Better Beginnings Health Care Solutions

POSITION TITLE: Peer Support Specialist

DEPARTMENT Emergency Department

POSITION SUMMARY: Peer Support Specialists in the Cape Fear Valley Emergency Department will be responsible for providing essential expertise, advocacy and consultation to the entire interdisciplinary healthcare team to promote a culture in which everyone’s point of view and preferences are recognized, respected and integrated into the plan of care for clients to include a special focus on discharge planning and warm handoff connections to community resources.

EDUCATION, CREDENTIALS, TRAINING and EXPERIENCE:

 Minimum Requirements:

• North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist (NCCPSS ) or equivalent certification from another state.
• Lived experience with both Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder struggles and/or treatment
• An associate degree or completion of the first two years of a four-year degree.
• Two years of experience as a Peer Support Specialist – preferably involving collaboration with Emergency Medical Services.
• Must complete all required training specific to the role of a PSS in the Emergency Department including the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) training titled “Recovery Coaching in the Emergency Room”.
• Valid drivers’ license and automotive insurance
• Ability to pass a drug screen at the time of hire and prn throughout the time of employment
• Ability to pass a background check with exceptions made (as appropriate if required)
• CPR, first aid, and NCI (Non-Violent Crisis Intervention/De-Escalation Training) and any other CFVHS employee requirements.

 Preferred Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Knowledge of and experience collaborating with mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers and members of recovery support community members in the Fayetteville and surrounding areas.
• Experience with or ability to work as a member of a healthcare interdisciplinary team with a focus on introducing or re-emphasizing the multiple pathway components of a successful mental health and substance use disorder approaches to recovery
• Ability to apply age-appropriate principles of communication and clinical practice relevant to adolescent, adult, and geriatric clients
• Understanding and or experience with the principles of harm reduction AND treatment approaches (i.e. activities therapy, group psychoeducational counselling, milieu therapy and multiple pathway approaches to recovery}
• Ability to educate clients, staff and the entire interdisciplinary healthcare team on the SAMHSA Recovery definition - “recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential”.
• Support for all evidence-based pathways of recovery to include medication assisted recovery, etc.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES and PROCESS ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Coordinates all, or portions of, the continuum of care pre/post discharge for the client following case management criteria

• Meet with clients to support access and involvement with community-based resources
• Provide advice and support in accordance with treatment plan
• Support/assist clients in daily decision making and resolution of minor problems
• Assist clients by finding resources, advising of processes, and encouraging follow through with proposed resolutions
• Locate sober/recovery social activities in the local area and or nearby cities, and help client get connections to possibly attend
• Accompany clients to community meetings (or online) when possible and advocate for client to develop connections
• Foster client’s development of healthy relationships by encouraging participation in community activities
• Observe behavior and evidence of general well-being and discusses observations with the clients

2. Coordinates with interdisciplinary team to include EMS, psychiatry, and medical professionals to assure client remains stable in their community

• Modeling effective coping and self-help techniques to individuals or groups of consumers
• Providing advice to clients on empowerment skills and successful community living
• Informing clients on community resources and how to use them appropriately, providing information to consumers and families on specific topics, as assigned
• Assist with case management services to consumers in the community or residing in a hospital or prior to their discharge, including completing applications and referral forms to obtain services.
• Monitor services provided to consumers in all settings.
• Utilize therapeutic communication skills to engage consumers during treatment.
• Interact with program participants and co-workers with empathy while maintaining dignity and confidentiality.
• Provide wellness education via teaching problem solving, anger management, and other life skills.
• Request specific and appropriate information about the consumer from involved treatment providers to promote continuity of care.
• Incorporate relevant socioeconomic and cultural variables into consumers plan of care.
• Observe, report, and document signs and symptoms or changes in consumers behavior on appropriate forms to be included in consumers medical record.
• Complete required documentation as consumers needs change.
• Write necessary reports to appropriate entities for accessing services on the consumers behalf.

3. Considers non-clinical issues relevant to consumer care.

• Delivers considerate care that safeguards the patient’s personal dignity, privacy, and their cultural diversity.
• Demonstrates awareness of legal/ethical issues in all aspects of consumer care and manages situation in a reduced risk manner.
• Role model’s recovery-oriented behaviors inclusive of conflict resolution, communication, relapse prevention
• Facilitates family groups and orientation as requested
• Practices language of caring techniques with patients throughout engagement

4. Collaborates and communicates with departmental and system-wide personnel, physicians, patients, and with various outside insurance and referral representatives to facilitate timely and effective actions and decisions.

• Promotes effectiveness and acceptability of actions and decisions, by ensuring that adequate, accurate, relevant and timely documentation is established and maintained to chronicle situations, events and actions/decisions made.
• Effectively collaborates with care managers, consumer care personnel and physicians regarding patients' psychosocial and discharge planning needs and status.
• Effectively negotiates with members of the health-care team, consumer and family to ensure timely and cost-effective client outcomes, and to control and prevent inappropriate hospital stays.
• Communicates positively, directly, clearly, accurately and timely in all interactions.
• Keeps Department Director informed regarding critical incidents and pertinent issues.
• Communicates appropriate, accurate information to others regarding social work and discharge planning practices, policies, procedures, issues and problems, researching as necessary to ensure accuracy of information exchange.

5. Uses and applies designated procedures to protect self and others.

• Conforms to established safety, infection control and isolation guidelines and procedures.
• Monitors patients for conformance with required smoking policies and other safety policies, notifying RN/LPN when consumer refuses to comply.
• Utilizes good body mechanics to prevent avoidable injuries.
• Stays capable of identifying exact location of designated emergency equipment.
• Participates in, and carries out assigned roles, during hospital drills and codes.
• Adheres to proper procedures for fire, disaster and hazardous chemicals protocols.
• Reports accidents, errors, and unusual occurrences within the tour of duty or immediately, depending on the nature of the incident, by notifying the physician or appropriate administrative personnel and by documenting as required.
• Stays aware of conditions which detract from a safe consumer environment, taking appropriate action where warranted (i.e. side rails up when appropriate, restraints properly placed, spills cleaned up, bed in low position when appropriate, etc.), and/or reporting to RN/LPN as warranted.

6. Participates in general behavioral health department support functions.

• a. Stays capable of setting up, operating, and maintaining designated equipment in accordance with procedure or specifications.
• b. Immediately removes malfunctioning equipment from consumer use, and reports problem to designated person.
• c. Helps to keep designated work and consumer care areas clean, neatly organized and adequately stocked with designated supplies.
• d. Participates in cost containment by conserving supplies, and by initiating consumer charges, as applicable.

7. Takes an active role in self development.

• a. Stays within boundaries set by job description and skills checklist, and ensures that, if not deemed competent to perform a procedure independently, complies with
• requirements for performing procedures (supervision, review of procedures, etc.).
• b. Always reads and signs new policies, procedures, PI materials and memos
• c. Participates in, and assures that, documentation of own continuing education and self development activities is current and valid by signing rosters and certificates for
• transcript.

8. Performs miscellaneous activities, as needed, to support unit operations and the provision of care.

• Stays abreast of behavioral health department activities and issues by attending meetings when possible, and/or reading meeting minutes when unable to attend.
• Performs data collection and idea generation pertinent to the departments quality assurance and quality improvement programs, as requested.
• Effectively explains procedures/ protocols, demonstrates procedures/ techniques, and answers questions when assisting with orientation/ training of other employees
• Accomplishes routine and non-routine miscellaneous assignments in accordance with procedure, or instructions, and time frames.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Salary: $15.00 - $18.00 per hour