Peer Specialist – SOS Team

Endeavor Health Services is looking for Peer Specialist to join our newly formed SOS (Safe Options Support) team.  This is a wonderful opportunity for an experienced Peer to play a pivotal role on one the Governor’s offices newly launched innovative Safe Options Support (SOS) team that that will provide comprehensive care to street homeless or subway dwelling individuals.

The Peer Specialist’s role will involve community outreach on the streets and shelters, coordinating participants needs before and after their move from street to home, enhancing their daily living skills, accompaniment to appointments, and advocating on their behalf when faced with discrimination or healthcare inequities. Member choice, harm reduction, non-coercion, flexibility, and person-centered care are essential elements of the SOS program model and should be front and center of the care delivered by the Peer Specialist.

The SOS teams will continue to follow participants for several months after housing placement to ensure their stability, independence, and wellbeing in their new community. The role will require field-based work, periodic on- call coverage, and a willingness to work flexible hours. On-the-job training will be provided around CTI and regular learning collaboratives will be available to enhance the Peer Specialist’s professional development.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Peer Specialist who is looking to transform community healthcare in WNY and making long lasting, positive changes in the lives of homeless Western New Yorkers.

Job Responsibilities:

•  Persistent and assertive outreach and engagement using strength-based approaches beginning either at known “hang-outs” or “Hot spots” within the transit system or during an inpatient hospital admission or emergency department visit;
• Continuously assess the health and social needs of participants through SOS’s conversational and observational assessments and formalized risk assessments tools for those identified as being at high risk;
• Work in collaboration with the centralized SPOA to identify available housing and to support participants through the process. Tasks may include completing SPOA applications, applying for housing, prepping for interviews, follow up with housing providers, and assistance with moving in (day of move) with obtaining housing supplies and learning the neighborhood;
• Participate in hospital discharge planning meetings to identify the best community resources for returning people;
• Collect and report data, as required and work with team leader, data analyst and other SOS teams to use data to inform future care delivery;
• Once housed work with participants and their housing providers to resolve clinical issues that are impacting on the participant’s ability to manage, and retain supportive housing;
• Foster relationship with community provides to ensure that recipients are connected with appropriate services as they transition back into the community;
• Appointment navigation including accompaniment to appointments, travel training, reengagement in community care, and addressing barriers to care;
• Review documentation and conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments to determine the medical, psychiatric, housing and other social needs in the community;
• Obtain historical and collateral information from multiple sources to support participants behavioral and physical health needs;
• Monitor, evaluate and record participants progress with respect to care plan goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum High School Diploma or equivalent or higher
• New York State Certified Peer Specialist preferred or required Completion of an internship or comparable training in peer advocacy; experience in providing advocacy services to people who are mentally ill and/or homeless.  Past or current participants of behavioral health, substance services or homeless services preferred.
• Experience working with homeless and/or precariously housed populations preferred but not required
• Knowledge of homeless resources, WNY shelter systems, and the NFTA transit systems a plus
• Knowledge of counseling principles and methods for mental illness and substance use disorders
• Knowledge of treatment, rehabilitation, and community support programs as they relate to recipient/residents, families, and staff
• Ability to develop, evaluate, implement, and modify treatment intervention to meet the needs of individual recipients
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports
• Computer proficiency and good documentation skills

We offer competitive salaries and an array of employee benefits, including Medical, Dental, Company Paid Vision, Company Paid Life and AD&D, Company Paid Long Term Disability, Supplemental Life and AD&D, Supplemental Short Term Disability, 401 (K) retirement savings plan with company contribution, 10 paid holiday, Generous paid vacation, Paid sick time, Employee Assistance Program, Generous Sign on Bonus

Salary $18.00 – $21.50/hour

EOE Statement

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. Applicants and employees are considered for positions and are evaluated without regard to mental or physical disability, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status or any other protected Federal, State/Province or Local status unrelated to the performance of the work involved.

Posted On: October 26, 2023