Peer Engagement Assistant - Ii

Purpose

The Peer Engagement Assistant II (PEA II) will work with our Peer Navigator Supervisor (PNS) to support Peer Engagement Assistants (PEAs). This aspect of the role will include but not be limited to, providing supervision for PEAs when they are performing outreach and/or working in various organizations, including Neighborcare. The PEA II will provide ‘real time’ feedback for PEAs to improve their performance while also assisting them with better understanding and performing their role. The PEA II will be responsible for assessing the day to day activities of the PEAs, providing support, and sharing information with the PNS as needed for professional development, adherence to programmatic and QI goals, and any needed accountability measures for PEAs and/or better system support for those in this role. The PEA II will support the PEAs in their work of bridging the gap between clinic staff and patients, ensuring that patient voice informs our practices and helping us to improve awareness, access, and alignment with behavioral health care.

The PEA II will gain professional experience as they ramp up in professional responsibilities, accountability, and experience. This will both support the PNS and also allow the PEA II to be well supported as they move along a career pathway within Neighborcare. Neighborcare acknowledges the importance of incorporating the wisdom of lived experience to support patients directly and to assist with needed systems-level change for behavioral health equity. This role both supports Neighborcare and is built to support those with lived experience as they develop in their professional identity.

Neighborcare Health offers a robust benefit package: Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, 18+ days of Paid Time Off, 9-Paid Holidays, Retirement with Matching, Life & AD&D, Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, & More! This position is eligible for the Staff Referral Program.

In this position you will:

• Collaborate directly with patients, clients, staff, and community partners while supporting PEAs in this same collaboration to identify and address the ways that systemic racism and other forms of compounding bias are root causes of disparities in clinical/mental health and homelessness in Black, Indigenous, stigmatized, and other communities that have experienced historical and structural oppression
• Support Patient Council meetings through supporting PEAs and providing needed information to PNS
• Supervise, provide feedback, and assist in the professional development of PEAs
• Accompany PEAs in their work with patients and community partners
• Work both independently and as a part of a team consisting of PEAs, a PNS and others to improve patient access and experience of behavioral health services
• Provide support of program development and system-level change through the completion of tasks assigned by the PNS and by providing feedback to the PNS as needed
• Communicate effectively with all stakeholders in multiple modalities including in-person, phone, and email forms of communication
• Support PEAs in community outreach by accompanying them and giving feedback as needed
• Provide weekly 1:1 meetings with PEAs and participate in monthly meetings with PNS, along with other meetings as nee
• Communicate effectively with clinic team members to ensure that PEAs are, within the scope of their role, supporting patient access to and experience of clinical services
• Performs day-to-day administrative functions and general office duties as assigned by the PNS and clinic staff, with an expectation of professional growth in this role over time
• Supports overall programmatic development and QI goals by performing all aspects of the role and partnering with the PNS to better understand and address areas of improvement
• Complies with the Neighborcare risk management, compliance, and all other program requirements including accurate and timely reporting of all adverse incidents
• Demonstrates a demeanor that supports the vision of Neighborcare through behavior and ability to use feedback to deepen understanding and expression of professional identity
• Participates in and completes required organizational and programmatic training programs

Required qualifications:

• Performance of the PEA role or similar at Neighborcare or similar organization
• A history of willingness and ability to increase professional responsibility and accountability with the PEA or similar role
• A willingness and aptitude to support PEAs or similar in their development
• An understanding of Neighborcare or similar organization and a commitment to supporting health equity through peer support, both within the PEA team and within our patient population, which includes but is not limited to assisting peers with navigating these systems and minimizing harms, often intentional, the system itself causes

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Ability to problem solve and use conflict resolution skills
• Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with people of various backgrounds and in various roles
• Ability to provide timely and appropriate supervision
• Ability to receive and incorporate feedback in order to facilitate professional development
• Ability to adhere to role expectations, including timeliness, fulfillment of role obligations, and professional development activities
• Strong organizational skills to prioritize multiple tasks
• Ability to develop successful interpersonal and professional relationships in various communities

Preferred for this job:

• Experience in Neighborcare showing increasing responsibility within their own professional development
• Experience supporting innovation or expertise in needed systems change (ex. grant writing; seeking support for new roles; programmatic development)
• Experience working with young adults experiencing housing insecurity

About us
For 50 years, Neighborcare Health has been caring for our neighbors with essential medical and dental care, counseling, outreach, health education and more in Seattle, Vashon, and our newest dental clinic in Olympia! Our purpose is to improve health by engaging, educating, and empowering people in the communities we serve. We are looking to hire the best talent to support our culturally diverse workplace and community.

Our Mission
The mission of Neighborcare Health is to provide comprehensive health care to families and individuals who have difficulty accessing care; respond with sensitivity to the needs of our culturally diverse patients; and advocate and work with others to improve the overall health status of the communities we serve.

About our Service Commitments
Our service commitments were created by staff members, leaders, board members and patients. We use these as a guide and expectation for how we treat our patients and each other. You may learn more about our service commitments here,

• Serving patients
• Serving each other
• A warm welcome
• Caring
• Respect
• Working together
• Trusting Relationship

Compensation

The wage range for this position is a minimum $19.97/hour up to $25.37/hour maximum.

 Compensation will be determined based on years of relevant experience.

Union: No

Full job description will be provided during the interview process.