Peer Support Specialist - Center for Psychiatry and Mental Wellness

Join MAHEC's Peer Support Specialist team and support ongoing growth at the Center for Psychiatry and Mental Wellness, Biltmore Campus (Asheville). This is a full-time position eligible for MAHEC's full Total Rewards package. If you are an experienced and compassionate CPSS seeking to provide impactful care for WNC patients in recovery, then we want to speak with you!

JOB SUMMARY:

• This Peer Support Specialist will function in the primary role of providing peer support services to individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. This position will work collaboratively with the MAHEC staff throughout departments to provide patients with support and resources to maintain recovery.

• Peer Support Services (PSS) are an evidence-based mental health model of care that provides community-based recovery services directly to an adult diagnosed with a mental health or substance use disorder. PSS provides structured, scheduled services that promote recovery, self-determination, and self-advocacy, engagement in self-care and wellness and enhancement of community living skills of individuals. PSS services directly provided by Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPSS) who have self-identified as a person(s) in recovery from a mental health or substance use disorder.

• The Peer Support Specialist will be responsible for providing essential expertise and consultation to the entire interdisciplinary healthcare team to promote a culture in which each individual’s point of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected and integrated into treatment, rehabilitation, and community self-help activities while serving as an advocate for patients.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To provide individualized, ongoing guidance, coaching and support to patient receiving PSS
• To provide training in the use of personal and community resources and supports to PSS patients related to their recovery
• To protect the patient’s rights and to assist in reducing associated stigma
• To work in cooperation with other providers, family members or significant others involved in the patient’s recovery plan
• To attend department staff meetings, Case Conferences and Individual and Group Supervision
• To attain established standards of productivity. PSS services provided in 15-minute increments and delivered via phone, in the community, or in a MAHEC facility
• 80% of contact is encouraged to be face-to-face with individual receiving services
• Each individual may receive a maximum of 80 units per week and 20 units per 24 hours period by any peer support staff
• To observe all rules of confidentiality relating to clinical information and treatment, both internally and when dealing with external agencies and/or individuals
• To be responsible for understanding patient’s rights policy and procedures
• To participate in staff training and development
• To serve on designated committees within the organization
• To observe the guidelines established within MAHEC policy and procedures related to boundaries and professionalism

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Communication Skills

Effectively and respectably communicate with other individuals, whether it be a colleague, patient, or patient’s family member and appropriately enumerate information in a manner easily understood by all parties. We do this to foster a culture of understanding between all parties, especially in complex and difficult situations, to ultimately provide the best care possible to our patients and their families.

• Decision Making

Ability to make the most appropriate decision in a given situation and then taking the next steps to ensure appropriate and timely completion. This requires conflict resolution skills, critical thinking skills, confidence in your ability to make the right decision in most situations. This also includes ability to prioritize your workday appropriately to ensure the most important tasks are completed on time.

• HealthCare Knowledge

Having the drive to keep yourself abreast and up to date on the new breakthroughs in your area of expertise and communicating them to the rest of the team, as appropriate.  This also includes keeping up with your licensure and yearly training requirements within your area expertise along with MAHEC’s organizational training. Finally, the ability to apply the depth of knowledge maintained and gained through this process in real life scenarios as appropriate.

• Interpersonal Skills

Showing the ability to meet difficult situations with grace, professionalism, and understanding. Within your area of expertise, showing respect