Client Advocate I / Peer Support Specialist - ACT Team (Charleston)

Doc PersonalBeratung GmbH; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 45,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

15 days annual leave

15 days sick leave

13 paid holidays

Paid Parental Leave

S.C. Deferred Compensation

Retirement options: SCRS / State ORP

Job summary

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities seeks a Client Advocate / Certified Peer Support Specialist to support individuals with serious mental illness in Charleston, SC. The role works on an Assertive Community Treatment team, delivering recovery-oriented services and coordinating care under supervision.

Responsibilities include direct patient support, documentation, team collaboration, and ongoing certifications.

Qualifications

• High school diploma; a bachelor's degree may substitute for the required experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct services through coaching, mentoring and consultation to promote recovery and self-advocacy.
• Maintain medical records documentation standards and document services with patient collaboration.
• Provide consultation to ACT Team members to support understanding of recovery and CPSS role.
• Serve as an active ACT team member, facilitate IPOC process and participate in daily meetings and treatment planning.
• Provide patients with satisfaction surveys to measure perceptions of care and improve treatment quality.
• Adhere to policies, complete required trainings and maintain CPSS certification.

Education

High school diploma; bachelor's degree may be substituted for required experience

Job description

Job Responsibilities

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Join our team at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD) where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community. We are seeking a Client Advocate / Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) who is motivated to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges and achieve long-term wellness. If you want to use your skills to build a healthier, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply.

This position is located at the BHDD - Office of Mental Health, Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center (CDMHC), 2100 Charlie Hall Blvd, Charleston SC 29414.

As the Client Advocate I, working under direct supervision, you will serve on the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team that provides evidenced based services in an intensive non-residential treatment and rehabilitative services in accordance with the fidelity model. This is a single fixed point of responsibility for treatment, rehabilitation, and support needs for patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who require higher levels of community care and have not been well supported in lower level of care options.

Responsibilities for the Client Advocate I / Certified Peer Support Specialist

• Provide direct services through coaching, mentoring and consultation to the patient to promote recovery, self-advocacy and self-direction. Promotes wellness management strategies, which include delivering manualized interventions, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) or Illness Management and Recovery. Assist patients in developing Psychiatric Advanced Directives. Model recovery values, attitutes, beliefs and personal action to encourage wellness and resilience.
• Maintain medical records documentation standards with QA, BHDD-OMH and CARF policies and procedures. Document services collaboartively with the patient as appropriate.
• Provide consultation to ACT Team members to assist in understanding recovery and the role of the CPSS, promote a culture in which patients' points of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into treatment.
• Serve as an active member of the ACT team, which includes facilitating the IPOC process for patients assigned to them. Regularly participate in the daily team meetings and treatment planning meetings. Ensure at least a monthly staffing of each patient that they serve,
• Provide patients with satisfaction surveys to measure the patients' own perception of care, access to service, and improve the quality of treatment.
• Adhere to policies and procedures according to Corporate Compliance, Fire and Safety and CARF. Complete all annual required trainings to include Safety, MAPS, and clinical trainings. Maintain CPSS certification. Demonstrate adherence to CARF standards, and BHDD-OMH and Center policies and procedures.

Minimum And Additional Requirements

• A high school diploma and relevant human services or social services experience. A bachelor's degree may be substituted for the required experience.

Additional Requirements

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Self-Identify as a person diagnosed with mental illness/ substance use (MI/SU).
• Demonstrate 2 years of sustained recovery without relapse.
• Completed 100 hours of supervised, paid, or volunteer work providing peer support services to individuals diagnosed with MI, SU, or co-occurring disorder.
• The employee is required to have a serviceable personal vehicle and a valid SC driver's license.
• Position requires the ability to bend, stoop, climb, drive from location to location, and lift up to 5 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.

Post Hire, Employees Must

• Have the ability to communicate orally, and in writing.
• Have effective problem-solving skills, and decision-making skills.
• Be required to obtain and maintain Peer Support Specialist Certification.
• Be knowledgeable of agency and community resources and have the ability to link individuals with recourses.
• Be able to effectively teach individuals how to take responsibility for recovery.
• Able to effectively advocate for patient needs, with the ability to collaborate with treatment team, and demonstrate sustained recovery.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices *
• State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
• State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)
• Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.

Benefits For State Employees

The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits

Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits

State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits

State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note:

The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.