Peer Counselor - Level I

NYC Health + Hospitals; New York (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Health + Hospitals is seeking a Peer Support Specialist in New York City. This role involves assisting consumers with daily living skills, leading support groups, and documenting care in Electronic Health Records. Candidates must maintain relevant certifications like Peer Specialist and Recovery Peer Advocate, and ideally have experience in mental health or human services. A high school diploma is required, and applicants should be prepared to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary environment.

Qualifications

• Certification must be maintained for relevant peer roles issued by respective boards.
• Completion of a formalized training program or experience with consumers in peer services.
• High school diploma or its equivalent is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Assist consumers with daily living activities and make home visits.
• Lead or co-lead support groups for various issues.
• Help identify individual warning signs of relapse.
• Provide supportive counseling regarding mental health and substance abuse.
• Participate in interdisciplinary care planning.
• Clarify issues and assist with referrals to services.
• Help consumers with applications for public entitlements.
• Liaison with community agencies.
• Facilitate peer support networks.
• Maintain documentation and write progress notes in EHR.

Skills

Peer Specialist certification

Recovery Peer Advocate certification

Formal Peer Advocate/Counselor Training

Experience with consumers of mental health services

Ability to assist with daily living

Education

High school diploma or its educational equivalent

Tools

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Job description

Work Shifts

9:00 A.M – 5:00 P.M

Responsibilities

Assignment Level I – Comprehensive Emergency Psychiatric Programs (CPEPs):

1. Certification must be maintained for the assignment’s duration as a
   1. Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or Peer Specialist-Provisional (NYCPS-P) issued by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB);
   2. Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional (CRPA-P) issued by the New York Certification Board (ASAP-NYCB);
   3. Credentialed Family Peer Advocate (FPA-C), Credentialed Family Peer Advocate Provisional (FPA-P), Credentialed Youth Peer Advocate (YPA-C), or Credentialed Youth Peer Advocate Provisional (YPA-P) issued by Families Together in New York State;
2. Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one (1) year of full-time satisfactory experience working with consumers of CPEP services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate or in related human services.

Substance Use Assignments:

1. Certification must be maintained for the assignment’s duration as a Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional (CRPA-P) issued by the New York Certification Board (ASAP-NYCB).
2. Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one (1) year of full-time satisfactory experience working with consumers of substance use disorder services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate or in related human services.

All Other Mental Health Assignments:

1. Certification must be maintained for the assignment’s duration as a Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or Peer Specialist-Provisional (NYCPS-P) issued by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB).
2. Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one (1) year of full-time satisfactory experience working with consumers of mental health services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate or in related human services.

Qualification Requirements (Continued):

All Other Assignments (Including Breastfeeding Education Assignments):

1. Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one (1) year of full-time satisfactory experience working with consumers of peer services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate or in related human services.
2. A High school diploma or its educational equivalent.

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Assist the consumer with activities of daily living (e.g., setting-up household, public transportation, budgeting, shopping, socializing, parenting and other skills relevant to an individual’s rehabilitation goals). May make home visits.
2. Lead or co-lead groups including, but not limited to, dual diagnoses issues, relapse and recovery and socialization.
3. Assist the consumer in identifying their own individual warning signs of relapse and identifying and developing individual coping strategies.
4. Provide supportive peer counseling with respect to mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation strategies, breast-feeding education and other self-help opportunities.
5. Participate in an interdisciplinary treatment and human services team in determining and implementing a comprehensive plan of care.
6. Clarify issues for the consumer and assist with the process of referral for treatment, rehabilitation, housing and supportive services. Follow-up to determine whether services were provided and used.
7. Assist the consumer in completing applications and paperwork for public entitlements and may accompany consumer on visits to agency offices and treatment programs.
8. Act as a liaison with community and governmental agencies.
9. Facilitate the establishment of peer support networks, natural and social support systems.
10. Maintain current, complete and appropriate documentation in the consumer record, prepare required forms, and may be required to use computer systems in carrying out these functions. Document in Electronic Health Record (EHR) and write progress notes for review.

How To Apply

If you wish to apply for this position, please apply online by clicking the "Apply for Job" button.

This role is hired through NYC Health + Hospitals. You will be redirected to the NYC Health + Hospitals career site to complete the application process.

15 minutes walk from nearest station to the hospital.