Peer Support Assistant

Position Summary

This position supports the smooth, timely, and coordinated client transition from hospital care to alternative levels of care including but not limited to post-acute settings, community services, or physician offices as directed by the care coordination team. This position assists patients to enhance their recovery and help promote client wellness and self-direction in the community. This position advocates for and obtains necessary program support and services for patients to provide timely interventions, address unmet needs, and reduce the risk of hospitalizations and/or crisis situations. This position will also provide support to patients to effectively navigate the behavioral health system and assist in providing skills training and personal assistance to empower patients.

Core Functions

• Works with the patient to coordinate transition out of a care setting in order to obtain appropriate services and benefits as directed by the care coordination team.
• Affords patients in accessing and maintaining needed services in order to support patients’ community integration efforts and individual treatment plan, entering and tracking referrals, arranging transportation, making and confirming follow-up appointments, obtaining medication lists, test results, and other patient related duties as designated.
• Relates own recovery process in a positive and supportive manner through coaching and role modeling to assist patients in skill development.
• Performs transfer of accurate, pertinent patient information between all appropriate entities of the acute and post-acute care continuum.
• Performs follow-up calls to patients and providers regarding their experience with Banner; documenting findings and reporting any concerns or dissatisfaction to leadership for follow-up, issue resolution and data collection.
• Attends and participates in team meetings, clinical staffing (as needed), court hearings, and other meetings relevant to meeting the treatment needs of patients.
• Completes progress notes, other patient record documents and writes comprehensive and timely reports in accordance with Banner policy and funding source guidelines.
• May help coordinate and lead support groups and activities that help to improve life skills, social skills, and teach behavior management cues in group settings or individually as assigned.
• Works with patient and in some cases family, clinical team, and others in order to identify unmet needs and necessary community or family support, programs and services.
• May enhance the individualized treatment plan based on patient’s needs, cultural preferences, circumstances, and diagnosis.
• Helps patients to navigate community resources.
• Completes all required training by Banner Health or as requested by supervisor and participates in individual and team clinical supervision.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma/GED or equivalent working knowledge.
• Requires current Peer Support Specialist, Peer Recovery Support Specialist, or Recovery Support Specialist Certification.
• Familiar with behavioral health community resources and is able to appropriately interact with individuals who have a range of mental disorders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least one year of full time behavioral health experience or has an Associate’s degree and at least two years of full time behavioral health work experience preferred.