PEER RECOVERY NAVIGATOR (SOUTHERN AZ)

HOPE Arizona; Tucson (AZ); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

HOPE Arizona is seeking a Peer Recovery Navigator to support individuals recently diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness, promoting recovery through peer-led coaching and resource education.

The role emphasizes empowerment, person-centered goals, and collaboration with the health care team to ensure seamless access to services and community supports. A strong candidate will have hands-on behavioral health experience and a commitment to recovery-focused care.

Qualifications

• Must have firsthand knowledge of behavioral health conditions or substance use issues.
• First Aid/CPR certification required.
• Peer certification training within first 3 months of employment.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills desired.
• Arizona driver’s license with clean MV record in past 3 years.
• Must be 21 years or older.
• TB test within the last year before employment.

Responsibilities

• Assist individuals recently designated with Serious Mental Illness in developing meaningful, member-driven goals.
• Support orientation to the public behavioral health system to enhance engagement in services.
• Model recovery through coaching, mentoring, and sharing personal experiences where appropriate.
• Educate members on rights and include family of choice where applicable.
• Assist with intake and ISP processes into a health home and advocate as needed.
• Conduct regular check-ins to monitor ISP progress and satisfaction.
• Coordinate with Care Management to trigger services when issues arise.
• Document timely in behavioral health records and share tracking data with RBHA.

Skills

Peer support experience

Coaching/mentoring

Communication skills

Community resources knowledge

Empathy and empowerment

Education

High School Diploma or GED + 2 years behavioral health experience

Bachelor's or Master's degree in behavioral health

Tools

CPR/First Aid certification

Job description

Description

Summary

The Peer Recovery Navigator (PRN) works with individuals in the community who have recently received a designation of a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and promotes a recovery-based approach to member care. Care provided to members emphasizes hope, respect, self-direction and empowerment by providing peer support, education on community resources and other supportive services, to aid in members’ recovery from mental illness and/or addiction disorders. Guidance and direction are provided by the Senior Director of Community Programs.

Essential Duties

• Work with newly determined SMI individuals, to ensure the development of meaningful, member-driven goals, support the member during the transition into the public behavioral health system, and enhance provider accountability.
• Act as part of the member’s orientation to the public behavioral health system to enhance the quality of care and ensure engagement in services available, including intake into a behavioral health health-home.
• Relate their own recovery process in a positive and supportive manner through coaching, role modeling and mentoring in order to assist members in developing skills to achieve their goals.
• Ensure the member is educated on their rights including their ability to include family of choice in their services, and choices in treatment.
• Support the member through the process of completing an intake and ISP into a health home and advocate on their behalf when necessary.
• Once the member has their ISP in place and is engaged in services, the PRN will provide check-ins at set intervals to ensure the member is satisfied with their ISP and progressing toward goals.
• If the PRN identifies issues, they will coordinate with AzCH’s Care Management team and trigger Care Management involvement.
• Ensure all identified services are offered and delivered to meet identified needs and objectives and expected outcomes are achieved.
• Facilitate communication and coordination between participants of the health care team, involving the members in the decision-making process in order to minimize fragmentation in the services.
• Work with the member to use natural supports and reintegrate into the general community to the maximum extent possible.
• Respond to members and their family when a member is hospitalized, arrested, or when other major life events occur to ensure services are appropriate and to assist the member in the safe transition of care to the next most appropriate level. Communicate with the member’s health home including care around major medical conditions to ensure effective coordination of care.
• Complete timely documentation within members’ behavioral health records in accordance with agency and funding source requirements, including tracking spreadsheets to be shared with the Regional Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA).

Requirements

• At least 21 years of age
• High School/GED + 2 years’ behavioral health experience or Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in a behavioral health field
• (Required) Peer - Individuals must have first- hand knowledge of a behavioral health condition or substance abuse issue, whether or not they received treatment or medication.
• If the staff identifies as a peer using the definition listed above, they must attend Peer Support Certification training within the first 3 months of employment.
• Strongly preferred- Individual who identifies as having a serious mental illness and can relate to members as having been through the public behavioral health system themselves.
• Demonstrate strong leadership and organizational skills
• Valid Arizona Driver’s license, Driver’s license is an essential requirement for performing duties for this position with a Clean Motor Vehicle Record - no more than 2 moving violations or a license suspension in past 3 years.
• Current 1st Aid and CPR certification
• Proof of TB testing within the last year, required within first month of employment.