Job Description
Job Description
Peer Support Specialists are individuals who have lived experience with mental health and/or substance use challenges and recovery. They work alongside other professional staff as equal colleagues and demonstrate hope that recovery is possible. Using personal history and experience with behavioral health challenges, Peer Support Specialists guide, coach, and mentor others who are working towards recovery. Peer Support Specialists provide flexible services which are customized to the needs of the individual, including assisting members in setting and attaining short- and long-term goals.
Fundamental components include, but are not limited to:
- Meet regularly with the member in the community, outpatient settings, hospitals and in their homes
- Share coping strategies, wellness tools and other useful resources
- Supports the Aetna member in achieving his/her recovery goals, reinforces the care plan, adjusting tasks to fit with the members culture, language, and religion, improve access to care, identify health care needs, and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations
- Attend medical and mental health appointments to support the member in advocating for him or herself with getting the best care
- Educate healthcare professionals and providers on opportunities for improving and understanding the social determinants of health that may be impacting members health and treatment plan through various communication channels
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with Aetna members, providers, care managers, agency representatives, supervisors and office staff, from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Work to reduce cultural and socio-economic barriers between members and institutions
- Assist members to identify socio-economic issues that affect their overall health and develop health/social management plans and goals
- Identify gaps and opportunities to strengthen systems of care within the members community and assist members in utilizing community services, including scheduling appointments with social services agencies, (including transportation vendors), and assisting with completion of applications for eligible programs.
- Uses personal experience of recovery to help members succeed: provides one-on-one or group activities designed to share experiences, build relationships, enhance competency, and develop community living skills; maintains frequent contact with members in order to provide support and guidance; encourages members to participate in wellness and recovery activities at a pace that is comfortable for them.
Required Qualifications
- Bilingual skills are desired.
- Experience using a computer and strong keyboard navigation skills including the use of MS Office Suite, Word and EXCEL applications.
-A minimum of two years of experience working as a Peer Support Specialists in a mental health and/or substance use setting
- If not certified, completion of a Certified Peer Support Training Program is required within one year from start date.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in serving the Medicaid Populations in urban or rural environments with familiarity of local formal and informal resource networks preferred.
- Preferred skills: Mental Health First Aid, Trauma Informed Care, HIPPA, C.L.A.S. Standards, Motivational Interviewing, and specialized training in medical terminology and practices for designated health conditions
Education
High School diploma, G.E.D. or equivalent experience
Business Overview
At Aetna, a CVS Health company, we are joined in a common purpose: helping people on their path to better health. We are working to transform health care through innovations that make quality care more accessible, easier to use, less expensive and patient-focused. Working together and organizing around the individual, we are pioneering a new approach to total health that puts people at the heart.
Peer Support Specialists are individuals who have lived experience with mental health and/or substance use challenges and recovery. They work alongside other professional staff as equal colleagues and demonstrate hope that recovery is possible. Using personal history and experience with behavioral health challenges, Peer Support Specialists guide, coach, and mentor others who are working towards recovery. Peer Support Specialists provide flexible services which are customized to the needs of the individual, including assisting members in setting and attaining short- and long-term goals.
Fundamental components include, but are not limited to:
- Meet regularly with the member in the community, outpatient settings, hospitals and in their homes
- Share coping strategies, wellness tools and other useful resources
- Supports the Aetna member in achieving his/her recovery goals, reinforces the care plan, adjusting tasks to fit with the members culture, language, and religion, improve access to care, identify health care needs, and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations
- Attend medical and mental health appointments to support the member in advocating for him or herself with getting the best care
- Educate healthcare professionals and providers on opportunities for improving and understanding the social determinants of health that may be impacting members health and treatment plan through various communication channels
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with Aetna members, providers, care managers, agency representatives, supervisors and office staff, from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Work to reduce cultural and socio-economic barriers between members and institutions
- Assist members to identify socio-economic issues that affect their overall health and develop health/social management plans and goals
- Identify gaps and opportunities to strengthen systems of care within the members community and assist members in utilizing community services, including scheduling appointments with social services agencies, (including transportation vendors), and assisting with completion of applications for eligible programs.
- Uses personal experience of recovery to help members succeed: provides one-on-one or group activities designed to share experiences, build relationships, enhance competency, and develop community living skills; maintains frequent contact with members in order to provide support and guidance; encourages members to participate in wellness and recovery activities at a pace that is comfortable for them.
Required Qualifications
- Bilingual skills are desired.
- Experience using a computer and strong keyboard navigation skills including the use of MS Office Suite, Word and EXCEL applications.
-A minimum of two years of experience working as a Peer Support Specialists in a mental health and/or substance use setting
- If not certified, completion of a Certified Peer Support Training Program is required within one year from start date.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in serving the Medicaid Populations in urban or rural environments with familiarity of local formal and informal resource networks preferred.
- Preferred skills: Mental Health First Aid, Trauma Informed Care, HIPPA, C.L.A.S. Standards, Motivational Interviewing, and specialized training in medical terminology and practices for designated health conditions
Education
High School diploma, G.E.D. or equivalent experience
Business Overview
At Aetna, a CVS Health company, we are joined in a common purpose: helping people on their path to better health. We are working to transform health care through innovations that make quality care more accessible, easier to use, less expensive and patient-focused. Working together and organizing around the individual, we are pioneering a new approach to total health that puts people at the heart.
We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace. CVS Health is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring or promotion based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, age, disability or protected veteran status. We proudly support and encourage people with military experience (active, veterans, reservists and National Guard) as well as military spouses to apply for CVS Health job opportunities.
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