Peer Counselor - Level II

NYC Health + Hospitals; New York (NY); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Elmhurst Hospital Center in New York City is seeking a Peer Counselor to support health consumers across emergency, inpatient, outpatient and home settings. You will collaborate with clinicians to plan and implement treatment and empower clients to advocate for themselves.

Responsibilities include documenting in EHR, coordinating referrals, and building peer support networks within the community. A formal peer training and state certifications are required, with preference for CPEP/substance-use

Qualifications

• For Assignments in Comprehensive Emergency Psychiatric Programs (CPEPs): certification must be maintained for the assignment’s duration.
• Formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program completed or 1 year full-time relevant experience.
• Must have experience working with consumers of CPEP or related human services.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct services to health consumers in emergency, inpatient, outpatient, home and specialized settings.
• Collaborate with staff and caregivers to plan and implement treatment plans.
• Empower peers to advocate for themselves and develop coping strategies.
• Maintain documentation in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and write progress notes.
• Facilitate and participate in community outreach and liaison activities with agencies.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Advocacy

Community outreach

Crisis intervention

Education

Peer Specialist Certification (NYCPS/ NYCPS-P)

Recovery Peer Advocate Certification (CRPA/ CRPA-P)

Credentialed Family/Youth Peer Advocate (FPA-C, FPA-P, YPA-C, YPA-P)

Peer Advocate Training Program or 1 year of related experience

Job description

Marketing Statement

Elmhurst Hospital Center (EHC) is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Queens. The hospital is comprised of 545 beds and is a Level I Trauma Center, an Emergency Heart Care Station and a 911 Receiving Hospital. It is the premiere health care organization for key areas such as Surgery, Cardiology, Women's Health, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation Medicine, Renal and Mental Health Services.

Marketing Statement

Elmhurst Hospital Center (EHC) is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Queens. The hospital is comprised of 545 beds and is a Level I Trauma Center, an Emergency Heart Care Station and a 911 Receiving Hospital. It is the premiere health care organization for key areas such as Surgery, Cardiology, Women's Health, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation Medicine, Renal and Mental Health Services. 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

At a more difficult and responsible level, performs the duties of Assignment Level I:

• 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.

Duties

In addition to performing the duties of Assignment Level I at a more difficult and responsible level, as described above, performs the following tasks:

• Acts as preceptor to Peer Counselors in Assignment Level I.
• Provides education training on recipient issues to mental health and other human services providers.
• Advocates for the needs of people with psychiatric disabilities within the mental health system and within service delivery systems.
• Participates in utilization review and quality improvement activities.

Minimum Qualifications

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.

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.

Assignment Level II

In addition to meeting the qualification requirements of Peer Counselor Level I, assignment to Level II requires:

• One (1) additional year of experience, as described in Assignment Level I above.

Department Preferences

• Comfortable working outdoors and in a variety of weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and snow.
• Enjoys field-based work and engaging directly with individuals in the community rather than working primarily in an office setting.
• Demonstrates compassion, patience, and respect when working with individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse populations and build meaningful relationships.
• Passionate about community outreach and helping connect individuals with healthcare, housing, and supportive services.