Peer Support Specialist
Company: UnitedHealth Group
Location: Kirkville
Posted on: May 27, 2023
Job Description:
Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by
technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The
work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by
connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and
resources they need to feel their best. Come make an impact on the
communities we serve as we help advance health equity on a global
scale. Here, you will find talented peers, comprehensive benefits,
a culture guided by diversity and inclusion, career growth
opportunities and your life's best work. SM
The Peer Support Specialist supports the work of contract for Optum
and the Health Plan at the direction of the Clinical Program
Manager. He/She is specifically charged with supporting consumers
and families on a daily basis, communicating with families and
consumers to support their engagement, recruiting family members
and consumers to serve on committees and task forces, and
maintaining excellent relationships with all consumer- and
family-run services and programs. He/She uses their own Recovery
Lived Experience and training to assist families and consumers with
defining their Recovery goals, and developing the skills and
knowledge needed for the consumer's recovery.
This position works with the clinical team to implement care
coordination when requested, which may include Peer Support
Specialist as well as other community-based services designed to
stabilize the consumer's condition. They collaborate with Care
Managers, providers, and community agencies and organizations to
facilitate access to and transition between services. The Peer
Support Specialist is instrumental in assisting in reducing higher
levels of services such as ER admissions or Inpatient psychiatric
admissions. The Peer Support Specialist serves as subject matter
content experts for state meetings surrounding policies for family
and peer services.
Schedule: Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am to
6:00 pm Eastern Standard time. A 40-hour work week, the schedule to
be determined by hiring manager upon hire. This position is a
field-based position with a home-based office. You will work from
home when not in the field.
Location: Syracuse and East Syracuse surrounding communities (
Jefferson County or St. Lawrence County), NY. Local travel up to
75% and mileage is reimbursed at current government rate.
If you reside in Syracuse and East Syracuse surrounding communities
( Jefferson County or St. Lawrence County), NY , you will enjoy the
flexibility of a hybrid-remote role as you take on some tough
challenges.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Use his/her own Recovery LIVED experience and training to
assist families and consumers with defining their Recovery goals,
and developing the skills and knowledge needed for the consumer's
recovery
- Experience working with consumers that have co-occurring
Disorder, i.e., Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder
- Support the creation and assist with the implementation of a
comprehensive Training and Education program with peers, families,
providers, and staff
- Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with
existing Consumer and Family organizations, so members of those
organizations become actively involved with Optum/Health Plan
activities
- Communicate Plan information to consumers and Consumer-operated
organizations and with families and family organizations. In
addition to communicating, a wide array of other topics including
Clinical policies, analysis of data and Program evaluation
- Identify and outreach to community and leaders of ethnic
minority groups to identify and develop programs that are both
culturally competent and also use recovery and resiliency
- As directed, serve as a designated member of Internal
subcommittees
- Participate in Optum and Health Plan Quality Review
processes
- Enable us to communicate effectively with consumers and their
families about all aspects of the Mental Healthcare Delivery system
as well as their rights and responsibilities
- As requested, provide support to consumer or family members in
making needed appointments
- Work with the Clinical Program Managers and the Clinical team
to implement intensive, enhanced care coordination when requested,
which may include peer support as well as other community-based
services designed to stabilize the consumer's condition, including
working with the consumer in the development of a WRAP plan and a
Crisis plan
- Be available to provide direct support to consumers being
discharged from 24-hour care or to refer them to a support
group
- Assist and support consumers and family members with Grievance
processes
- Collaborate with Care Managers, Providers, and Community
agencies and organizations to facilitate access to and transition
between services
- Collaborate with Care Managers, providers, and community
agencies and organizations to identify consumers who may benefit
from peer support
- Respond to concerns and questions from consumers and
families
- Participate in Treatment planning with consumers and families
who request that support
- Work with community agencies along with and/or on behalf of
consumers and families
- Provide feedback about Treatment planning development based on
their interactions with other consumers and families
- Advocate on behalf of the consumers and families
- Provide peer support to consumers and family members at
critical points in their treatment process
- Serve as liaison between Optum, the Health Plan and those who
use services
- Recruit and support consumers, parents and family members to
participate in all phases of the operation of Optum and the Health
Plan, from the Governing Body and Mental Health Advisory Board to
Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement (QA/PI) Committees and
all other critical initiatives
- Performs other duties as assigned
What are the reasons to consider working for UnitedHealth Group?
Put it all together - competitive base pay, a full and
comprehensive benefit program, performance rewards, and a
management team who demonstrates their commitment to your success.
Some of our offerings include:
- Paid Time Off which you start to accrue with your first pay
period plus 8 Paid Holidays
- Medical Plan options along with participation in a Health
Spending Account or a Health Saving account
- Dental, Vision, Life& AD&D Insurance along with Short-term
disability and Long-Term Disability coverage
- 401(k) Savings Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Education Reimbursement
- Employee Discounts
- Employee Assistance Program
- Employee Referral Bonus Program
- Voluntary Benefits (pet insurance, legal insurance, LTC
Insurance, etc.)
- More information can be downloaded at:
You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an
environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on
what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide
development for other roles you may be interested in.
Required Qualifications:
- High School Diploma/GED (or Higher) OR 4+ years case management
experience
- Active and current Peer Recovery Specialist OR Peer Support
Specialist certification in the state of New York
- 1+ year of experience with community resources
- 1+ year of experience with the Medicaid population
- 1+ year of experience with demonstrated understanding of the
principles of recovery and resiliency and own lived experience
- Intermediate level of proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word,
Excel, and Outlook) and be able to access multiple web
applications
- Reside within a commutable distance to Syracuse and East
Syracuse surrounding communities (Jefferson County or St. Lawrence
County), NY
- Ability to travel 75% of the time within 60 miles of territory
assigned and have reliable transportation, with a current and
non-restricted state of New York driver's license and
state-required insurance
- Full COVID-19 vaccination is an essential job function of this
role. Candidates located in states that mandate COVID-19 booster
doses must also comply with those state requirements. UnitedHealth
Group will adhere to all federal, state and local regulations as
well as all client requirements and will obtain necessary proof of
vaccination, and boosters when applicable, prior to employment to
ensure compliance. Candidates must be able to perform all essential
job functions with or without reasonable accommodation
Preferred Qualifications:
- Associates degree (or higher)
- Completion of Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management
Program
- Completion of Whole Health Action Management Training
- Ability to facilitate training events
To protect the health and safety of our workforce, patients and
communities we serve, UnitedHealth Group and its affiliate
companies require all employees to disclose COVID-19 vaccination
status prior to beginning employment. In addition, some roles and
locations require full COVID-19 vaccination, including boosters, as
an essential job function. UnitedHealth Group adheres to all
federal, state, and local COVID-19 vaccination regulations as well
as all client COVID-19 vaccination requirements and will obtain the
necessary information from candidates prior to employment to ensure
compliance. Candidates must be able to perform all essential job
functions with or without reasonable accommodation . click apply
for full job details
Keywords: UnitedHealth Group, Syracuse , Peer Support Specialist, Other , Kirkville, New York
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