Certified Peer Specialist & Recovery Advocate

VNS Health; New York (NY); On-site; USD 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Referral bonuses

Generous PTO

Health insurance

Retirement savings

Tuition reimbursement

Career growth

FSAs & transit

CEU credits

Job summary

VNS Health seeks Peer Specialists/Advocates to support behavioral health clients across New York, using lived experience to help link individuals to essential resources. You will engage with clients facing chronic mental illness, trauma, or substance use, promoting recovery and community integration.

You will conduct outreach, build trusting relationships with clients and families, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to plan care.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of one year in a mental health, substance use treatment, health care or human services setting preferred.
• Experience with severely mentally ill, psychological trauma, or substance use populations preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred; strong communication and relationship skills.

Responsibilities

• Conducts phone and field outreach to locate and enroll clients into programs/services.
• Builds relationship and trust with clients and their family/caregiver and assists with their interactions with professionals on the team.
• Works collaboratively on an interdisciplinary team to discuss care needs and identify solutions to support clients.
• Educates clients about program services, benefits, and self-help techniques; serves as a role model, advocate and mentor.
• Advocates effective recovery-based services and assists in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals.
• Teaches symptom management and coping skills for resilience and empowers clients in their recovery.
• Reviews service plans with clients and their families; provides ongoing education, guidance, support and encouragement.
• Develops inventory of resources to meet client needs identified in assessment/treatment.
• Provides navigation to connect clients with community-based services and supports.
• Documents in EMR per policies, standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Assists clients with transition to alternate housing when appropriate.
• Participates in case conferences, staff meetings, supervision and training.
• Engages in mutual self-disclosure to bridge between team members and participant.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Relationship building

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

VNS Health seeks Peer Specialists/Advocates to support behavioral health clients across New York, using lived experience to help link individuals to essential resources. You will engage with clients facing chronic mental illness, trauma, or substance use, promoting recovery and community integration.

You will conduct outreach, build trusting relationships with clients and families, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to plan care.