Peer Respite Worker, ICR

Community Access; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Access in New York City operates the Intensive Crisis Residence (ICR) to provide a home-like, 24-hour peer-supported setting for people in acute psychiatric crisis. The Peer Respite Worker mentors guests, supports crisis management, and helps them regain skills to re-enter the community with stability and hope.

Ideal candidates bring lived experience with mental health systems, strong communication, and a commitment to recovery.

Qualifications

• Have lived experience with the mental health system and willingness to share personal experience appropriately and respectfully.
• Ability to be mindfully present and have a respect for, and a high level of comfort around people experiencing psychiatric crisis.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including empathic listening, responding.
• Commitment to recovery oriented practice and ability to utilize critical thinking, problem-solving and de-escalation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop mentoring and supportive relationships with ICR guests to promote connection and hope.
• Engage guests in individual and group peer support to build crisis-management skills.
• Collaborate with the ICR team to maintain a welcoming home-like atmosphere.
• Document progress and support plans, ensuring confidentiality and safety.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish

Empathic listening

Crisis intervention

Education

High school diploma or GED

NYS Peer Certification (Provisional)

Core peer specialist training program

Job description

Community Access was founded in 1974 to provide housing and support for people being discharged from psychiatric institutions. Today, we are one of the leading providers of supportive and affordable housing in New York City, and the originators of an integrated housing model which has become a best practice nationally: affordable housing where families live alongside people living with mental health concerns. Our staff work daily to support thousands of New Yorkers through supportive and affordable housing, peer-driven residential crisis support programs, training, advocacy, supported education, mobile treatment and other healing-focused services.

Program Description

Community Access’s OMH licensed Intensive Crisis Residence (ICR) is inspired by the Soteria model and is designed as an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization for people going through an acute psychiatric crisis and who would benefit from a respite period in a stabilizing, home-like environment with 24-hour peer support and treatment services. The Soteria ICR will work with guests for up to 28 days to help them develop awareness and skills that will allow them to return to the community with an increased ability to manage their mental health concerns. The ICR will follow a Soteria model which emphasizes shared running of a home-like environment, positive expectations of recovery, validation of subjective experiences, the concept of “being with” a person, providing 1:1 support, 24 hours a day, and self-determination. Services are completely voluntary, and guests are encouraged to maintain their daily responsibilities and activities in the community during their stay including work, school, family care, recreation, and wellness appointments. The program works with guests throughout their stay on discharge planning focused on safety and wellness, and provides post-discharge follow up health resource navigation support.

Position Overview

The Peer Respite Worker develops mentoring and supportive relationships with ICR guests, promoting connection and hope, and utilizing the stabilizing routines of the home-like environment to deescalate crisis and promote recovery-oriented practices. The Peer Respite Worker engages guests in individual and group-based peer support services to identify and develop crisis-management skills, addressing questions and fears, while building self-advocacy and systems-navigation skills. The Peer Respite Workers collaborate with the full ICR team to promote a welcoming, home-like atmosphere, and conduct group activities that foster connection, mutual understanding, and wellness.

Key Performance Indicators

• Assigned guests will have at least one progress note per day demonstrating appropriate, service goal-driven peer support.
• All progress notes are written and entered into AWARDS within 48 hours of the meeting.
• Service Plans for assigned guests completed within 24 hours of admission.

Job Qualifications

• Have an understanding, appreciation, and commitment to the philosophy and mission of Community Access
• Have lived experience with the mental health system and willingness to share personal experience appropriately and respectfully.
• Ability to be mindfully present and have a respect for, and a high level of comfort around people experiencing psychiatric crisis.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including empathic listening, responding.
• Commitment to recovery orientated practice and the ability to utilize critical thinking, problem-solving and de-escalation skills to assist with creating and maintaining an environment that promotes recovery.
• Resourceful and knowledgeable of community resource and services.
• Graduate of core peer specialist training program and willingness to participate in/successful completion of all required training, with ability to integrate skills, knowledge and approach into work with guests
• Acquisition of NYS Peer Certification, at least at Provisional level within 90days of hire (preferably attained) with a commitment to achieve permanent certification within one year of hire.
• Desirable to have work experience in a behavioral health or related setting, preferably using the recovery model.
• Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking, preferred. Ability to speak other relevant languages is a strong asset.
• Must be fingerprinted and cleared by the Office of Mental Health (OMH).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to set priorities and manage multiple and competing tasks.
• Be creative and flexible, show initiative, and be responsible for follow through
• Ability to maintain confidential information, as related to position.
• Ability to walk up several flights of stairs.
• Ability to work in the field (using public transportation).
• Computer proficiency in Windows operating systems and programs, such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as comfort with learning new electronic systems.
• Available to work evening, night, weekends and cover holidays as assigned

Community Access is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/D/V.

Women, People of Color and Members of the LGBT community are strongly encouraged to apply.

We are dedicated to a workforce where at least 51% of our employees identify as having a personal experience using mental health services. www.communityaccess.org