Peer Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

PEER COUNSELOR

At Neighborhood Health, we’re passionate about our mission to provide a kind and caring premiere workforce. Our team-based approach to comprehensive patient care creates a challenging and rewarding work environment where you have a direct role in helping members of our community receive quality medical services they can afford while making a meaningful impact every day. As a member of our growing team, you will feel at home in a fun and diverse community of healthcare professionals. 

As a member of our growing team, you will feel at home in a fun and diverse community of healthcare professionals. Our goal is simple: improving access to healthcare in our community and surrounding areas. Together, we are all committed to building healthier communities by delivering comprehensive, quality health care with compassion and respect. 

As a Peer Counselor, you will assist in the planning, organizing, and implementing of the breastfeeding program for Neighborhood Health Clinics in accordance with the guidelines and policies set forth by the Indiana WIC Program.   Provide information, counseling, and support to WIC/NHC prenatal and postpartum clients in an individual or group setting to assist them in their breastfeeding experience.  Provide accurate information about breastfeeding.   Maintain patient confidentiality and ensures compliance with HIPAA and WIC policies and procedures. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Counsels WIC pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, one-on-one in the WIC clinic, social media, texting or by telephone:

-Provides information consistent with WIC Program philosophies on the benefits and reasons to breastfeed.

-Gives basic breastfeeding information such as latching on, getting started in the hospital, supply and demand, preventing problems, overcoming common barriers, growth spurts, discouraging routine bottle supplementing (either formula or glucose water), expressing and storage of breast milk, and the use of pumps, breastfeeding aides and supplements. 

-Contacts breastfeeding postpartum clients to provide information and support encouraging the continuance of successful breastfeeding.

-Contacts prenatal mothers to promote breastfeeding during pregnancy. 

-Arranges follow-up contacts per Indiana State WIC Guidelines.

• Makes referrals according to clinic-established protocols:

-Immediately refers clients who are experiencing breastfeeding problems (ex. using nipple shields, supplements, etc.) to the Breastfeeding Supervisor.

-Refers to Lactation consultant, mother’s physician or nurse, other social services agencies or public health programs, as appropriate.   

• Teaches breastfeeding prenatal classes, as appropriate; attends trainings as appropriate. 
• Ensures clients who have loaner pumps are contacted every two weeks to determine if the pump is being used and to offer breastfeeding support.
• Documents all encounters in computer chart progress notes and breastfeeding education forms.  Maintains documentation on all contacts made with WIC clients.
• Provides information and reports to the Breastfeeding Supervisor to clearly describe activities and progress toward agreed upon goals/objectives. 
• With supervisory approval, assists in the promotion of breastfeeding through various community outreach activities.
• Travels to hospitals to help with breastfeeding in the county when needed. 
• Is available outside of the WIC clinic a minimum of one week per month to take call on a company provided cell phone after regular business hours to help new mothers who are having breastfeeding problems.
  • Checks email and voicemail on a regular basis to remain current on any changes that may impact peer counseling function. 
  • Attends and participates in meetings and in-services as required.  Participates in professional development activities.  Chairs and serves on committees as requested.

• Performs duties in accordance with NHC Standards of Conduct and Mission Statement. 
• Performs related work as required, including State WIC job description and other duties (similar physical requirements and OSHA risk level) as assigned. 

REQUIRED SKILLS / ABILITIES

• Peer Counseling– Demonstrates a current, accurate knowledge base of breastfeeding; demonstrates a working knowledge of instructional skills and educational techniques to influence and guide the lactation care of patients; maintains knowledge of, and acts in accordance with, current NHCI policies and procedures.  

• Problem solving-identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Interpersonal skills-maintains confidentiality, remains open to others’ ideas and exhibits willingness to try new things; maintains friendly and supportive relationships with coworkers; talks through problems to keep channels of communication open and maintain a high level of trust; realizes the importance of, and practices, good customer service; and able to communicate effectively with people of varying cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, languages, and educational levels.
• Oral communication-speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, demonstrates group presentation skills.
• Written communication-edits work for spelling and grammar, presents numerical data effectively and is able to read and interpret written information.
• Planning/organizing -prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently.   
• Quality control-understands the importance of compliance standards and pays close attention to accuracy and detail when performing duties.
• Adaptability-adapts to changes in the work environment, work location, manages competing demands and is able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Dependability-consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction and solicits feedback to improve performance. 
• Safety and security-actively promotes and personally observes safety and security procedures and uses equipment and materials properly.
• Computer & Math- proficient in the use of practice management software to efficiently and accurately perform duties; proficient in basic math to make simple calculations.   
• Insurance – first floor PSR staff need to be certified navigators. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education / Training

High school graduate or GED equivalent.  Peer Counselor Breastfeeding Program, or obtain the same within 6 months of date of hire.  

Experience

Preferably is or was a WIC client and able to relate to WIC clients in experience.  Is or was a breastfeeding mother, preferably within the last 3-5 years.  Previous computer experience preferred.  

Licensure/Certification

CPR/BLS certicication is required. 

Physical Requirements

Prolonged sitting, infrequent to occasional walking or standing.  Requires full range of body motion, manual dexterity, and eye-hand coordination sufficient to assist clients and operate office/electronic equipment.  Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range to record, prepare, and communicate appropriate reports.   Requires ability to lift and carry items weighting up to 35 lbs.  Requires exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids.  Requires ability to work under stressful conditions.

Work Environment

Normal clinic environment and offsite in various types of environments. Work may involve irregular hours, including evenings or weekends.  Requires traveling outdoors in all types of weather.  Involves frequent contact with other staff, physician’s offices, the public and patients.  Contact may involve dealing with angry or upset people.  Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, toxic substances, and other conditions common to a Clinic environment.  OSHA Category II – Tasks do not routinely involve contact with blood or body substances but contact may occur on an unplanned basis.    

Neighborhood Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Neighborhood Health does not exclude people or treat them differently for any aspect of the organization because of race, color, national origin, age, disability (physical or mental), or sex (including sexual orientation). 

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