Peer Support Specialist - Behavioral Health

Grace Health•London, KY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This role functions as a Peer Support Specialist within Behavioral Health, serving as a role model for peers and demonstrating competency in personal recovery and coping skills. The specialist will act as a consumer advocate, providing referral information and recovery resources. Responsibilities include assisting clients with enrollment in insurance and benefit programs, and connecting them with transportation, housing, behavioral health specialty care, and substance abuse treatment. The role also involves proactive outreach to improve patient outcomes and build relationships with community health and social services agencies. Grace Health emphasizes a team-based approach to patient care, requiring strong communication and coordination skills among all staff members. Team members are expected to understand and embrace population management, proactively address patient needs, and communicate effectively with vulnerable populations. Participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and practice performance reviews is also essential.

Requirements

High school Diploma or G.E.D.
Valid KY driver's license required.
Certified Peer Specialist credentialing is required.
Knowledge of general medical practice models and processes such as office procedures, medical records, health insurance, etc.
Knowledge of clinical data collection and fidelity to program protocols.
Skilled in data collection and reporting; including use of spreadsheets and electronic medical records.
A valid driver's license is required as transportation may be required to provide assistance to medical appointments, social activities, job sites, housing selection, and community resources.
Ability to be a resource for others and work with providers in the community, as well as knowledge of community resources.
Ability to effectively engage clients by telephone or in person.
Knowledge of HIPAA confidentiality requirements as they relate to health care and, specifically, behavioral health.
Ability to offer understanding and respond effectively and with sensitivity to special populations, such as those defined by race, ethnicity, language, age, sex, sexual orientation, economic standing, disability, migrant and seasonal worker status, homelessness, people living with HIV/AIDS, and others.
Knowledge of creating and maintaining spreadsheets, documentation via electronic medical record, and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with community groups, treatment team staff, providers, and consumers.

Nice To Haves

Managing patient care is a team effort that involves clinical and non-clinical staff.
Embrace a team-based approach to patient care and understand that each role is important to our success.
Demonstrate excellent team communication and coordination to provide quality patient care.
Care coordination includes communicating with community organizations, health plans, facilities, and specialists.
Understand and embrace the concept of population management and proactively address the needs of patients and families served by this practice.
Demonstrate skill and knowledge related to effective communication with vulnerable patient populations.
Flexible in being able to multitask.

Responsibilities

Function as a role model to peers; exhibits competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills.
Serve as a consumer advocate, provide referral information to consumers in need.
Provide recovery resources and other materials in the provision of services.
Assist with enrollment into insurance and benefit programs for which clients are eligible: transportation, housing, food, behavioral health specialty care and substance abuse treatment.
Make proactive contacts to improve patient outcomes and build relationships with health and social services agencies in the community.
Work with crisis intervention, complex and chronic mental illness, and substance abuse in a multi-disciplinary team setting.
Work with underserved and/or transient populations.
Work with patients who have co-occurring mental health, substance abuse, and physical health problems.
Participate in monitoring of individual satisfaction with supports, services, and programs.
Promotion of recovery services, symptom reduction, increased coping skills, and improved community functioning.
Effectively collaborate with other health professionals in a team setting, and work to develop procedures to promote integrated behavioral health access and care.
Able to multi-task and complete a variety of tasks each day (e.g. phone calls, outreach, referrals, EMR documentation, etc.).
Follows policies and procedures of the office, including administrative, clinical, quality assurance, and personnel.
Maintains good attendance (daily, meetings, and other assignment tasks).
Maintains timely documentation of all work assignments.
Maintains patient confidentiality.
Routinely keeps supervisor informed about attendance and job assignments.
Works effectively and at an efficient pace.
Works cooperatively with providers, administration, and peers.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities within the organization to ensure patients receive high quality care.
Participate in the review and evaluation processes of practice performance and help to identify opportunities for improvement.
Participate in Grace Health's advocacy program.