Hospital Transition Team Peer Support Specialist

Overview

The Hospital Transition Team provides short term services designed to help people maintain psychiatric progress made in psychiatric hospitals or progress related to recovery made in residential substance abuse treatment programs, connect with services and benefits quickly after hospital discharge, and receive support for returning back to their home and community.

Responsibilities

1.     Peer Support Specialist may not provide services to a family member.

2.     Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:  Knowledge of basic principles of MH/SA, ability to work    with persons who may be different from me in areas of ability, age, economic status, etc; empathy and understanding of consumer problems and ability to respond to these problems; ability to determine consumer needs; ability to secure the cooperation of consumer.

3.     Implement individual habilitation plan involving instructing the consumer in daily living skills, socialization, leisure and/or recreational activities.

4.     Document the service provided in progress notes.  The basic data included in these notes will include observations, consumer participation and progress, behavior changes or any pertinent information relating to the consumer.  All documentation must be completed on the day the service is provided and completed in BLACK INK only. Use of “white-out” is not acceptable.

5.     Adhere to company policy that prohibits leaving consumer unattended in a vehicle or any other public place.

6.     Supervise/assist consumers in general daily living skills such as meal preparation, grooming, bathing, eating, money management, etc.

7.     Provide transportation for the consumer to community services/activities when required.

8.     Encourage consumer to make decisions on his own, as appropriate, to maximize independent living skills. (May include making and keeping appointments)

9.     Monitor progress notes, charts, programming materials. Maintain all required records.

10.  Submit all required documentation by the deadlines specified by the Hospital Transition Team   Must report and communicate directly to the Hospital Transition Team SupervisorSupervisor.

11.  Attend all mandatory staff meetings and consumer conferences or give advance notice to the Hospital Transition Team Supervisor as to reasons for inability to attend.

12.  Receive supervision by the Hospital Transition Team Supervisor. 

13.  Report any changes in consumer’s condition, family situation, or needs to the appropriate personnel.

14.  Report any accident or incident to the Hospital Transition Team Supervisor.

15.  Report to Hospital Transition Team Supervisor any suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of recipients.

16.  Be familiar with TA, Inc. policies and procedures including the securing of emergency services and the regulations concerning medication administration.

17.  Be familiar with HIPAA regulations and abide by them.

18.  Assure consumer’s rights are met and maintain consumer confidentiality at all times.

19.  Operate office equipment as necessary, i.e. calculator, copier, computer, fax, etc.

20.  Obtain and keep current all training required by the agency.  Understand that failure to renew classes by their due date will result in being removed from the schedule.

21.  Perform other duties as required by circumstances.

Qualifications

1.     Have a high school diploma or GED equivalency

2.     Prior to delivering the service, individuals must meet North Carolina state certification requirements and be certified as a NC Peer Support Specialist (PSS), including a receiving a minimum of 40 hours approved training (or as otherwise required by the State of North Carolina) leading to the PSS certification.

3.   Must have a valid NC Driver's License.

     Must have had at least 8 years of driving experience, as this is a requirement of company's liability insurance carrier.

4.     Peer Support Specialist must be delivered by individuals who:

a.      have the life experience of being diagnosed with a serious mental illness and/or substance abuse problem AND

b.    Self-identify as an individual with life experience of a serious mental illness and/or substance abuse diagnosis AND

c.     Be  well-grounded in their own recovery AND

d.    Meet state personnel statutes and rule requirements for employment and training of individuals delivering MH and/or SA services.

5.     No substantiated findings on the NC Personnel Registry/Health Care Program and must not be listed on the HHS/OIG List of Excluded Individual/Entities.

6.     SBI and DMV records must meet the requirements of area mental health contracts.

7.     HTT Peer Support Specialist will be supervised according to the rules of 10A NCAC 27 G.0104.

8.     Must be flexible and willing to work various hours including nights and weekends.