Scheduled Hours

20

Position Summary

While under the supervision of Hermann Center for Child and Family Development Perinatal Behavioral Health Service Clinical Leader and clinical staff, the Peer Support Specialist uses lived experience to facilitate support and interventions for pregnant and postpartum families, guiding the development of a mental wellness plan, and coaching participants on strategies for improved mental and physical health during pregnancy and up to a year postpartum.

Will serve as a member of a multidisciplinary team (therapists, social workers, nurses, OBGYNs, psychiatrists, and community) providing services in Barnes OBGYN Women’s Health Center, the community, and other clinical settings. The Peer Support Specialist uses lived experiences to help engage with moms/birthing persons by supporting them through the intake and enrollment process, and observes and documents client responses to interventions.

Diversity is a core value at Washington University School of Medicine and in the Department of Psychiatry. We are committed to building and sustaining inclusive and equitable working and learning environments for all students, staff, trainees, and faculty. We believe that building a diverse team enriches us individually and as a department by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions. In order to achieve these objectives, candidates are expected to align with the school's mission of promoting inclusive excellence. They should be prepared to further this objective within Washington University and collaborate with diverse communities of students, faculty, staff, trainees, and patients. Visit our Websites to learn more about DEI initiatives in the Department of Psychiatry (https://psychiatry.wustl.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion-2/) and at WUSM (https://diversity.med.wustl.edu/).    

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Conduct appropriate assessments and perform interventions and supportive activities to assist moms/birthing person meet care goals.
• Develop a positive, non-judgmental relationship with each mother/birthing person, modeling appropriate behavior while acting as a role model for them.
• Facilitate the wraparound process and linkage to community resources.
• Start and run mutual support and education groups.
• Provide information about skills related to health, wellness, and recovery to patients and helps manage crises by both advocating for patients and teaching patients how to advocate for themselves.
• Monitor and document progress in electronic medical chart and research data system.
• Facilitate presentations to community groups or other agencies regarding local resources, services, and maternal mental health activities.
• Transport moms/birthing persons to activities related to her care goals within program guidelines, including recreational, educational, and other activities promoting a mother/birthing person collective wellness.
• Participate in functions as part of the Perinatal Behavioral Health Service and Hermann Center (e.g., staff development, staff meetings, supervision, clinical case discussions etc.).
• All other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

High school diploma or equivalent high school certification or combination of education and/or experience.

Certifications:

The list below may include all acceptable certifications and issuers. More than one credential or certification may be required depending on the role.

Basic Life Support - American Heart Association, Basic Life Support - American Red Cross, Basic Life Support - CPR St Louis

Work Experience:

Administrative Or Research (2 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Required Qualifications

• BLS certification must be obtained within one month of hire date.
• Basic Life Support certification (Online BLS certifications, those without a skills assessment component, are not sufficient to meet the BLS requirements).