Peer Counselor - Level I

New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation; New York, Northern (NY, KY); On-site; USD 39,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Health + Hospitals in Brooklyn seeks a Peer Counselor to provide direct services across emergency, inpatient, outpatient, and home settings. Under supervision, you will empower peers, support treatment planning, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams.

Qualifications include formal Peer Advocate/Certified programs or one year of experience with peer services, plus a high school diploma or equivalent, with ongoing documentation in the electronic record.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Assists the consumer with activities of daily living and leads groups.
• Maintains current documentation in the consumer record and writes progress notes for review.

Education

High school diploma or its educational equivalent

Job description

Provider Careers at NYC Health + Hospitals

Since 1875, South Brooklyn Health has established its reputation for clinical excellence and culturally competent care. It has designations as a Certified Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Center, an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, an accredited Baby-Friendly Hospital, a U.S. News & World Report high performing hospital. The hospital's staff is as diverse as the patients they serve. Interpreter services can be provided at any time of the day or night in over 130 languages.

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.

Work Shifts

9:00 A.M – 5:00 P.M (Monday - Friday)

Responsibilities

Assignment Level I

1. 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
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.

For Substance Use Assignments:

1. 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
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.

For All Other Mental Health Assignments:

1. 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
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):

For 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; and
2. A High school diploma or its educational equivalent.

Duties & Responsibilities

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.

1. 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.
2. Leads or co-leads groups including, but not limited to, dual diagnoses issues, relapse and recovery and socialization.
3. Assists the consumer in identifying their own individual warning signs of relapse and identifying and developing individual coping strategies.
4. Provides supportive peer counseling with respect to mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation strategies, breast-feeding education and other self-help opportunities.
5. Participates in an interdisciplinary treatment and human services team in determining and implementing a comprehensive plan of care.
6. 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.
7. Assists the consumer in completing applications and paper work for public entitlements and may accompany consumer on visits to agency offices and treatment programs.
8. Acts as a liaison with community and governmental agencies.
9. Facilitates the establishment of peer support networks, natural and social support systems.
10. 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.

JOB DETAILS

$43,642

Position type: Full-Time

Department: INPATIENT BEHAVIOR HEALTH G10W

Category: Behavioral Health

Posted: Aug 6, 2026

LOCATION

NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital

2601 Ocean Parkway

Brooklyn, NY 11235

NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital

2601 Ocean Parkway

Brooklyn, NY 11235

15 minutes walk from nearest station to the hospital.

ABOUT NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation, annually serving more than a million New Yorkers in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. Our mission is to care for all, without exception.