Peer Support Specialist

Healthfirst; Arlington (NY); On-site; USD 34,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401k plan

Job summary

Healthfirst seeks a Peer Support Specialist to empower members with mental health or substance use challenges. You will work in field-based settings and by phone to aid recovery, connect to care, and coordinate with the care team.

Travel across downstate New York will be required, including hospital and home visits, with translation support as needed. Responsibilities include caseload management, completing assessments, and linking members to resources while maintaining person-centered care

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Certification or provisional certification as Peer Specialist or Recovery Peer Advocate.
• Ability to manage a caseload and to work within a team in a fast paced environment.
• Strong communication and engagement skills with healthy boundary setting.
• Proficient computer skills including Outlook, Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Manages designated caseload of members who could benefit from Peer Support services, care coordination, and health navigation.
• Schedules and conducts multiple field-based visits per day.
• Completes assessments and questionnaires to identify barriers and opportunities for intervention.
• Works telephonically to handle outreach, benefit questions, and care coordination inquiries.
• Generates referrals to providers and community resources to support care plans.
• Liaise between doctors, social workers, discharge planners, and community providers to coordinate care.
• Contributes to member care plans and goals, and documents encounters in systems.
• Occasional overtime as necessary.

Skills

Caseload management

Communication

Engagement skills

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Certification or Provisional Certification as Peer Specialist

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

As a valued member of the Behavioral Health Care Management Team, the Peer Support Specialist (PSS) utilizes lived experience to model recovery and support Healthfirst members who are struggling with mental health and/or substance use disorders. The PSS works directly with members in both field‑based settings and telephonically to support a person‑centered approach to care. This includes identifying appropriate resources and facilitating linkage to care, as many of our members require assistance in building the skills to navigate their health care system. Further, the PSS collaborates with the members’ support system and interdisciplinary treatment team to empower, encourage engagement in services, and reduce barriers to change. While encouraging recovery planning, the PSS may administer questionnaires, retrieve necessary documentation, and/or facilitate contact with a Healthfirst Care Manager to conduct other required assessments. When needed and able, the PSS may also support the Healthfirst Care Management Team by providing translation services. An integral part of the Peer Support Specialist’s role is to make community‑based field visits to and with members, including on‑site hospital, facility‑based, and home visits around downstate New York.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Manages designated caseload of members who could benefit from Peer Support services, care coordination, and health navigation
• Schedules and conducts multiple field‑based visits per day (clustered by geographic areas)
• Completes assessments and questionnaires to identify barriers and opportunities for intervention
• Works telephonically when not in the field to make outreach calls and receive incoming calls to/from members regarding benefit questions/issues, care coordination, program inquiries, and connecting to their care manager
• Generates referrals to providers, community‑based resources, and appropriate services and other resources to assist in goal achievement and maintenance of successful health outcomes
• Liaise between service providers such as doctors, social workers, discharge planners, and community‑based providers to ensure care is coordinated and care needs are addressed
• Collaborate as part of the multi‑disciplinary health care team to ensure care needs are addressed within members’ care plans and treatment is person‑centered
• Contributes to corporate goals through ongoing execution of member care plans and member goal achievement and successful coordination with local supports
• Documents all encounters with providers, members, and vendors in the appropriate systems in accordance with internal and established documentation procedures
• Occasional overtime as necessary
• Additional duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Certification or Provisional Certification as Peer Specialist or Recovery Peer Advocate
• Demonstrated ability to manage a caseload and work effectively within a team, in a fast‑paced environment
• Work experience requiring effective communication and engagement skills, as well as healthy boundary‑setting
• Proficient computer skills, including a solid understanding of Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel
• Ability to travel around downstate New York which includes the 5 boroughs, Long Island, Orange County, and Westchester

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in English and one or more language(s): Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese highly preferred
• Prior experience in a field‑based health care role (home visits a plus)
• Experience using health information systems to document and/or retrieve information
• Experience with geriatric or other at‑risk populations, including their caregivers
• Experience in hospital/facility discharge planning
• Experience managing member information in a shared network environment using paperless database modules and archival systems
• Familiar with areas of NYC, Long Island, and/or lower Westchester
• A valid NYS driver’s license or ID

EEO Statement

HF Management Services, LLC complies with all applicable laws and regulations. Applicants and employees are considered for positions and are evaluated without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, domestic violence victim status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, military status, veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, height and weight, familial status, marital status, or unemployment status, as well as any other legally protected basis.

HF Management Services, LLC shall not discriminate against any disabled employee or applicant in regard to any position for which the employee or applicant is otherwise qualified.

Thank you for considering a career with HF Management Services, LLC.

Salary and Benefits

Hiring Range*: Greater New York City Area (NY, NJ, CT residents): $40,200 - $54,570

All Other Locations (within approved locations): $34,900 - $52,000

As a candidate for this position, your salary and related elements of compensation will be contingent upon your work experience, education, licenses and certifications, and any other factors Healthfirst deems pertinent to the hiring decision.

In addition to your salary, Healthfirst offers employees a full range of benefits such as, medical, dental and vision coverage, incentive and recognition programs, life insurance, and 401k contributions (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements).

Healthfirst believes in providing a competitive compensation and benefits package wherever its employees work and live.

*The hiring range is defined as the lowest and highest salaries that Healthfirst in “good faith” would pay to a new hire, or for a job promotion, or transfer into this role.

Healthfirst is New York’s largest not‑for‑profit health insurer offering it’s nearly 1.7 million members access to high‑quality, affordable healthcare.

As part of the community for nearly 30 years, Healthfirst’s unique advantage is rooted in its belief that good health doesn’t start in a doctor’s office.

The company’s mission is to put its members first by working closely with care providers and community leaders to address broader issues that can impact health and well‑being.

This value‑based care model is the foundation of the company’s sustained growth in one of the most dynamic markets in the country.

So, if you are passionate about what you do and want to work for a company that is focused on the future and dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives, then Healthfirst is for you.

Know Your Rights

All hiring and recruitment at Healthfirst is transacted with a valid “@healthfirst.org” email address only or from a recruitment firm representing our Company. Any recruitment firm representing Healthfirst will readily provide you with the name and contact information of the recruiting professional representing the opportunity you are inquiring about. If you receive a communication from a sender whose domain is not @healthfirst.org, or not one of our recruitment partners, please be aware that those communications are not coming from or authorized by Healthfirst. Healthfirst will never ask you for money during the recruitment or onboarding process.