Peer Specialist

Services For The Underserved, Inc.•New York, NY

2d•$22 - $24•Onsite

About The Position

Supporting independence and community inclusion, S:US’ Treatment Services division promotes person-centered services that focus on recovery. We apply evidence-based practice, data-driven accountability, compassion and dedication to our work. Our mission to bring opportunity to all includes recognizing and amplifying the diverse strengths of the people we serve and our teams. We strive to instill respect and integrity into each interaction and support the voices of the people we serve.

Requirements

Certification or Provisional certification as a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) OASAS and or OMH /CRPA certification
Active participation in self-help activities, peer support or peer advocacy programs, or participant run organizations or similar experiences or programs required.
Must have lived experience with the Mental Health and/or Substance Use Treatment system and willingness to share personal experience appropriately and respectfully.
Understanding of the community in which the team is based with an awareness of available community resources.
Experience working with families and youth /children
The Peer Specialist should also be someone who has made positive and productive progress toward his or her own recovery.
Demonstrate good interpersonal communications skills and the ability to empathize with, relate to and effectively work with participants.
Must possess the ability/ willingness to disclose their recovery story (where appropriate) for the purposes of empowerment.
Excellent judgment/ ability to understand boundaries when working with participants is required.
Have a clear understanding of community diversity and needs
Ability to document and translate member needs with a trauma informed, and culturally competent lens
Ability to utilize critical thinking, problem-solving and de-escalation skills to assist with creating and maintaining an environment that promotes recovery
Ability to utilize various computer programs, specifically Microsoft Word and Excel
A Minimum of High School Diploma or equivalent or higher required

Nice To Haves

Bilingual a plus

Responsibilities

Create a sense of community through the mutual sharing of lived experiences.
Create professional boundaries when working with participants.
Maintain a caseload.
Supervise peer specialist.
Facilitate engagement with teams by forging strong connections with participants and families.
Undertake outreach activities designed to promote community awareness of S:US services.
Encourage help-seeking, and at times serving as a bridge between team members and participants when they experience ambivalence about treatment or other services.
Develop authentic, meaningful relationships with individuals and families through empathy, listening and collaborating with genuine curiosity and interest.
Understand, share and discuss multiple frameworks for understanding life experiences with participants and the rest of the S:US team. Peer Specialists intentionally use language in the service of listening to understand and making space for complex personal stories of recovery and resilience.
Advocates for and facilitate access to needed health care services, proactively addressing potential barriers such as missed appointments, transportation, fear and stigma, and communication with professional staff.
Advocate with and for program participants both in the larger community and on the team.
Facilitate individual and group-based educational, recovery, wellness and skill building opportunities including: wellness self-management; WRAP; peer support; harm reduction; and other social or leisure activities.
Collaborate with participants to clarify their personal visions and develop their wellness toolkit.
Support participants in strengthening their self-awareness, building life skills, and connecting to resources and community outside of the S:US team.
Work actively within the team itself to help build an environment that operates from a belief in the human potential to grow and an understanding of human diversity.
Accompany individuals to appointments and community/leisure activities.
Carry a small caseload, as needed.
Providing reassurance and support to an individual in distress or crisis.
Employing non-clinical crisis support, especially after periods of hospitalization or incarceration.
Assisting the individual with putting their wellness, crisis plans or recovery plan into action.
Accompanying, supporting, and advocating on behalf of an individual in an emergency room or crisis unit or preparing to be admitted to detox, residential or other service to deal with crisis.
Providing short-term post-crisis support to an individual who has been discharged from an emergency room, crisis unit, or crisis respite residence, or incarceration.
Peer Specialists maintain open and frequent communication with the team. This includes reporting safety and other concerns to team members.
Responsible for timely and accurate documentation including documentation of interactions with guests, services provided, critical information and events, contacts with collaterals and referrals, as required by S:US and program policies.
Actively participate in agency and staff team meetings, individualized/team supervision, coaching and professional development activities.
Attend all required trainings. Maintain the highest levels of confidentiality.
Participate in required training and professional development activities.
Perform other duties as required.
Utilizing shared personal experience to support skill development that guides the individual towards a more independent life in the community.
Exploring community spaces that promote integration, inclusion, and participation (bridging from the individual’s home to the community).
Supporting the individual in attending community activities and appointments when requested.
Assisting the individual to help connect to long-term natural supports that enhance the quality and overall security of life.