High Intensity Peer Counselor (RISE Guide)

We named our company firsthand because we believe that lived, or “firsthand,” experience is invaluable for gaining trust and building meaningful relationships. Because of that, we have many Peer Recovery Specialists that play a critical role in both outreach and long term engagement, supporting individuals living with SMI to achieve and maintain both behavioral and physical wellness. Internally, we refer to this important role as a firsthand Guide (fG). Some of our individuals will benefit from a higher intensity level of care than others, and to support those individuals, we have another Peer Recovery Specialist role: our RISE Population Guides (RISE guides). 

Our RISE Guides carry much of the same expertise as a Peer Recovery Specialist, however they will focus uniquely on supporting our individuals who need the highest  level of care we provide at firsthand, often engaging and supporting them multiple times a week (or a day!). This is a role that will be performed in Community, working alongside our CORE firsthand guides, but serving a different panel of individuals than our core Community team. 

As a RISE Guide, you will:

Support a small, high-touch panel of individuals, providing comprehensive hybrid support (in-person and virtual) tailored to complex acuity levels to:

• Provide intensive post-discharge management and transitions of care, ensuring stability post psychiatric hospitalization and supporting them, ideally with in-hospital engagement and discharge planning
• Coordinate and support their Substance Use Disorder treatment plan, if applicable
• Support individuals in navigating their relationship with medications, including identifying and addressing barriers to adherence and facilitating communication with their prescribing team
• Develop a deep understanding of the individual’s supports and triggers for deterioration, and be able to quickly develop safety & action planning to support them
• Co-navigate systemic barriers alongside individuals to ensure they are able to access care, including appointments, transportation, enrollment into care services, and more
• Actively problem solve and own to resolve social challenges, such as housing, food, transportation 
• Participate in daily huddles and regularIPRs to ensure a coordinated approach for RISE individuals
• Potentially participate in (Post-Pilot) after-hours rotation to support individuals experiencing a crisis or urgent need outside of standard business hours.
• Maintain engagement and build a trusting relationship with their individual, supporting them with empathy and assistance with problem solving 
• Support our individual, and our broader RISE care team, with ensuring our individuals avoid any sentinel, traumatic events – leading to better clinical outcomes and quality of life

RISE guides should have:

• Empathy, compassion, and approachability 
• Excellent listening, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Personal knowledge of recovery and/or behavioral health 
• Patience, persistence and a desire to help individuals experiencing SMI and/or SUD on their wellness journey
• Comfort working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, including clinicians
• Comfort or willingness to be an advocate for individuals in acute healthcare settings such as ERs and hospitals.
• Strong personal boundaries and the ability to navigate high-stress situations while maintaining a calm, grounded presence
• Demonstrated mastery with technical tools like smart phones, email, messaging services, and apps
• Openness to receiving feedback and a commitment to professional growth

The required experience you bring to this role includes:

• Lived experience with SMI and/or SUD and recovery
• Two (2) years demonstrated recovery time from a mental health and/or substance abuse disorder at the date of application
• State Peer Recovery certification, or eligibility and willingness to obtain certification within six (6) months of employment
• Agreement to complete a paid training period prior to serving individuals and pass assessments to move forward. 
• Interest in gaining a Community Health Worker (CHW) Credential after hire, or already holds certification
• Training or experience in de-escalation techniques (e.g., CPI, Mental Health First Aid) or a willingness to be trained in these methods

Bonus points for:

• Experience with direct in-person engagement for individuals with SMI and SUD
• Expertise in recovery education and coaching
• Understanding of whole health and trauma-informed approaches to peer support
• Familiarity with local community resources, behavioral health systems, and the criminal justice system (e.g., mental health and drug courts)
• Ability to thrive in a mobile environment, spending 80%+ of your time in the community (homes, hospitals, streets) rather than an office
• Eagerness to expand knowledge about a broad range of health conditions
• Valid driver’s license in good standing, with the ability to operate a vehicle (company vehicle may be provided) and eligibility to drive under the company’s insurance policy