Hospital Peer Bridger

Mental Health Advocates of WNY; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Mental Health Advocates of WNY is seeking a Part-Time Peer Bridger to provide peer support to individuals transitioning from psychiatric hospitalization back into the community. You will build trusting relationships, offer hope, advocate for clients, and connect them with resources and services.

Responsibilities include supporting CPEP and hospital unit clients, helping navigate from hospital to community, and sharing wellness strategies. Evening and weekend availability is required.

Qualifications

• Hold current/active New York peer Certification (NYCPS-P, NYCPS, CRPA, FPA-C, YPA-C)
• Broad knowledge and experience in the mental health system or willingness to learn
• Good networking experience
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and a supportive approach to the needs of others
• Ability to practice a high level of confidentiality
• Above average oral and written communication skills
• Excellent relationship building, interpersonal and coaching skills
• Sound, independent decision-making ability
• Team-first attitude and a positive demeanor
• Proficient computer skills, Microsoft 365 knowledge is a plus
• Flexibility with schedule to include evening hours and weekends

Responsibilities

• Support individuals and caregivers in the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) and on the behavioral health units at Erie County Medical Center.
• Offer hope through connection and engagement on what is possible.
• Support individuals in connecting or reconnecting to their community and relationships.
• Connect to and support individuals in various stages of navigation from CPEP to community, based on identified needs and requests for support.
• Provide validation and support through person centered approaches and engagement.
• Advocate when requested by the individual.
• Assist in the development of comfort around self-advocacy.
• Demonstrate self-help and wellness skills.
• Share new resources and knowledge on system navigation.
• Serve as a mentor on wellness and recovery.
• Assist in the exploration of personal goals that lead to life satisfaction.
• Engage in shared decision making with individuals.
• Disseminate information and referrals by providing linkage to appropriate agencies or providers as needed.
• Utilize evidence-based peer interventions Shared Decision Making, Eight Dimensions of Wellness.
• Work collaboratively with the team to educate on recovery, self-determination, shared decision making, dignity of risk and peer values.
• Use a family-centered strength-based approach to assure the needs of individuals and families are met in a culturally competent way.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Peer support

Communication

Confidentiality

Relationship building

Education

New York NYCPS-P

New York NYCPS

New York CRPA

FPA-C

YPA-C

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Position: Peer Bridger

Employment Type: Part Time, Non-Exempt Hourly

Reports To: Director of Peer Bridger Program

Peer Bridgers provide peer support to individuals experiencing mental health challenges, including those transitioning from psychiatric hospitalization back into the community. Using their own lived experience with mental health challenges, hospitalization, recovery, or supporting a loved one, the Peer Bridger builds trusting relationships and provides hope, encouragement, advocacy, information, and connections to community resources and services.

Peer Bridgers work collaboratively with individuals, families, hospital staff, and community providers to help individuals identify their strengths and goals, navigate available services, and develop supports that promote recovery, stability, and successful community living. This position is grounded in the principles of recovery, self-determination, person-centered support, and the belief that lived experience can be a powerful tool in helping others.

Essential Functions

• Support individuals and caregivers in the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) and on the behavioral health units at Erie County Medical Center.


• Offer hope through connection and engagement on what is possible.


• Support individuals in connecting or reconnecting to their community and relationships.


• Connect to and support individuals in various stages of navigation from CPEP to community, based on identified needs and requests for support.


• Provide validation and support through person centered approaches and engagement.


• Advocate when requested by the individual.


• Assist in the development of comfort around self-advocacy.


• Demonstrate self-help and wellness skills.


• Share new resources and knowledge on system navigation.


• Serve as a mentor on wellness and recovery.


• Assist in the exploration of personal goals that lead to life satisfaction.


• Engage in shared decision making with individuals.


• Disseminate information and referrals by providing linkage to appropriate agencies or providers as needed.


• Utilize evidence-based peer interventions Shared Decision Making, Eight Dimensions of Wellness.


• Work collaboratively with the team to educate on recovery, self-determination, shared decision making, dignity of risk and peer values.


• Use a family-centered strength-based approach to assure the needs of individuals and families are met in a culturally competent way.


• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

The following is a list of experience, technologies, credentials, skills, and other items which are required for this position:

• Hold current/active New York peer Certification:
  
  
  
  • New York Certified Peer Specialist (NYCPS-P)
  
  
  • New York Certified Peer Specialist (NYCPS)
  
  
  • New York Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA)
  
  
  • Credentialed Family Peer Advocate (FPA-C)
  
  
  • Credentialed Youth Peer Advocate (YPA-C)
  
  
  
  


• Broad knowledge and experience in the mental health system or the willingness to learn.


• Good networking experience.


• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and a supportive approach to the needs of others.


• Ability to practice a high level of confidentiality.


• Above average oral and written communication skills.


• Excellent relationship building, interpersonal and coaching skills.


• Sound, independent decision-making ability.


• Team-first attitude and a positive demeanor.


• Proficient computer skills, Microsoft 365 knowledge is a plus.


• Flexibility with schedule to include evening hours and weekends.

Travel Requirements

• Incumbents must possess a valid Driver's License and reliable transportation with the ability to travel within New York State, as well as nationally, if required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit for long periods of time. The employee is required to regularly reach with arms and hands; use hands to handle. Hands and fingers frequently perform repetitive motion including typing/keying. Occasionally the employee will lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.


• This job requires close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Employee is required to regularly talk and hear.

Mental Health Advocates of WNY is an equal opportunity employer. People of diverse backgrounds, race, ethnicity, and gender, and those who speak a second language are encouraged to apply.