Peer Specialist

Job Details

Job Description

This Role:
The Community Health Worker Peer (CHWP) also referred to as Peer Specialist is key member of the team providing comprehensive social services support and long-term interventions that result in mental and emotional wellbeing in addition to the medical care to support physical wellbeing to victims of violent injury. The CHWP position requires the ability to engage with young adults and their caregivers in the immediate aftermath of a potentially traumatic event (violent injury). CHWPs are trained to conduct all visits in a trauma-informed manner, and to model effective ways of engaging with resources to support healing. This job requires a significant amount of community/home-based work, and a willingness to engage with a diverse range of neighborhoods in Philadelphia. The primary role of the CHWP is to assist in engaging with clients during their involvement with TIP and to increase connection and empowerment of individuals impacted by violent injury and broader community violence.

The CHWP is responsible for engaging youth and young adults (ages 14-30) who were treated at Einstein or referred by a community agency after suffering a violent injury. This includes conducting bedside, home, community, and office visits, and phone outreach, in order to engage patients and offer TIP services. For those who become TIP participants, the CHWP is responsible for providing peer support, linkages to community supports and resources, support around navigation of health and social services, engagement with the participant's family members or natural supports when possible, and co-facilitation of trauma informed groups. The CHWP works closely with the TIP Social Worker/Program Manager, conducting joint sessions as needed.

This position requires providing service to the following age population(s) _ALL in a manner that demonstrates an understanding of the functional/developmental age of the individual served. (statement must be included for all positions that require regular patient contact)

Education/Training/Experience: (indicate if required or preferred)
Qualifications (Required):
* High School Diploma or GED
* Respect and honor for client's rights and responsibilities and demonstration of professional boundaries and ethics
* Sensitivity to and compassion for the diverse experiences of individuals who have experienced potentially traumatic events
* Must express a basic belief that people can change in positive ways
* Willingness to encourage and inspire others to make positive changes and find alternatives to acting out violently through support, modeling and coaching
* Ability to work well with others as part of a team approach and in groups, willingness to communicate honestly and to ask questions
* Ability to travel independently and provide services in the community or participants' homes when appropriate
* Punctual and extremely reliable
* Must be able to present self and program in a professional manner
* Ability to take constructive criticism and work well with supervision
* Ability to work some evening and weekend hours

Preferred:
* Personal experience in overcoming violence-related injury, either to themselves or to someone close to them
* Participation in the Community Health Worker Peer (CHWP) Training Academy is preferred, as is prior experience in helping other individuals make lifestyle changes and/or experience as a leader in some capacity
* Proficiency with MS Office and prior experience using a smart phone, email and the internet are preferred
* Knowledge of formal and informal organizations in clients' communities

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Licenses/Certifications: (indicate if required or preferred)
Community Health Worker Peer (CHWP) Training Academy Preferred
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Physical Demand Analysis:
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Primary Location Address

Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow's professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.

Jefferson is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status.