Job Description for FloridaSDC Circuit 20 Life Coach:

Rate of pay may vary for those with Master's degrees, Certified Peer Recovery Specialists, or a high level of experience. Self-Directed Care Life Coaches support and assist each individual in reaching their life goals as they relate to mental wellness and provide support as the individual plans their future. Coaches encourage involvement in the community, promote advocacy, personal responsibility, and informed choice for participants and support the individual in following through. Life coaches assist participants in developing and attaining their goals on a written Life Action Plan in addition to time spent related to advocating for, encouraging, and coaching the participant.

Life Coach Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintaining ethical and professional relationships with participants, and strict adherence to confidentiality guidelines.
• Provide information about and be able to identify the signals of mental illness lapse or relapse.
• Educate, encourage and support individual choice, personal control and rights, accountability, and responsibility in the recovery journey.
• Be able to clearly explain program policies, participant rights and responsibilities.
• Prepare for, communicate, and support to submit eligibility requirements during initial enrollment and annually for verification purposes.
• Support the person’s desires to set and prioritize wellness goals, and to organize and create written long and short term goals according to SMART goal model.
• Support each person in meeting recovery plan outcomes by educating on how to access natural and community supports and services, including productivity related opportunities and resources.
• Complete quarterly plans with each individual, which includes a participant self-report of progress, collaborative problem solving and updating goals and recovery budget.
• Organize needed forms and pre-approve that Life Action Plans comply with all program rules, policies, and fall within the state purchasing requirements.
• Track length of each participant’s quarterly Life Action Plan/Recovery Budget and send reminder letters for participants regarding deadlines.
• Assist participants in managing their spending accounts, make payments and reimbursements for participants while encouraging reflection on how purchases relate to wellness goals.
• Extensive travel to participant homes/other locations across our five county service area and tracking miles traveled for reimbursement.
• Regular submission and uploading of receipts, action plans, progress reports, and contact notes, while keeping files updated and organized.
• Conduct crisis risk assessments and offer support to those who may be experiencing a high level of symptoms, including ability to recognize psychosis; collaborative development of pre-crisis safety plans and helping the individual decide the best course of action for symptom relief.
• Life coaches do not and may not initiate involuntary commitment/Baker Acts.
• Proactively learn new skills, stay current in the field of mental health, and adopt the life coaching philosophy of individual responsibility and choice.
• Contact with each participant a minimum of once per month and often weekly, while keeping record of each contact and responding to unscheduled contacts.
• Balancing presence, listening, empathy, boundaries, and problem solving with mechanical and organizational aspects of job.
• Attend staff meetings and participate in ongoing supervision and training.
• Responsible for maintaining a professional demeanor in relation to external agencies and promote the SDC program to local providers when appropriate.
• Remain well informed and adhere to program policies and changes as they may occur, including understanding and communicating effects of Fiscal Year.
• Collect information and forms relevant to discharge process and have follow-up contacts with former participants on a scheduled basis.

Education and Experience Prerequisites:

• Bachelor's degree in behavioral health or a related field along with 3 years relevant experience, at least one of which in direct service of adults with mental illnesses, OR Master's degree in a behavioral health field, OR Certified Recovery Peer Support Specialist with Bachelor's degree (compensation will vary depending on experience)
• Spanish/English speaking Coach is highly preferred to ensure continuity of care and equal opportunity.
• Complete all statewide and district-specific pre-service and annual training, including a Level 2 background screening in accordance with Chapter 394, F.S., prior to rendering life coaching.
• Educated in regard to negotiation and mediation with individuals.
• Prefer a working knowledge of Circuit 20 community resources in at least 2 of the 5 counties, and/or the willingness to develop intimate, working knowledge of the community resources in the other counties.
• Knowledgeable about social security benefits and social security programs which promote individuals productivity.
• Familiar with life coaching principles and philosophies.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from participants and outside service agencies.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-to-one and small group situations
• Have basic math and money management skills and be responsible for handling transactions/reimbursements.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Must possess reliable transportation which enables them to meet with participants at locations of the participant’s choosing. Life coaches do not provide transportation for participants at any time for any reason.
• Life coaches will be reimbursed for work related travel within the service area at the state rate; travel outside the vicinity must be pre-approved by the program director and/or his or her designee.
• Each full time Life Coach may be available to no more than 30 participants at any given time.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $21.00 - $23.00 per hour

Expected hours: 32 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• No nights
• No weekends

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Mental Health: 3 years (Preferred)
• Computer Skills: 5 years (Preferred)

Willingness to travel:

• 75% (Required)

Work Location: On the road