Field-Based Peer Support Specialist, Mental Health

CVS Health Corporation; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

CVS Health Corporation seeks a Peer Support Specialist to guide and mentor members toward recovery goals within Louisiana. You will conduct field-based visits, educate care teams, and coordinate with health professionals to address social determinants of health.

The role requires regional travel, 1–2 years of mental health/substance use experience, and strong collaboration skills. Proficiency with MS Office and EHRs is expected. This is a full-time position with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Must reside in Louisiana, specifically in the SE portion of the state (i.e. Baton Rouge, Northshore, New Orleans).
• Ability to travel 50% of the time to multiple office and home locations with personal vehicle, reliable transportation, valid driver's license, and automobile insurance is required. CVS reimburses for mileage.
• 1-2 years’ experience in community/outpatient setting working with members in a mental health or substance use setting is required.
• 1-2 years experience providing care to socially and medically complex patients effectively in a variety of non-traditional settings.
• 2-3 years of knowledge of formal and informal community agencies and resources. Working knowledge of multi-system outreach programs related to health care delivery, clinical education, and health-related services.
• Ability to educate health care providers as needed to adjust interventions based on member’s cultural, ethnic, or religious preferences.
• Experience using a computer and strong keyboard navigation skills including the use of MS Office Suite, Word, Teams and Excel applications.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and manage multiple priorities, utilizes effective time management skills, and exercise sound judgment.
• Strong self-starter with a proven track record of identifying solutions and executing tasks independently.
• Exceptional communication, organizational and interpersonal skills, with attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

Responsibilities

• Attend case rounds and assist the team with identifying members who might benefit from Peer Support Services and share information regarding how best to deliver services.
• Orient and educate the care management team as to how peer support services can help members in achieving member recovery goals, reinforcing the care plan, maintaining community tenure, adjusting tasks to fit with the member’s culture, language, and religion, improving access to care, identifying health care needs, and reducing unnecessary hospitalizations or emergency services.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals and providers on the principles of recovery, and opportunities for improving and understanding the social determinants of health that may be impacting member’s health and treatment plan through various communication channels.
• Assist care managers and coordinators in helping members to identify socio-economic issues that affect their overall health and develop person-centered plans and goals.
• May attend medical, behavior health or community appointments with members, when appropriate, to support connections to community-based resources to support overall treatment goals and advocate for getting the best possible care.
• Conduct face-to-face and/or virtual visits with members for the purposes of engaging the member in strengths-based, person-centered goal setting.
• Assist members in setting and obtaining short and long-term strength-based goals.
• Suggest approaches that encourage members to participate in wellness and recovery activities at a pace that is comfortable for them.
• Support members in developing their personalized voice and choice in care processes.
• Ability to advocate for the needs of the member and ensure that their individualized goals are being met in accordance to their expressed needs.
• Partner with the member in their efforts to connect with community-based services and supports to ensure access and utilization of these services and support the member in remaining in the community setting of their choice.
• Possess strong communication skills to not only engage the member initially in peer services but also to develop a working relationship that supports the member in achieving their individualized recovery pathway.
• Possess strong collaboration skills internally with health plan staff and externally with members and community agencies for the purposes of developing a holistic plan for the member that is reflective of the member’s stated goals.
• Knowledge of and/or ability to research available community-based supports and services to support member’s whole health.
• Possess a strong knowledge of open-ended questions and how to utilize open-ended questions to engage the member in a mutually beneficial dialogue.
• Possess strong technological skills regarding the ability to navigate and utilize numerous web-based and computer applications including but not limited to Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, QuickBase and Electronic Health Records.
• Possess strong documentation skills regarding the entering of non-clinical person-centered notes related to member outreach.
• Ability to maintain focus on tasks at hand and manage schedule independently in accordance with standards established.
• Ability to manage multiple competing projects and demands.
• Maintain continuing education requirements in accordance with standards established for Peer Support Specialists in Louisiana.

Skills

Exceptional communication skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Time management

Multitasking

MS Office Suite

Word

Teams

Excel

Electronic Health Records

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

MS Office Suite

Word

Teams

Excel

Electronic Health Records

Job description

CVS Health Corporation seeks a Peer Support Specialist to guide and mentor members toward recovery goals within Louisiana. You will conduct field-based visits, educate care teams, and coordinate with health professionals to address social determinants of health.

The role requires regional travel, 1–2 years of mental health/substance use experience, and strong collaboration skills. Proficiency with MS Office and EHRs is expected. This is a full-time position with comprehensive benefits.