Peer Specialist

Organization Overview: The Goddard Riverside Community Center (Goddard Riverside) and the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center (Isaacs Center) are well-established Manhattan community-based agencies that support services to approximately 30,000 New Yorkers. We are two of New York City’s leading human services organizations meeting the needs of children, youth and families, homeless individuals, and older adults through-out Manhattan and New York City. We work every day for a fair and just society where all people have the opportunity to make choices that lead to better lives for themselves and their families.

Program Description: The Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) Team provides treatment and support services for individuals with frequent interaction with the mental health, substance abuse, criminal justice and homeless services systems and have been poorly served by traditional treatment models. IMT teams stay connected to individuals regardless of their location in shelter, on the street, in housing, hospital or jail.

Purpose of Position: The Peer Specialist is responsible for building relationships with clients and their support system to support the client’s recovery as well as providing case management and counseling services. The Peer Specialist is part of a multidisciplinary team that provides comprehensive psycho-social services designed to improve or maintain client’s ability to function in the community. The Peer Specialist will practice according to the principles of recovery oriented and trauma informed service delivery.

Schedule: Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Salary Range: $37,688 – $45,000

Candidates must have the required qualifications to be considered for the position. The salary offer will be based on the candidate’s number of years experience in the exact or comparable position and additional preferred qualifications will be taken into account.

Roles, Responsibilities, and Essential Duties
1. Peer Specialist Services:

Provide peer support services and counseling to individuals living with chronic mental health diagnoses, trauma and/or substance use.
Utilize personal lived experience of recovery from mental illness to provide support, guidance, and serve as a role model to individuals living with chronic mental illness, trauma and/or substance use.
Assist individuals with achieving personal recovery goals, utilizing strength-based approaches.
Willingness to share personal, practical experience, knowledge, and first-hand insight to benefit program enrollees.
Assist individuals with navigating service systems including but not limited to behavioral and medical health, criminal-legal, shelter system, and entitlements.
Accompany clients to various appointments to assist in meeting their goals.
Facilitate peer lead activities, groups, etc. as appropriate.
Provide education to clients through peer engagement on topics including self-help, symptom-management skills, harm reduction, development of community support systems, etc.

2. Provide case management services including:

Build wellness recovery and action plans (WRAP), safety plans, and crisis intervention plans to help achieve personal recovery goals.
Work with clients and team members to assist in the development of person-centered treatment plans.
Advocate for and liaise with participants within the criminal justice, shelter system, hospitals, and outpatient services.
Assist in the referral process for various services for clients; and through a peer lens provide support in engaging with those services.
Engage with client collaterals and involve them in client treatment (family, friends, external service providers, etc.)
Visit clients in residential facilities, hospitals, on the street and in other locations.
Maintain up-to-date client case records according to program guidelines.
Communicate with clients in a trauma-informed and culturally competent manner.

3. Participate as an IMT team member:

Attend staff meetings, case conferences, and training programs to upgrade skills and knowledge.
Attend supervision meetings to review client progress and case management strategies.
Work collaboratively with IMT team staff in a team case management model.
Share lived experiences with team members as appropriate to assist providers in understanding clients’ experiences and addressing barriers to treatment.
Complete progress notes and paperwork assignments in a timely fashion.

Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

 

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

Certified Peer Specialist Certification required within a year of hire.
All Recovery Peer Advocates would become certified by the NY Certification Board within a year of hire.
Lived experience of a mental health condition and/or substance use.
High School diploma or GED preferred.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

Experience in Harm Reduction strongly preferred.
Experience working with people with histories of substance use, mental illness, trauma, and homelessness preferred.
Ability to be flexible in a fast-paced work environment.
Strong written and verbal skills.
Bilingual Spanish-speaking is a plus.
Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have/be:

Proficient in use of cell phones (smart phones) and laptop computers
Able to work in the Microsoft Office Suite, should especially be proficient in Word, Outlook, and Excel.
Able to use or learn to use AWARDS database.
Able to use or learn other electronic databases, programs, and funder-related software as needed.

Physical Requirements/Working Environment

Field work required; must be able to travel throughout the 5 boroughs.
Walking; Climbing stairs occasionally.

Employee Benefits :

• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Life Insurance/Commuter benefits/Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Flexible Spending Accounts
• 403B Thrift Retirement Plan
• 12 Annual Sick Days
• 12 Agency Holidays
• 20 Days or 4 Weeks of Paid Time off and an additional week (5) days after 5 years of employment
• Total of more than 6 weeks (a month and half) of paid time off

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace community grounded in respect for differences. We support hiring a broadly diverse team of qualified individuals who will contribute to our organizations.

Goddard Riverside and Isaacs Center provide equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of this position and title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job related task other than those specifically presented in this description. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Posted On: April 1, 2024