Certified Peer Specialist/Care Manager I

Summary: This position is part of an interdisciplinary team that functions to holistically address an individual’s mental health, physical health, and social needs. Care Managers are responsible for matching an individual’s needs with the appropriate services or resources. Additionally, Care Managers are responsible for maintaining and updating the individual’s records and may find it necessary to provide support in multiple settings to include but not limited to homes, schools, clinics, hospitals, and other mental health care facilities, and in the community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.

• Refers individuals to the appropriate program(s). Individuals may be dually enrolled in multiple programs based on their specific needs.
• Works directly with individuals, while coordinating/collaborating with the interdisciplinary team (which may include Primary Therapist, CNP Psychiatrists, MHP, and other ad-hoc team members as the need is identified to support the care plan.
• Engages individuals in recovery-oriented, consumer-centered care following professional standards of practice.
• May advocate on behalf of the individual/family for needed services and benefits.
• May assist in obtaining reimbursement and benefits, including medical assistance, transportation, education, etc.
• Refer individuals to appropriate resources for treatment needs in collaboration with the Primary Therapist and Clinical Care Manager.
• Provides education via peer-led educational groups, modeling, and support in the areas of identified needs. Examples include modeling job skills, providing education on physical and mental wellness, helping individuals access community resources, and supporting clients in following their care plans.
• Participates in regularly scheduled Case Consultation meetings as needed.
• Empowers others by helping them to identify their own personal strengths, supports, resources, and skills, and assists with interventions that may enhance a member’s progress with their documented Recovery Plans.
• Supports individuals in their decision-making by cultivating their ability to make informed, independent choices.
• When appropriate, Care Managers are responsible for outreach of additional support service agencies on an individual’s behalf, as identified in the member’s documented Recovery Plans. This may include housing, food, or transportation needs.
• Early Engagement process on the day of intake for New Admissions
• Complete the second half of the Consent Packet with New Admissions
• Introduce New Admissions to the assigned Therapist and Clinical Supervisor
• Provide a tour of the building with a description of activities performed in each area
• Facilitates first contact call-backs by utilizing the Daily Call Logs from the Front Office and documents the outcome of calls
• Facilitates the 30-day outreach process for all New Admissions and documents outcomes
• Facilitates and monitors peer support involvement with the Clothes Closet’s  submissions and access
• Facilitates and monitors  peer resource  activities designed to establish and maintain a peer-driven culture
• Prepares, completes, and submits required documentation by due dates.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings as required.
• Participate in Community Outreach activities as needed when assigned by the Program Manager.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Problem Solving - Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem-solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.
• People Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization's goals and values.
• Judgment – Displays willingness to make decisions. Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Professionalism - Tactfully approaches others; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Reports potentially unsafe conditions.
• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience                                                        

Certified Peer Specialist Certificate

Bachelor’s Degree Preferred, but not required.

Able to work and communicate effectively to implement problem-solving strategies, understand needs, and provide services in an ethical, respectful, and responsible manner.

Cultural intelligence and demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups respectfully.

Excellent critical thinking: able to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Must complete and pass all background checks.

Must be able to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team

Bilingual (Spanish and English), oral and written, helpful

Must have a valid driver’s license,

Provide your own transportation for local travel

Vehicles used for performing company work must be covered by auto insurance as required by the State.

Language Skills                                                       

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to draft reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.

Mathematical Skills                                                 

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Computer Skills                                                       

To perform this job successfully, an individual should know BTI Database software, Internet software, and MS Word processing software.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

CPR certification required

Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) required

Other Skills and Abilities: Experience with co-occurring populations is helpful.

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and use their hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to ten pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.