Peer Support Specialist

Pcc Community Wellness Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

PCC Community Wellness Center seeks a Peer Support Specialist to provide behavioral health support and coordinated care for patients with substance use diagnoses. This role improves patient engagement by reducing barriers and fostering professional relationships with patients, providers, and referral sources.

Responsibilities include coordinating referrals, linking patients to services in hospital settings, and supporting transitions of care across PCC and partner organizations, with a focus on

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; further degree preferred.
• CPR certification current and active (per posted requirements).
• CADC/CPRS/CRSS certification current and active is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate patient referrals between providers and sources to ensure smooth transitions.
• Link patients to medical and behavioral health services in ED and hospital settings.
• Support transitions of care for patients in inpatient/outpatient addiction services.
• Conduct community outreach and home visits to increase engagement with PCC services.
• Attend community events representing PCC and promote patient-centered care.

Skills

MS Office

EHR knowledge

Education

High School diploma or GED

Associates or Bachelor’s degree in related field (preferred)

Tools

EHR software

MS Office suite

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: ARC Recovery Services Clinic - CHICAGO, IL 60644

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: High School/GED

Salary Range: $19.25 - $21.25 Hourly

Travel Percentage: Local - Location to Location

Job Shift: Day

Job Category: Health Care

Peer Support Specialist

Department: Care Coordination

Manager Title: Assistant Director of Complex Care

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Job Purpose:

Responsible for providing behavioral health support and coordinated care for patients with substance use diagnoses. Ensures enhanced patient engagement by addressing barriers to care, increasing patient motivation, and establishing professional, dynamic relationships with patients, providers, referral sources, and other involved parties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish relationships to coordinate patient referrals between patient’s provider and referral source to promote patient-centered services and ensure all reports are received by PCC
• Provide linkage to medical and behavioral health services to patients receiving care in the emergency department and hospital
• Support patients connected to inpatient and outpatient addiction medicine services at serviced hospitals with transitions of care to PCC and partnering community organizations.
• Conduct community outreach and home visits to increase engagement of patients in health services
• Attend community outreach events as representative of PCC
• Collaborate with providers and patients to provide patients services needed for successful follow-up
• Openly identifies as a person who has lived experience or family member with lived experience of using/ have used substance use or mental health services when appropriate.
• Advocate on patient’s behalf if needed to ensure completion of referrals
• Decrease barriers to care, increase motivation, and foster open communication under direction and guidance of the Assistant Director of Complex Care.
• Demonstrates ways to become empowered and self-responsible.
• Promotes consumer engagement in substance use services if needed.
• Co-facilitates groups with behavioral health consultants
• Provide self-help recovery services
• Maintains appropriate professional standards and provides appropriate follow-up for consumers.
• Achieve outcome-based metrics for performance
• Maximize services within care coordinator scope and refer to other staff as needed based on patients’ need and staff members’ position, licensure and scope of services
• Prepare data and documentation and have charts prepped for all applicable Case Management sessions
• Regularly attend and participate in monthly site team meetings
• Contribute to patient education materials and strategies to support care coordination
• Work with manager and team to create flow charts, workflows and document tracking process as needed
• Develop supportive services and tools to address common barriers to care for PCC patients; integrate these with other initiatives for health promotion/education and access to care
• Performs other duties as required and assigned

QualificationsEducation/Certification:

• High school diploma or GED required
• Associates or Bachelor’s degree in related field is preferred
• Current and valid CPR card
• Current and active: CADC, CPRS, or CRSS certification

Software Knowledge:

• Proficient in MS Office Business Applications to include: Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Knowledge of EHR and reporting software preferred

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• Must be able to move around the clinic site 50% of the time.
• Constantly operates a computer, computer printer, copy machine, and telephone.
• Occasionally positions self to maintain exertion of physical strength to move objects of 10 pounds from one level to another.
• Must be able to transport from one site to another
• Must be able to cover other shifts as necessary.

Language Skills:

• Ability to read and write proficiently using the English language.

Other Characteristics:

Ability to:

• Follow through, assume responsibility, ensure accountability, and use good judgment
• Provide home visits to high-risk patients as needed
• Problem solve effectively and creatively
• Understand behavior as well as verbal and written communication
• Perform crisis intervention and mandated reporting if needed
• Understand and follow verbal and written communication
• Maintain professionalism under stressful situations
• Collaborate to achieve department goals and objectives
• Constantly communicate with patients, families, and other healthcare providers. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Detailed oriented with the ability to work with minimum/no supervision
• Demonstrate flexibility to adapt to new situations
• Self-motivated and directed with the ability to prioritize and work efficiently under pressure
• Ability to work with a team