Wellness Specialist-Peer Professional

BRIDGEWAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES•Elmwood Park, NJ

4d•$44,000 - $51,000

About The Position

We make a difference in people’s lives by supporting their life goals - our employees and the people we serve alike. We invest in our employees through competitive compensation and benefits, best practice training, and fostering a team-oriented culture that promotes career development. We nurture an environment that values diversity, where inclusivity, equity, and belonging thrive. At Bridgeway, Everyone Learns and Grows together. We give you our best, so you can unleash your full potential. Make a Future at Bridgeway! Who we are: Bridgeway values and promotes quality clinical and administrative practices to foster the best outcomes for persons who come to us for behavioral healthcare. We offer a work environment that supports teamwork, creativity, innovation, professional growth and dedication to the work. At Bridgeway, we never stop growing and innovating our vision of behavioral healthcare for the future. Why you should apply: As a Wellness Specialist-Peer Professional, you will join an evidence-based program and a dynamic team for the opportunity to learn and refine your clinical and engagement skills and accomplish your dream of helping people to make progress on their unique recovery journeys. The work is sometimes challenging and always rewarding by engaging with persons we serve and co-workers as we all learn, grow, and thrive. Department: PACT TEAM 9

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred. A person who is receiving or has received mental health services may substitute demonstrated volunteer or paid experience working with individuals with serious and persistent mental illness in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree.
Two or more individuals may share the Wellness Specialist-Peer Professional position.
Valid driver’s license required
No more than one moving violation within the past 12 months
Vehicle required

Responsibilities

As a team member in the frequent monitoring and assessment of the mental health status of persons receiving services as well as related variables, including significant others, the home and the community in which the person served lives
With the team, in the development of psychosocial and comprehensive assessments and individualized recovery plans. Ensures documentation is done on time and with quality to ensure adherence to all DMHAS/Medicaid standards.
In clinical and non-clinical team meetings, including individual and team supervision. Actively seeks out monthly supervision from supervisor.
Teaching of skills to support each persons’ individualized recovery journey and community integration
Peer perspective to the team during meetings/interactions
Clinically-appropriate disclosure of personal life experience to enhance engagement/validation with individuals
Direct assistance to secure safe, clean, affordable housing, food and clothing, medical and dental services, and appropriate financial support.
Observation and informs team of service recipients stated concerns, mental illness symptoms, and behavior in response to medication and monitors for medication side-effects during the provision of observed self-administration and during ongoing face-to-face contacts
Coordination of services with other community mental health and non-mental health providers, as well as other medical professionals
Linkage to entitlement benefits such as Medicaid/NJFamilyCare, social security, rental assistance, and other public assistance (social services, transportation, legal advocacy and representation)
Training and instruction to individuals at home and in the community, including individual support, problem solving, skill development, modeling and supervision to perform personal hygiene tasks, perform household chores, develop and improve money management skills, use community transportation, and locate, finance and maintain safe, clean, affordable housing
Symptom assessment and management, medication monitoring, medication education and monitoring of side effects for both individuals and families/significant others with service recipients consent.
Wellness services including education and cognitive/behavioral interventions on nutrition, diet, exercise, stress reduction strategies and other wellness tools
Rapid and flexible response to crisis, including but not limited to: accompanying the individual to the screening center/psychiatric emergency center and remaining with the person during the assessment process
Use of Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) and development of WRAP and Psychiatric Advance Directives which includes stage wise treatment utilizing Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Interventions and Teaching Strategies, 24-hour rotating on-call coverage with the ability to respond immediately to individuals by phone or in person
Utilizes evidenced based practices as assigned which may include motivational interviewing, IDDT, CBT skills, IMR, Trauma Informed Care, Permanent Supportive Housing and Career Development when engaging individuals with their recovery
Technical assistance and education to members of the team in the area of recovery and wellness. Works with the team to develop materials and strategies for teaching wellness strategies including Wellness Recovery Action Plans, instilling hope, promoting choice and empowerment, and spirituality, in conjunction with the team
Support to assist persons served to find and maintain employment and/or education/training
Support to the service recipient’s family and other members of his/her social network to help them manage the symptoms and related consequences of the service recipient’s illness, reduce the level of family and social stress associated with the illness, and achieve wellness. Will provide education to assist the service recipient and family to relate in a positive and supportive manner

Benefits

Medical
Dental
Vision
403b
basic life and AD&D
flexible spending accounts
EAP
Eligible for medical benefits after 30 days of employment
Flexible work schedules
clinical training series
leadership development program
10 paid holidays (an 11th after 2 years of employment), generous vacation and sick time