Intervention Specialist

Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association, Inc.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health System seeks a dedicated Trauma Recovery Services representative to support trauma survivors within the Advocate system and collaborate with medical teams, TRC, and community resources.

You will engage patients post-trauma, provide psychoeducation, safety planning, and assist with discharge and follow-up care in hospital and community settings.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum of one year experience in social services.
• Trauma-informed care and community outreach experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide immediate trauma-informed emotional support and resources to hospitalized patients.
• Assist with discharge planning and connect to outpatient care.
• Coordinate with clinical teams, TRC, and community resources.
• Respond to trauma alerts and collaborate with outreach teams.
• Schedule follow-up and wraparound services with partners.
• Maintain accurate records of patient interactions and plans.

Skills

Strong communication

Team collaboration

Microsoft Office Suite

Organizational skills

Empathy and patient support

Difficult conversations

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate's Degree

Tools

Epic

Red Hat

Job description

Collaborates within the Advocate Health system as a representative of the Advocate Trauma Recovery Services team to support our trauma survivors. This role involves engaging with patients who have recently experienced intentional trauma, serving as a vital link between the patient, trauma medical team, TRC, and community resources. These teammates conduct extensive patient outreach to ensure connections to appropriate services, deliver trauma-informed psychoeducation, and offer informal emotional support in both hospital and community settings. Additionally, they act as community liaisons and patient advocates, partnering with violence prevention organizations to gather information about incidents, mitigate retaliation, and coordinate wraparound services for patients and their families.

Major Responsibilities:

• Patient Support: Provides immediate trauma-informed emotional support, advocacy, and resources to hospitalized patients following trauma, including connecting them with the clinical team when appropriate, assisting with discharge planning, leading support and psychoeducation groups, and safety planning. Also, complete assessments and facilitate warm-handoffs to outpatient providers for ongoing care.

• Resources Navigation: Responds to trauma alerts, safety calls, pre-escalation needs and collaborates with street outreach teams and facilitates mediation to mitigate retaliation risks.

• Outreach: Provides patient support, collaborating with teams, and engaging in intensive community outreach. In addition, this includes making follow-up calls, connecting to resources, and sending letters to patients that have been discharged to connect them to outpatient resources.

• Continuity of Care: Schedules patient appointments with the TRC, other Advocate internal resources, or community partners before discharge to ensure ongoing care, which requires strong collaboration with other providers. Participate in the facilitation of psychoeducational and support groups.

• Assessments: Conducts intakes and needs assessments, linking patients to appropriate resources and outpatient services. It may also require notifying other hospital providers of unmet needs to be addressed while in the hospital.

• Record Keeping: Maintains accurate records of patient interactions and action plans.

• Collaboration: Works with the hospital treatment team and community partners to ensure comprehensive treatment, discharge planning, and continuity of care.

Minimum Job Requirements

Education

• High School Diploma or GED

Certification / Registration / License

• N/A

Experience

• Minimum of one year experience in social services

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively within a team and independently.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Ability to handle difficult conversations and maintain professionalism.

• Willingness to adapt to evolving job responsibilities.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Full-time position (40 hours per week), with flexibility to cover all shifts as needed.

• Reliable transportation to work several in the community and several days on site.

• Availability to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

• Reliable, punctual, and open to learning. Familiarity with and experience working in the designated service area.

• Adaptability to evolving hospital expectations to meet site needs and ensure quality patient care.

• Passion for and dedication to serving the community. Excellent communication, collaboration, and rapport-building skills.

• Empathy-driven, service-oriented attitude.

• Ability to engage in meaningful conversations, motivate patients, and communicate effectively with diverse populations, including seniors. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds unassisted; for heavier lifts, assistance from at least one other team member will be required.

Preferred Job Requirements

Education

• Associate's Degree

Experience

• 2 or more years related experience in social services.

• Epic or Red Hat experience

• Relationship building with community partners

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Previous supervisory experience.

• Experience working with trauma-affected populations.

• Bilingual - Spanish / English

All responsibilities and requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.