Position Details
Specialty services include the New Jersey suicide prevention helpline and peer help lines for police, veterans, active military, teachers, mothers of special needs children and child protective service workers. In FY2016, UBHC treated 16,199 consumers, had 24,502 admissions, and touched the lives of 19,441 individual callers through peer support. In addition, UBHC is the primary mental health training resource for the New Jersey departments of Human Services, Children and Families, and Corrections, delivering 16,000 trainings each year.
Under direction, the Peer Support Specialist III will provide person centered, culturally competent, and “consumer friendly” services to individuals who contact the Call Center. Receives telephone, chat, and text requests for service, undertakes review of the service need of the caller and responds by offering peer support and appropriate referrals and disposition. Assists the Care2Caregiver team.
Among the key duties of this position are the following:
- Provides “customer friendly” services, taking initiative in engaging individuals served in an empathic and concerned manner.
- Develops and maintains a peer to peer relationship with individuals served so that he/she can identify emotional, psychiatric or behavioral changes with may require further support.
- Utilizes own experiences as a vehicle to connect and establish rapport and relationship building with individual served.
- Promptly responds to all service requests.
- Responds to referrals, inquiries, and other contacts with professionals, outside agencies, and other parties in a professional and cordial manner.
- Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage
- Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs
- Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax-deferred savings options
- Employee and dependent educational benefits
- Life insurance coverage
- Employee discounts programs
- High School diploma or equivalent required.
- At least three (3) years of experience caring for an older adult with dementia and/ or significant medical issues.
- Of the three (3) years, two (2) years working with dementia patients and their families.
- Demonstrated ability to use a computer to record services and other basic office functions.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
- May be required to work nights and weekends.
- Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) preferred.
- Ability to speak clearly and write proficiently.
- Hearing is essential.
- The ability to focus on the task at hand despite numerous interruptions.
- Must be able to sit for extended periods of time and document into an electronic contact record.
- May be required to lift up to 20lbs.
- Handles phone requests under time and decision-making pressure.
- Generally pleasant working conditions in a clean, well-lighted, and quiet to moderately loud setting.
- Handles emergency or crisis situations.
Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate’s offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.