Peer Counselor Level I

NYC Health + Hospitals; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx is seeking a Peer Counselor to provide direct services across emergency, inpatient, outpatient, and home settings, working closely with staff and consumers to implement treatment plans.

You will empower peers to advocate for themselves, lead groups, assist with daily living activities, and coordinate referrals while documenting in the EHR and liaising with community agencies.

Qualifications

• Certification is required for the assignment type (NYCPS/NYCPS-P or equivalent) or Recovery Peer Advocate credentials.
• Formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program completed or 1 year of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Assists the consumer with activities of daily living (e.g., budgeting, transportation, housing) and may include home visits.
• Leads or co-leads groups addressing dual diagnoses, relapse and recovery, and socialization.
• Identifies warning signs of relapse and develops coping strategies with the consumer.
• Provides supportive peer counseling on mental health, substance use, rehabilitation, and breastfeeding education where relevant.
• Participates in an interdisciplinary team to plan and implement a comprehensive care plan.
• Clarifies issues for the consumer and assists with referrals to treatment, housing, and supportive services.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

Communication

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Marketing Statement

NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx (NCB) is a member facility of the New York City Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, NCBH specializes in women’s and children’s services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. It’s Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 800 babies into the world each year. NCBH is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need.

At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Duties & Responsibilities

Purpose of Position

Under supervision, peer counselors provide direct services to health consumers in emergency, inpatient, outpatient, home and specialized settings. Works in close collaboration with staff, consumers and other caregivers in planning and implementing treatment plans. Empowers peers to advocate for themselves, resolve issues or problems and plan for their futures by serving as a role model.

Examples Of Typical Tasks

• Assists 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.
• Leads or co-leads groups including, but not limited to, dual diagnoses issues, relapse and recovery and socialization.
• Assists the consumer in identifying their own individual warning signs of relapse and identifying and developing individual coping strategies.
• Provides supportive peer counseling with respect to mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation strategies, breast-feeding education and other self-help opportunities.
• Participates in an interdisciplinary treatment and human services team in determining and implementing a comprehensive plan of care.
• Clarifies issues for the consumer and assists with the process of referral for treatment, rehabilitation, housing and supportive services. Follows-up to determine whether services were provided and used.

Assists the consumer in completing applications and paper work for public entitlements and may accompany consumer on visits to agency offices and treatment programs.

Acts as a liaison with community and governmental agencies.

Facilitates the establishment of peer support networks, natural and social support systems.

Maintains current, complete and appropriate documentation in the consumer record, prepares required forms, and may be required to use computer systems in carrying out these functions. Documents in Electronic Health Record (EHR) and writes progress notes for review.

Minimum Qualifications

Assignment Level I

For Assignments In Comprehensive Emergency Psychiatric Programs (CPEPs)

• Certification, which 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); or
• Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional (CRPA-P) issued by the New York Certification Board (ASAP-NYCB); or
• 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; and
• 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.

For Substance Use Assignments

• Certification, which 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); and
• 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.

For All Other Mental Health Assignments

• Certification, which 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); and
• 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)

For All Other Assignments (Including Breastfeeding Education Assignments):

• 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; and
• A High school diploma or its educational equivalent.