Peer Support Specialist

**Job Title**

Peer Support Specialist

**Dept/Division/Location**

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 patients case and ensuring that family and other social supports identified in the patients 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 * 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 patients 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 patients 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 individuals 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 individuals 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.

* 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.

**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

* 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 ones 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