Peer Navigator

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under the administrative supervision of the team lead or program director, this at-will direct service position within a program assists Stanislaus County Behavioral Health Clients with serious mental illness and their families to gain access to primary preventative and specialty health care services. This position will lead our members in non-clinical activities that engage, educate, and offer support to individuals, their family members, and caregivers in order to successfully connect them to culturally relevant health services including prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, recovery-management, and follow-up. Specific assistance with medication management, housing, counseling, support, and advocacy will be provided as needed.

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that could be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

· In the absence of the Behavioral Health Supervisor or Program Manager, provides leadership and direction for clients as assigned.

· Provides emotional support to alleviate fears of and barriers to accessing quality health care.

· Assists assigned clients to identify and progress toward achievement of their chosen goals.

· Motivates and educates individuals/families/caregivers about the importance of preventative services, medical conditions, and recovery strategies.

· Advocates for and assists clients and their families in accessing and receiving mental health treatment, medical care, housing, food, and clothing as indicated.

· Develops individual service plans for each client with their input whenever possible.

· Must spend each workday engaging members in the field including meeting regularly with clients at Turning Point sites, at jobsites, homes, board and care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, psychiatric facilities, and other appropriate sites. Also includes arranging or transporting clients to and from medical appointments.

· Provides direct crisis intervention on behalf of clients including, but not limited to telephone, walk-in services, and outreach services to program clients.

· Consults with or meets regularly with the client’s family, care provider or other significant persons with client’s consent.

· Coaches clients in developing age-appropriate social skills, money management, personal hygiene, and job readiness.

· Assists in establishing client’s eligibility for Medi-Cal or other benefits and advocates for continuation of benefits when appropriate.

· Interacts productively within the team in order to provide holistic mental health and case management services to an identified group of clients.

· Provides “on-the-spot” counseling that is both helpful to the clients and consistent with the philosophy of the program.

· Monitors medication distribution and related charting.

· Attends to the safety, health, and wellbeing of clients.

QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM:

A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is through graduation from High School or completion of GED program; two (2) years of varied lived experience or as a provider of mental health services.

LICENSES; CERTIFICATES; SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

· California driver’s license & current vehicle insurance/registration

· Reliable means of transportation capable of passing vehicle safety inspection if more than five years old excluding all modes of two-wheeled transport inclusive of bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles.

Schedule: Monday to Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:30pm

Compensation: $21-$22hr

Interested? Join us at our open interviews on Wednesdays from 2-4PM, located at 10850 Gold Center Drive, Suite 325, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670