Peer Counselor, Residential Crisis Support (Respite) - Independence House

ACMH Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 3,223,584 - 3,306,240; Part time

Job summary

ACMH Inc. is seeking a Peer Counselor for Residential Crisis Support in New York City. The role involves providing supportive counseling, assisting guests with daily living skills, and promoting recovery. Ideal candidates should have lived experience in mental health services and relevant certification.

This position offers competitive part-time hourly pay starting at $23.40 for non-certified and $23.65 for certified counselors.

Qualifications

• Lived experience receiving mental health services.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Certified or credentialed as a Peer Advocate or Specialist.

Responsibilities

• Provide supportive counseling and assist program guests.
• Develop Wellness and Recovery Action Plans with guests.
• Lead peer support groups and train guests in health & wellness.

Skills

Empathy

Crisis intervention

Conflict resolution

Training in self-advocacy

Communication in English

Basic computer skills

Education

High School diploma or G.E.D.

Job description

Description

Lived experience as a consumer of mental health services is required

Position

Peer Counselor, Residential Crisis Support (Respite) - Independence House

Function

Provides supportive counseling, promotes the development of skills for coping with and managing behavioral health symptoms, and assists program guests in developing community living skills. Provides Home and Community Based Services to clients, assisting with training in skills of daily living

Reports to

Program Director, Residential Crisis Support (Respite)

Location

Manhattan (Washington Heights)

Tasks

• Acts as role model provides empathy and support to program participants (“guests”).
• Regularly assesses guests’ functional skills and their ability to care for their health and safety.
• Provides hands‑on assistance with planning and preparing nutritious meals, maintaining living space, personal hygiene, and other activities of daily living.
• Monitors guest medication, including adherence and side‑effects.
• Trains guests in safety procedures and conducts fire drills and self‑preservation tests.
• Provides training in self‑advocacy.
• Assists participants with conflict resolution.
• Provides health and wellness coaching, training in developing coping strategies and with symptom management.
• Develops Wellness and Recovery Action Plans (WRAPS) with guests.
• Plans and facilitates group socialization and recreational activities.
• Leads Wellness Self‑Management and other peer support groups.
• Provides transportation training and escorts to appointments.
• Alerts Coordinator to incidents, regressions and high‑risk behaviors.
• Provides crisis intervention in the event of an emergency.
• Documents services delivered, guest response to service, progress, regressions and incidents in compliance with agency procedures.
• Participates in the development, review and updating of transitional support plans and personal safety plans.
• Oversees maintenance of apartments, inventories furniture, and alerts Coordinator to maintenance problems.
• Delivers Peer Support HCBS with a rehabilitation focus based on an individualized recovery plan
• Teaches advocacy, provides outreach and engagement, self‑help tools, recovery supports, transitional supports and crisis supports. Teaches skills for budgeting, shopping, meal planning, preparation, self‑preservation, travel skills, & monitors living units for safety/cleanliness.
• Staffs Emergency Cell Phone on a rotating basis.
• Attends initial and ongoing training on Intentional Peer Support, Whole Health Action Management and other training as requested by supervisory personnel.
• Performs light cleaning tasks related to room turnover/preparation.
• Duties as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements

Lived experience receiving mental health services and a commitment to assist others in attaining recovery and wellness goals. High School diploma or G.E.D. Good written and verbal communication skills in English. Basic computer and data entry skills. Must be provisionally certified or credentialed, certified or credentialed as a Family Peer Advocate (FPA), Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA), Youth Peer Advocate (YPA), and/or Peer Specialists who have completed all required State approved trainings specific to their title (NYS Certified Peer Specialist). Spanish Speaking Preferred.

Compensation

Peer Counselor, Certified – P/T Hrly Salary: $23.65

Peer Counselor, Non-Certified - PT Hrly Salary: $23.40

ACMH is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminte in employment decisions based on race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, mental or physical disability, marital status, veteran status or citizenship status.