Description and Requirements

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.

• 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

• 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 could include the 5 boroughs, Long Island, Orange County, and Westchester

• 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