Peer Specialist, Brockton Behavioral Health Center, 40 Hours (Days/Evening)

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Nurse Manager, the Certified Peer Specialist will work as a member of inpatient psychiatric unit, with a focus on addressing the recovery and stabilization of patients with mental illness, substance use and co-occurring disorders.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:

Certified peer specialist  RESPONSIBILITES:

• Provide guidance, advocacy, and support to patients during their recovery & stabilization process

• Serve as a liaison between the patient, clinical treatment team, and patient’s community, family, and other social supports

• Empower patients to exercise autonomy in different aspects of their life and assist with developing skills in self-advocacy.

• Adherence to a trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach when providing care to patients and families.

• Active participation in daily rounds

• Conduct post discharge outreach to encourage attendance and participation in community-based recovery & stabilization services

• Collaborate with the patients’ family/significant others around treatment goals.

OTHER  RESPONSIBILITES:

• Attendance at departmental meetings and in-service education program offerings

• Attendance at scheduled supervision sessions

• Obtain continuing education as necessary to maintain certification

• Utilize hospital's behavioral standards as the basis for decision making and to facilitate the hospital's mission.

• Maintain patient confidentiality according to hospital policy. Practices professional discretion when determining the inclusion of any patient information into medical record or department clinical record notes.

• Document each patient encounter in the medical record

• Perform other duties as requested

GENERAL

• Peer workers hold out hope to those they serve, partnering with them to envision and achieve a meaningful and purposeful life. Peer workers help those they serve identify and build on strengths and empower them to choose for themselves, recognizing that there are multiple pathways to recovery.

• The person participating in services always directs peer recovery support services. Peer recovery support is personalized to align with the specific hopes, goals, and preferences of the individual served and to respond to specific needs the individuals has identified to the peer worker.

• Peer workers are partners or consultants to those they serve. They do not dictate the types of services provided or the elements of recovery plans that will guide their work with peers. Participation in peer recovery support services is always contingent on peer choice.

• The relationship between the peer worker and the peer is the foundation on which peer recovery support services and support are provided. The relationship between the peer worker and peer is respectful, trusting, empathetic, collaborative, and mutual.

• Peer recovery support utilizes a strengths-based framework that emphasizes physical, psychological, and Follow established hospital infection control and safety procedures

(The above statements are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job and are not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB DESCRIPTION CHARACTERISTICS

EDUCATION:

High School Diploma/GED

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

Certified Peer Specialist certification required within 3 months of employment.

EXPERIENCE:

• Lived experience with behavioral health disorders and minimum of 2 years of sustained recovery, as applicable.

• Possession of strong interpersonal and professional skills to self-disclose in a manner that is trauma sensitive and appropriate.

• Ability to honor peer specialist code of ethics and confidentiality

• Previous experience working with individuals with mental health, or substance use disorders preferred

• Requires level of knowledge on community resources and ability to connect patients with those resources.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Advanced interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively with various healthcare professionals, to develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with patients and families

• Cultural humility is very important.

• Proficiency in Spanish, French, Creole, and/or Portuguese is strongly preferred

• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.

• Computer literacy with ability to use standard word processing, spreadsheet programs and e-mail (i.e. MS Word, Excel, Outlook) and web browsers.

• Must be comfortable in a fast paced and dynamic work environment (sense of humor is valued).

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans