client support funds and providing open access and connection to the full array of behavioral health services
Ensure 90% of service notes are signed within 2 business days of service
Ensure 75% of full chart reviews receive a score of 80 or higher in following the Golden Thread
Facilitate community integration by understanding and implementing the Assertive Community Treatment model
Attend daily ACT huddles
Ensure services provided are in accordance with all federal and state reporting requirements