Peer Advocate - FlexStaff

Northwell Health; Town of North Hempstead (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwell Health seeks a peer support specialist to work with behavioral health consumers, providing guidance and linking them to programs and resources. The role focuses on maximizing wellness and independence through shared lived experience.

You will collaborate with clinical and non-clinical staff, participate in appointments, and support culturally sensitive care. Some travel to member homes may be required, and certification must be maintained.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• State certification as a Peer Specialist required or must obtain within 18 months.
• Experience in mental health self-help activities or peer advocacy preferred.
• Probationary period training is required.
• Bilingual ability is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer support to behavioral health consumers and orient them to programs and resources.
• Encourage engagement and conduct outreach to members missing appointments.
• Assist members with tasks in their treatment plans.
• Attend appointments/meetings to advocate for members.
• Understand cultural attitudes and address related practices.
• Report progress to clinical team and refer questions as needed.
• Possibly travel to member homes to provide support.
• Perform related duties as required.

Skills

Peer support

Communication

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Peer Specialist certification

Job description

Engages and provides peer support to behavioral health consumers experiencing psychosis. Serves as a role model in maximizing wellness and independence through experience with issues relating mental health. Collaborates with clinical and non-clinical team members to ensure culture of support is reflected in member’s treatment.

Responsibilities:

• Provides peer support to behavioral health consumers, including orientation to programs, service providers, and community resources.
• Encourages members, family members and caregivers to use program resources to maximize wellness and independence. Conducts outreach to members missing appointments to reinforce engagement.
• Assist members in carrying out tasks as defined in their treatment plans.
• Attends and participates in various appointments/meetings to support and advocate for member, as required.
• Understands and addresses related cultural attitudes and practices.
• Reports on member’s progress relative to experience in community settings to clinical team members. Refers appropriate questions and issues to clinical and non-clinical team members.
• May travel to member homes to provide peer-level support, as required.
• Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent, required.
• Minimum of one (1) year active participation in mental health self-help activities, peer support or peer advocacy programs, or participant run organizations or similar experiences, required.
• State certification as a Peer Specialist, required or must obtain within 18 months of hire date.
• Successful completion of Site training program within normal probationary period, required.
• Demonstrated support skills and enthusiasm for assisting medically underserved populations, preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively.Bilingual, preferred.
• Reliable access to transportation and telephone, required.

*Additional Salary Detail

The salary range and/or hourly rate listed is a good faith determination of potential base compensation that may be offered to a successful applicant for this position at the time of this job advertisement and may be modified in the future. When determining a team member's base salary and/or rate, several factors may be considered as applicable (e.g., location, specialty, service line, years of relevant experience, education, credentials, negotiated contracts, budget and internal equity).