Certified Peer Support Specialist

Who We Are:

Central City Health (CCH) has been serving the under-housed and at-risk population in metro Detroit since 1972, by providing integrated healthcare services. Our services include primary and pediatric care, dental care, behavioral and SUD care, supportive housing, and community re-entry services, to name a few. In 2024, our President/CEO, Dr. Kimberly Farrow-Felton received the esteemed Healthcare Hero Award from Crain’s Detroit Business honoring her exceptional contributions to the health and well-being of our community.

Our Mission:

To achieve wellness in the community by providing an array of primary and behavioral health care, housing, and substance abuse services with dignity and respect.

Central City Health is committed to enabling every patient in our community to thrive by building a collaborative multidisciplinary healthcare team. The Peer Support Specialist provides peer support services to clients experiencing mental illness, chronic health condition(s) and/or homelessness. The Peer Support Specialist is an active member of the integrated care team and functions as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and the use of coping skills; serving as a patient advocate and providing information and support. He/She performs a wide range of tasks to assist patients in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process. Through skill building and other supportive interventions, the Peer Support Specialist can assist fellow consumers/patients in effectively utilizing resources, managing symptoms of their illness, and developing daily living skills to gain greater independence.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensures all actions, job performance, personal conduct and communications represent the organization in a highly professional manner.
• Conducts outreach services, targeting individuals in need of a medical home and/or with chronic disease.
• Assists patients in gaining access to and navigating a primary health care medical home and other community based social services (i.e. behavioral health services, housing, dental services); facilitates communication with the treatment team to determine steps necessary to achieve goals.
• Conducts eligibility determinations, enrollments and follow-up with uninsured or underinsured patients both on and off site; assists patients in enrolling in the appropriate comprehensive provider network (i.e. Care Link) when applicable.
• Provides recovery education to service recipients for every phase of the recovery journey from pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance.
• Assist patients in creating individual wellness plans; provides patient support in identifying and creating goals and developing plans with skills, strengths, supports and resources.
• Links individuals to appropriate resources when needed; provides vision driven hope and encouragement for opportunities and varying levels of involvement in community-based activities (work, school, spirituality, relationships, physical activity, hobbies).
• Independently or with periodic assistance from the care team, utilizes and teaches problem solving techniques.
• Teaches patients how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears; serves as a model for people in recovery and for staff by demonstrating that recovery is possible.
• Provides ongoing assistance to patient(s)/family to increase health literacy.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Peer Support Specialist Certification required.
• Current Michigan Chauffeur’s Driver’s License required; Candidates who do not have a chauffeur's license, may still apply but must acquire a chauffeur’s license within 30 days of employment.
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to State of Michigan driving laws, evidenced by maintaining an insurable driving record in accordance with CCH commercial auto insurance carrier required.
• Experience working with patients exhibiting severe and persistent mental illness preferred.
• Ability to work cooperatively with staff and others involved in the delivery of service to patients.
• Two (2) years of experience as a certified peer support specialist preferred.
• Ability to maintain composure during stressful situations occurring as a result of workloads and/or deadlines.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.

This is an outline of the primary responsibilities of this position. As with everything in life, things change. The tasks and responsibilities can be changed, added to, removed, amended, deleted, and modified at any time by the organization. Central City Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all candidates and team members.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, height, weight, marital status, gender identity expression, disability status, protected veteran, or other legally protected status by state or federal law. At Central City Health the health and safety of our employees is our top priority. Vaccination has been proven to play a critical role in combating COVID-19. As a result, Central City Health prefers that employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19; however, it is not required.

Job Type: Full-time.

Pay: $20.00 per hour.

Benefits:

• Dental insurance.
• Employee assistance program.
• Flexible spending account.
• Health insurance.
• Health savings account.
• Life insurance.
• Paid time off.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Vision insurance.
• People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply.

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Application Question(s):

What is your personal email address?.

License/Certification:

• Michigan Peer Support Specialist Certification (Required).
• Chauffeur's License (Preferred).
• BLS or CPR Certification (Preferred).

Work Location: In person.