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NOTE: All applicants must comply with ICL/NYC’s vaccination policy. Individuals selected for employment cannot begin working until they provide verification that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (with an FDA-authorized vaccine) or submit and gain approval for a Medical Exemption. Individuals approved for exemption must submit weekly PCR test results.
Job Summary
Under the general supervision of the Team Leader/Program Supervisor or designee, Peer Specialists serve as role models, educate recipients about self-help techniques and self-help group processes, teach effective coping strategies based on personal experience, teach symptom management skills, assist in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals and assist in the development of community support systems and networks. The Peer Specialist assists assigned individuals in developing and maintaining viable living, working and social situations in the community by obtaining needed medical, social, psychosocial, educational, financial, vocational and other services. Participates in the provision of crisis intervention services to participants. Travels to/visits recipients’ residences or apartments to provide counsel and assistance and to help the recipients, within their capabilities and interests, in maintaining the greatest degree of independent living. The majority of duties are often performed independently under general supervision. The Peer Specialist assists service recipients through supportive counseling to participate as fully as possible in the life of the community with the intent of achieving individual goals that foster personal growth and the highest level of independence possible and desired.
THIS IS A FIELD OPPORTUNITY
Essential Tasks
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions unless this causes undue hardship to the agency.
• Travels to/visits recipients’ residences to provide supportive services on a schedule established by the program. Counsels recipients regarding plans for meeting service needs, and aids the recipients to mobilize inner capabilities and environmental resources to attain goals.
• Educates recipients about self-help techniques and self-help group processes
• Teaches recipients effective coping strategies based on personal experience
• Teaches symptom management skills
• Assists in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals.
• Assists in maintaining up-to-date, accurate individual case records on each assigned recipient.
• Assists in obtaining and developing resource information for recipients in all aspects of their care; disseminates this information to recipients in a manner that is clear and understandable.
• Assist the recipient in meeting service plan goals.
• Helps facilitate individualized services to the recipient that meet the diverse needs of the recipient and focus on the discharge-planning goal.
• Explains the types of clinical services, and ICL programs available to recipients; helps instruct the recipient in daily living skills, socialization skill enhancement and conflict resolution.
• Performs crisis assessment and nonverbal and verbal crisis intervention.
• Assists in referring recipients to community resources and other organizations. Accompanies recipients on regularly scheduled or emergency visits to medical treatment facilities, social agencies, government offices, or other locations associated with the treatment or assistance of the recipient.
• Advocates on behalf of recipient with outside service providers and within ICL.
• Assists resident/recipient in finding and getting into vocational training or other training opportunities, and works with other team members in addressing the needs of recipients
• Immediately reports serious incidents, serious incident allegations, incidents, or sensitive situations to supervisors. Completes incident reports in accordance with ICL policy. Accounts for recipients and files missing person reports on recipients not accounted for in accordance with ICL policy and procedure.
• Complies with attendance and timekeeping rules and reports reliably and regularly to work on an on-going basis.
• Attends regularly scheduled clinical meetings, staff meetings and supervision as well as in-service training and development activities.
• Complies with agency infection control policies.
• .Other job-related duties that may be assigned.
Essential Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
• Ability to work with recipients/residents, families, and staff in a caring and respectful manner, and with due understanding of and consideration for cultural differences.
• Ability to serve as a role model to residents/recipients.
• Ability to complete written forms and reports in an accurate and timely manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff, recipients/residents, families, and the public.
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely documentation, reports and other written material as assigned.
• Ability to secure the cooperation of and work effectively with others
Minimum Education And Experience Qualifications
• Must be currently certified or obtain a Peer Specialist certification (provisional or professional) within a year of hire, with experience as a recipient of mental health services.
• Must be currently certified or obtain a Recovery Peer Advocate certification from the NY Certification Board within a year of hire, with experience as a recipient of mental health services.
• Experience with homelessness or the criminal justice system is also preferred.
