Peer Specialist

Housing Options and Geriatric Association Resources Inc•New York, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Peer Specialist performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers of all ages, from young adult to old age, in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process. The role involves utilizing recovery resources such as booklets, tapes, pamphlets, and other written materials in the provision of services.

Requirements

Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.
Knowledge and skill to teach and engage in basic problem solving strategies to support individual clients in self-directed recovery.
Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental illness (i.e. auditory and visual hallucinations, aggressive talk and behavior, thoughts of self-harm or harm towards others, isolation) and the ability to assist the client to address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk.
Knowledge and skill sufficient to use community resources necessary for independent living and ability to teach those skills to other individuals with severe mental illness. Community resources may include but are not limited to: social security office, Department of Family and

Responsibilities

Assist clients in articulating personal goals for recovery through the use of one-to one and group sessions, supporting them in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals.
Assist clients in working with their case manager or treatment team in determining the steps he/she needs to take in order to achieve these goals and self-directed recovery.
Assist clients in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups, as well as means of locating and joining existing groups. Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist clients in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.
Independently or with periodic assistance of higher graded treatment team members, utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups; facilitate discussions where clients will share common problems in daily living and methods they have employed to manage and cope with these problems. Share personal experiences, skills, strengths, supports, and resources used in recovery, demonstrating how personal recovery was directed.
Use ongoing individual and group sessions to teach clients how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears by providing a forum for sharing experiences. Utilize identified literature, media, etc. to help clients gain hope, identify strengths, and combat negative self-talk.
Support clients’ vocational choices and assist them in choosing a job that matches their strengths, overcoming job-related anxiety by reviewing job applications, and providing interview tips.
Assist clients in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure.
Assist the client in obtaining decent and affordable housing of his/her choice in the most integrated, independent, and least intrusive or restrictive environment by taking them out to view housing, either driving them or riding with them on public transportation.
Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
Serve as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery based services that will aid the client in daily living.
Assist in obtaining services that suit that individual’s recovery needs by providing names of staff, community resources and groups that may be useful. Inform clients about community and natural supports and how to use these in the recovery process. Community resources may include but not limited to: social security office, Department of Family and Children services, local YMCA, Library, restaurants, clients’ service organizations, apartment complexes and other types of housing, etc.
Assist clients in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy, accomplished through regular meetings, individual or group sessions. Use role playing/modeling techniques to provide opportunities for others to show/demonstrate how they have handled similar problems, how to present themselves in certain situations, or how to handle problems that may arise in interactions with others.
With assistance from the Program Coordinator/Team Leader, work with clients and other treatment team staff to develop a treatment/recovery plan based on each client’s identified goals. Document identified person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, and recovery goals; interventions to assist the client with reaching their goals for recovery; and progress made toward goals on the client’s treatment/recovery plan.
Maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the mental health field by reading books, journals, and other relevant materials.
Continue to share recovery materials with others at continuing education seminars and other venues to be developed to support recovery-oriented services; and attend continuing education seminars and other in-service training when offered.