Peer Support Specialist at Unitedhealth Group

Peer Support Specialist
Requisition Number: 2085710
Job Category: Behavioral
Primary Location: Austin, TX

$3,000 SIGN ON BONUS FOR EXTERNAL APPLICANTS

Combine two of the fastest-growing fields on the planet with a culture of performance, collaboration and opportunity and this is what you get. Leading edge technology in an industry that’s improving the lives of millions. Here, innovation isn’t about another gadget, it’s about making health care data available wherever and whenever people need it, safely and reliably. There’s no room for error. Join us and start doing your life’s best work.(sm)

The Peer Support Specialists support the work of contract for Optum and the Health Plan at the direction of the Clinical Program Manager. He/She is specifically charged with supporting consumers and families on a daily basis, communicating with families and consumers to support their engagement, recruiting family members and consumers to serve on committees and task forces, and maintaining excellent relationships with all consumer- and family-run services and programs.  He/She uses their own Recovery experience/ Lived Experience and training to assist families and consumers with defining their Recovery goals, and developing the skills and knowledge needed for the consumer’s recovery.

Working Schedule: Schedule is Monday-Friday standard business work hours 8am-5pm.

Location:  Cypress or Spring, North Harris County, Texas

Local travel up to 75% and mileage is reimbursed at current government rate.

Primary Responsibilities:

Use his/her own Recovery experience and training to assist families and consumers with defining their Recovery goals, and developing the skills and knowledge needed for the consumer’s recovery
Support the creation and assist with the implementation of a comprehensive Training and Education program with peers, families, Providers and staff
Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with existing Consumer and Family organizations, so members of those organizations become actively involved with Optum/Health Plan activities
Communicate Plan information to consumers and Consumer-operated organizations and with families and family organizations. In addition to communicating, a wide array of other topics including Clinical policies, analysis of data and Program evaluation
Identify and outreach to community and leaders of ethnic minority groups to identify and develop programs that are both culturally competent and also use recovery and resiliency
As directed, serve as a designated member of Internal subcommittees
Participate in Optum and Health Plan Quality Review processes
Enable us to communicate effectively with consumers and their families about all aspects of the Mental Healthcare Delivery system as well as their rights and responsibilities
As requested, provide support to consumer or family members in making needed appointments
Work with the Clinical Program Managers and the Clinical team to implement intensive, enhanced care coordination when requested, which may include peer support as well as other community-based services designed to stabilize the consumer’s condition, including working with the consumer in the development of a WRAP plan and a Crisis plan
Be available to provide direct support to consumers being discharged from 24-hour care or to refer them to a support group
Assist and support consumers and family members with Grievance processes
Collaborate with Care Managers, Providers, and Community agencies and organizations to facilitate access to and transition between services
Collaborate with Care Managers, providers, and community agencies and organizations to identify consumers who may benefit from peer support
Respond to concerns and questions from consumers and families
Participate in Treatment planning with consumers and families who request that support
Work with community agencies along with and/or on behalf of consumers and families
Provide feedback about Treatment planning development based on their interactions with other consumers and families
Advocate on behalf of the consumers and families
Provide peer support to consumers and family members at critical points in their treatment process
Serve as liaison between Optum, the Health Plan and those who use services
Recruit and support consumers, parents and family members to participate in all phases of the operation of Optum and the Health Plan, from the Governing Body and Mental Health Advisory Board to Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement (QA/PI) Committees and all other critical initiatives
What are the reasons to consider working for UnitedHealth Group?   Put it all together – competitive base pay, a full and comprehensive benefit program, performance rewards, and a management team who demonstrates their commitment to your success. Some of our offerings include:

Paid Time Off which you start to accrue with your first pay period plus 8 Paid Holidays
Medical Plan options along with participation in a Health Spending Account or a Health Saving account
Dental, Vision, Life& AD&D Insurance along with Short-term disability and Long-Term Disability coverage
401(k) Savings Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Education Reimbursement
Employee Discounts
Employee Assistance Program
Employee Referral Bonus Program
Voluntary Benefits (pet insurance, legal insurance, LTC Insurance, etc.)
More information can be downloaded at: http://uhg.hr/uhgbenefits
You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

High School Diploma or GED
1+ year of working knowledge of community resources 
1+ year of experience with the Medicaid population 
1+ year of experience demonstrated understanding of the principles of recovery and resiliency and lived experience
Possess an active state Peer Support Specialist Certification
Reliable transportation, with a current and non-restricted state of Texas Driver’s License and State-required insurance
Ability to travel 75% of the time within 60 miles of territory assigned
Full COVID-19 vaccination is an essential job function of this role. Candidates located in states that mandate COVID-19 booster doses must also comply with those state requirements. UnitedHealth Group will adhere to all federal, state and local regulations as well as all client requirements and will obtain necessary proof of vaccination, and boosters when applicable, prior to employment to ensure compliance. Candidates must be able to perform all essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. 
Preferred Qualifications:

Associates Degree or higher
Intermediate level of proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
Completion of Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
Ability to facilitate training events
Completion of Whole Health Action Management Training
Bilingual
Soft Skills:

Strong interpersonal and communication skills
To protect the health and safety of our workforce, patients and communities we serve, UnitedHealth Group and its affiliate companies require all employees to disclose COVID-19 vaccination status prior to beginning employment. In addition, some roles and locations require full COVID-19 vaccination, including boosters, as an essential job function. UnitedHealth Group adheres to all federal, state and local COVID-19 vaccination regulations as well as all client COVID-19 vaccination requirements and will obtain the necessary information from candidates prior to employment to ensure compliance. Candidates must be able to perform all essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Failure to meet the vaccination requirement may result in rescission of an employment offer or termination of employment

Careers with Optum. Here’s the idea. We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make health care work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world’s large accumulation of health-related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life’s best work.(sm)

**PLEASE NOTE** The sign-on bonus is only available to external candidates.  Candidates who are currently working for UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare or a related entity in a full time, part time or per diem basis (“Internal Candidates”) are not eligible to receive a sign on bonus. 

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug – free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.