Peer Family Partner

Buckelew Programs, a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services in the North Bay, is seeking a  Family Service Coordinator Peer Family Partner to join our growing Family Services Coordination (FSC) team.  As the Peer Family Partner, you will provide support in the planning and operation of family services to ensure smooth functioning and clear communication. Under direction of your Team Leader, you will advocate for and represent the family members and loved ones of mental health clients and will support and facilitate timely and informative interactions between family members and mental health service programs and staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists Team Leader/ Program Director in planning, implementing and monitoring services to meet the needs of the client and their family members.
• Develops and maintains good working relationships with community partners, providers from other agencies and systems to benefit clients, abiding by all provisions of the Buckelew Policies and Procedures Manual.
• Completes all required administrative activity including required documentation on a timely basis.
• Facilitate peer and family support groups as needed.

Peer/Family Advocate Support

• Represent peer and family members as a group within the mental health system and provide individual support and accurate information to assist families or support persons interacting with the system, community supports and services. Assure that services are delivered with cultural sensitivity and in the preferred language of the family receiving support services. Provide accurate and relevant information to the client and family members regarding legal processes in the mental health system
• Represent client and family members issues to mental health managers, supervisors and staff to enhance awareness and sensitivity regarding family member concerns.
• Train, inform and assist client and family members in developing skills to enable them to care for and effectively advocate for the client and family members receiving services. Provide similar training to mental health staff to facilitate family involvement in services for the client member.
• Collaborate with the Patient Rights Advocate to clients and families are aware of current legislation that will impact the services provided to client and family members.
• Investigate concerns and/or grievances as a designated representative of SCBH of the clients and family member or identified support persons. Maintain written records of client / family members or identified support persons requests for assistance, including describing problems, actions taken, and results. Enter, track and manage client and family services data in our electronic health records; generate reports as needed. Communicate effectively with the client, family or identified support persons, treatment staff, supervisors, managers, administrators, support staff, Patients Rights Advocate (PRA) and other involved entities, about concerns or grievances pertinent to the request for services.
• Attend team meetings for both Family Service Coordination and SOAR.

Outreach/Engagement

• Represent client and family interests in various community committees and task forces.
• Perform community outreach and engage in public speaking to increase public awareness of the impact of mental illness on clients and families, and the importance of family involvement in the treatment of client members.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with peer and family support groups such as the local National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and other community providers.
• Organizing events and/or participating in community events promoting SOAR and Buckelew Programs services, providing resources, and decreasing stigma.
• Develop and maintain community resources in order to provide peer and families and consumers with appropriate and up-to-date resources and support.
• Recruit and assist in the supervision of volunteers and interns to enhance family service program and support clerical tasks.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: BA/BS degree in Social Science discipline; OR Peer Support Specialist Certification; OR Patient Navigation Certification; OR Certification in Community Health, Advocacy, Drug and Alcohol or similar discipline or Certification of NAMI Family-to-Family class. A minimum of one-year experience working with adults with serious and persistent mental illness or children diagnosed with serious emotional disturbance as a Peer Support Specialist or Family Advocate, or significant involvement and work in the mental health family advocate movement. Strong understanding of mental health systems, community services and supports identified through experience. Have personal experience as a caregiver of a youth/young adult with emotional or behavioral needs and navigating psychiatric hospitalization, disability and/or public services with a loved one is desired.

Professional: Computer and office skills in Microsoft word, excel, google docs, email, fax, cloud-based programs, and Electronic Health records (EHR) are needed, accompanied by excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be fluent in English (written and verbal); Spanish language preferred. Must understand and be sensitive and responsive to serving culturally diverse populations. Ability to work autonomously with focused direction, advocate for team approach, utilize strong organizational skills, project appropriate confidence, listen well, problem solve in on-the-spot situations, remain calm and reassuring in unexpected situations while maintaining confidentiality. Must have an interest in working with persons with mental and/or behavioral health disabilities. Able to identify areas needing improvement and to take initiative to suggest viable alternatives. Ability to work flexible hours required (generally normal business hours, with occasional flexibility needed for evening availability). Must be able to work within with all the rules, regulations, and policies that govern agency compliance. Applicants must have valid California drivers license with an insurable driving record, use of own vehicle (mileage will be reimbursed). Ability to meet contract requirements. A lived family or consumer experience with mental health and/or addition desired.

Physical requirements: Capable of the following intermittent activities: stretching, bending, kneeling, twisting, squatting, reaching above or below the shoulder, pushing, pulling, grasping, and lifting to 25 pounds. Job frequently requires sitting, handling objects with hands and the use of fine motor skills. Often operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer. Job occasionally requires standing, walking, reaching, talking, and hearing. The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.

Great Benefits: Employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement savings plan with agency match, FSAs, EAP, paid meal breaks and up to 6 weeks of paid time off.

AA/EOE