Peer Specialist I

The Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES); New York (NY); On-site; USD 52,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

25 days paid time off

12 paid holidays per year

403b retirement with match

Employee referral program

Job summary

CASES in New York seeks a Peer Specialist for the Intensive Services Unit to support the clinical team with supervision meetings, field-based services, and limited court coverage. The role focuses on participants facing mental health, substance use, employment, and medical needs, and on bridging them to community resources.

The ideal candidate holds a high school diploma, peer certification, and at least one year of peer services experience, with familiarity of the criminal legal system

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Certification as Peer Specialist or CARC/CRPA strongly preferred.
• Minimum of one year experience providing peer services.
• Experience with forensic/legal systems or mobile treatment teams preferred.
• Knowledge of community resources for vulnerable individuals.

Responsibilities

• Conduct field-based engagement and supervision services.
• Participate in regularly scheduled team meetings and briefings.
• Document services in the program database and communication logs.
• Link participants to behavioral health and human services.
• Assist participants with barriers to recovery and daily functioning.
• Provide peer bridging services during transitions from jail or hospital to the community.
• Participate in trainings to develop counseling and self-help skills.

Skills

Peer services experience

Community resources knowledge

Criminal legal system experience

Lived experience encouraged

Motivational interviewing

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Job Title

Peer Specialist

Job Summary

We are currently seeking a Peer Specialist for our Intensive Services Unit (ISU). Rapidly after release into the program, the Peer Specialist will assist the Clinical team with conducting Supervision Introduction/Orientation meetings with new participants to review supervision conditions required under the supervision plan. Additionally, the Peer Specialist will work alongside a clinician, together they will assist program participants and focus on delivering proactive field-based direct services and limited coverage at court. The ideal candidate for this role will serve as a reliable support to the ISU team, have great flexibility, creativity and persistence among other dynamic qualities. The Intensive Services Unit initiative will implement innovative approaches to working with individuals who have been placed in the Supervised Release Program and experience more extensive needs and challenges that may impact daily functioning and program engagement. The ideal candidate for this position will work well as part of a coordinated clinical team actively assisting all team members. The group of program participants manage challenges in mental health, substance use, employment, education, and medical health. The team promotes proactive, sustained engagement in the community as a catalyst to individual transformation by bridging participants to community partners and resources eager to support our participants in realizing their greatest potential.

Shift Hours

This position is full-time Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Salary

The salary for this role is $51,500 - $54,636

Location

159 W. 25th Street New York, NY 10001. Our office is easily accessible by public transportation.

Workplace Flexibility

Flexible (for roles that have days that can be partially remote, e.g., being able to draft notes at home after going to the office/community in the morning).

What You Will Be Doing

• Conduct field-based engagement and supervision services to help participants effectively utilize pretrial services and participate in recovery supports.
• Participate in regularly occurring team meetings and morning “huddles” to review cases collaboratively and inspire ongoing discussion of emerging participant needs and trends.
• Participate in regularly occurring clinical supervision along with clinical partner to identify ongoing needs of assigned participants and establish ongoing plans for aftercare support and permanency.
• Complete all necessary documentation of services provided through regular progress notes and service plan changes in the program database that incorporates all communication with participants.
• Provide linkage and systems navigation support with behavioral health treatment and human services systems to promote participants to address their needs and problems.
• Raise participant awareness of available services, pathways to recovery, and help remove barriers to mental health and substance use treatment and service access.
• Assist participants to select and utilize the things that bring a sense of passion, purpose, and meaning in their lives, coaching participant as they identify barriers to engaging in these activities.
• Assist participants with skills development that guides towards a more independent life.
• Provide peer bridging services as participants make transitions from jail to community and from hospital to community, they can access immediate needs for food, clothing, housing, and support for successful transitions.
• Participate in supervision, case review, staff meetings, and trainings to develop motivational interviewing, trauma-informed, peer support, case management, and self help competence.
• Provide services responsive to the race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and criminal legal history of program participants.
• Any other duties as required by the Team Leader and other supervisory staff.

What We Are Looking For

• High School Diploma or equivalent degree.
• Satisfactory completion of a recognized Peer Training program with externship experience preferable.
• Certification as a Peer Specialist, Certified Recovery Coach (CARC) or Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) strongly preferred.
• Minimum of one year experience providing peer services in a social services program, providing direct services to individuals, families and/or groups, preferably in a field based setting.
• Experience with forensic, legal system or field-based mobile treatment teams strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of community-based resources and support services for vulnerable individuals.
• Highly motivated self-starter, able to translate goals into action and deliver successful outcomes.
• Candidates who are justice-impacted or identify as having lived experience in various support systems are encouraged to apply.

Preferred Skills

• Certified Recovery Coach (CARC) or Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) strongly preferred.
• Experience working with individuals involved in the criminal legal system preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift 5-10 lbs.
• Must be able to sit for extended periods.
• Must be able to navigate 5 boroughs of NYC and perform field work in a variety of weather conditions.

Employee Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off – starting at 25 days-off annually
• 12 Paid Holidays per year
• Retirement 403b Competitive matching up to 6%
• Employee Referral Program
• Visit www.cases.org/careers/ to learn more about benefits offered by CASES

Equal Opportunity

CASES is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with CASES is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital, military, or citizenship status. We also actively recruit individuals with prior involvement in the criminal legal system.

Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

35 hours per week excluding breaks