MRS Peer Specialist

South Shore Association for Independent Living; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

South Shore Association for Independent Living seeks a recovery coach to provide person-centered services and model self-help techniques to recipients. You will educate, support, and empower clients toward stability and independence within community settings.

The role emphasizes recovery expertise, lived experience, and collaboration with teams to bridge services and connect clients to resources. Strong interpersonal skills are essential.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma preferred.
• 2-3 years experience as a mental health recipient, with growth.
• Certified by the Academy of Peer Services or pursuing certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Educate recipients about self-help recovery opportunities and group benefits.
• Assist in developing community support systems and networks.
• Teach symptom management and coping strategies from personal experience.
• Bridge services by building trust and rapport with recipients.
• Increase socialization for identified clients as needed.
• Provide counseling and education on medication and symptom management.
• Engage to solve problems and reduce crises with shared insights.
• Clarify rehabilitation and personal recovery goals.
• Help clients define personal life goals (and beyond ACT).
• Develop linkages and new supports with services and groups.
• Build community relationships with agencies, housing, social services.
• Utilize CAIRS as needed; attend supervision with Team Leader.
• Respond to emergency situations as appropriate.
• Submit required documentation per agency policies.
• Attend workshops/conferences as schedule permits.
• Accept and follow through on other duties as assigned.

Skills

Recovery coaching

Group facilitation

Peer support experience

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

SAIL does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expressions, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. SAIL welcomes and encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans, and all other qualified applicants.

General Description

Provides person-centered planning and delivery of services to recipients and will act as a recovery coach to assist clients in working towards stability. This position will utilize their recovery expertise, lived experience and serve as a role model to educate recipients about self-help techniques to recipients.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Educate recipients about self-help recovery opportunities and the benefits of group processes
• Assist in the development of community support systems and resources or networks
• Teach symptom management skills; build on and enhance effective coping strategies and skills based on personal experience
• Be responsible for bridging services by developing trust and rapport with recipients
• Helps to increase socialization for identified clients when needed/requested
• Provides supportive counseling and education in areas such as medication management, symptom management and developing coping strategies
• Utilizing effective engagement skills to connect, use mutually shared insights to encourage problem solving and utilization of tools that will assist in lessening or alleviating current and future crisis.
• Assists in clarifying rehabilitation and personal recovery goals
• Engage clients in defining personal goals in life (and beyond ACT)
• Develop linkages and new supports
• Develops community-based relationships with emergency service programs, housing agencies, social services, self-helper/peer-run services, natural community supports, including parenting programs, churches/spiritual centers or local groups and/or rehabilitation services, ACCESS-V/educational institutions.
• Utilizes the Child and Adult Integrated Reporting System (CAIRS) as needed
• Participates in routine supervision with the Team Leader
• Responds to emergency situations as appropriate.
• Submits all required documentation and reports in a timely manner as per the Agency Policies & Procedures.
• Attends work related workshops/conferences as program schedule permits.
• Accepts and follows through on all other duties as assigned.

Qualification and Competencies

• High School Diploma preferred.
• At least 2-3 years experience as a mental health recipient, who has successfully utilized opportunities for personal growth. Ability to respond appropriately to supervision and work as a team member.
• Certified by the Academy of Peer Services or undergoing certification is preferred.

Physical Demand And Working Conditions

• Close in-person interaction with clients and coworkers
• At least 80% of contacts take place in the community
• ACT team provides 24-hour coverage for crisis services ( no on-call responsibilities)
• Team had direct involvement in at least 70% of hospital admissions and discharges
• A minimum of 6 face to face contacts monthly per recipient is required
• Scheduled work hours are as needed based on Program needs.

Special Conditions Of Employment

• Submits to Fingerprint/Criminal background check
• Submit valid drivers license
• Submit copy of current car insurance
• Adheres to HIPAA Policies & Procedures/Compliance Plan.
• Mandatory trainings.