Peer Specialist

Liberty Resources • Rochester, NY

15d

About The Position

Liberty Resources is seeking a part-time Peer Specialist to provide immediate peer support from initial engagement throughout a participant’s time in the program. The specialist uses personal lived experience with addiction, homelessness, and/or mental health, sustained recovery expertise, and peer training to support participants’ recovery. The role also supports people experiencing homelessness by engaging them compassionately, reducing barriers to services, and helping them navigate housing and community resources.

The Peer Specialist will be trained in Critical Time Intervention (CTI), Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, Health Literacy, Narcan, Person-Centered Practices, Housing First, and Co-Occurring Disorder Integrated Care. The role involves community outreach, coordination with service providers, support with access to health care, insurance, and housing, and regular checks on crisis apartments and associated clients. The position requires timely documentation consistent with best-practice record-keeping guidelines.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Self-identify as a current or former recipient of mental health, substance use, or medical services, and be willing to share personal experience appropriately and respectfully.
• Valid New York State driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
• Ability to understand, support, and operate from a strength-based approach.
• Professionalism in all settings and recognition of the importance and benefits of relationship-building and collaboration with other service providers.
• Ability to solve complex problems creatively and consistently demonstrate dignity and respect for participants.
• Ability to de-escalate participants during crises.
• If not already a Certified Peer Specialist, agreement to complete the certification process.

Nice To Haves

• Work experience in a behavioral health or related setting, preferably using the recovery model.
• One to two years of personal recovery experience.
• Certification as a Certified Peer Specialist through the Academy of Peer Services training program.
• Respect for and a high level of comfort around people experiencing mental health, medical, or substance-related crises.

Responsibilities

• Provide immediate peer support at initial engagement and throughout participants’ time in the program.
• Share information about community recovery support services and help participants connect with supports they choose.
• Coordinate services and build community relationships to improve participants’ ability to access or maintain health care, insurance, and housing.
• Use identified best practices, procedures, and methods to provide peer support, Critical Time Intervention, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care to facilitate access to health services and improve participants’ health status.
• Provide support guided by the values of the Peer Model.
• Conduct street outreach with the outreach team to generate referrals to the program.
• Regularly check on crisis apartments and clients associated with the program.
• Complete timely documentation in accordance with best-practice record-keeping guidelines.
• Engage people experiencing homelessness compassionately, reduce barriers to services, and assist them with navigating housing and community resources.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED