Peer Advocate

Vocational Instruction Project; New York (NY); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Vocational Instruction Project in New York, NY seeks a Peer Advocate to support clients enrolled in PODER by providing outreach, escorts, and advocacy to access health and social services.

You will work under the direction of social workers, participate in meetings, and uphold harm-reduction principles while engaging diverse populations.

Qualifications

• High School/GED required.
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and related issues.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to interact effectively with all populations served.
• Ability to speak, read and write English.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach home visits and scheduled community escorts.
• Advocate for clients to access health, mental health, and social services.
• Coordinate escorts to appointments in the community.
• Report observed changes in client functioning to the social worker.
• Participate in individual supervision and team meetings.
• Maintain reliable attendance and timeliness.
• Apply harm reduction approach when engaging clients.
• Interact with community service providers in a respectful, professional manner.
• Have a basic understanding of HIV transmission, progression, treatment options and side effects.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Cultural sensitivity

Ability to work with diverse pop.

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Description

POSITION SUMMARY: Under the direction of the Social Worker assist the social workers and case managers in delivering services to client enrolled in PODER. Will perform outreach activities in the form of home visits and escorts. Advocate on clients' behalf and assist them in gaining access to a number of health, mental health and social services. This will often involve schedule escorts to various appointments out in the community. The Peer Advocate reports directly to the social worker

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

• Peer Advocates will provide a positive role model of self empowerment to clients, by sharing their knowledge on how to access various needed services in the community and encouraging and supporting improvements in self care in the areas of mental health, health and healthier choices around substance use and high risk behaviors.
• As directed by the social worker & case manager, provide scheduled community escorts for program clients.
• As scheduled by the social worker or case manager, make outreach home visits to program clients.
• Report observed changes in client functioning to social worker immediately. These areas will include drug use, mental health, health, activities of daily living, social situations.
• Participate in individual supervision.
• Participate in Team Meetings.
• Be responsible with being on time and demonstrate reliable attendance.
• Must be sensitive to the needs of our clients and respectful at all times.
• Not be judgmental and utilize a harm reduction approach to engaging clients with multiple challenges.
• Able to interact and advocate with other community service providers in a respectful and professional manner.
• Have a basic understanding of HIV mode of transmission, disease progression, treatment options and side effects.

Requirements

• High School/General Equivalency Diploma
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and related issues.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to interact effectively with all populations served.
• Ability to speak read and write the English language.