Embedded Peer Specialist

Organization: People USA- Behavorial Health, Mental Health, Addiction, Trauma Services

Job Title: Embedded Peer Specialist

Job Location: Kingston, NY

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM - 40 hours per week

Payrate: $19.28 per hour/ non-exempt

Job Summary: People USA will provide Ulster County with an Embedded Peer Specialist in Kingston, NY who will support the daily operations of our Hospital Diversion Peer Advocate Program. She or he provides peer support for each participant on the Psychiatric Unit and in the Emergency Department. The Peer is available to instill hope, support wellness and demonstrate that recovery is real and does happen. Peers model and utilize trauma-informed techniques and tools, help participants set goals and engage in community and social events.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide support for participants to divert hospitalization after discharge.

• Share personal experience and encourage mental health wellness and recovery.

• Assist in connection to mental health services, community resources, entitlements, and other services as needed.

• Model and utilize Trauma Informed techniques and tools as outlined in the following training : Intentional Peer Support (IPS), Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Mental Health First Aid, Emotional CPR (eCPR), Motivational Interviewing, SafeTALK, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), PEOPLe, Inc. In-House Peer Advocacy Training, and Crisis Diversion / Respite House Training.

• Complete all necessary Academy of Peer Services (APS) online learning and complete NY State Peer Specialist Certification Application.

• Provide telephone support to peers.

• Help maintain a clean, safe and secure trauma-informed environment.

• Educates clients on useful health & wellness topics, including but not limited to

• Peer/Self-help Resources

• Recovery from Mental Health Challenges (from a Psychiatric Rehabilitation perspective)

• Wellness & Whole Health (SAMHSA's Eight Dimensions of Wellness)

• Community Resources (across all domains of health, e.g.: physical, mental, substance use, socio economic determinants of health), Trauma & Healing, Wellness Planning & Prevention (e.g. WRAP), Natural Supports (developing/maintaining).

• Helps clients to identify barriers to their recovery journeys or personal wellness, including issues related to access, quality of care, people's rights, lack of basic needs, and stigma & discrimination

• Advocates for client's side-by-side to overcome identified barriers, making sure their voices are heard, and their decisions are understood and respected.

• Builds peer-to-peer connections/relationships based on mutuality (shared lived experiences), empathy, and hope for recovery/wellness (peers-as-proof).

• Provides peer support, sharing stories, personal feelings, information, and strategies for living well.

• Coaches clients to identify & accomplish whole health goals related to the Eight Dimensions of Wellness (emotional, social, physical, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, spiritual)

• Directly connects people to the services and supports they need through direct bridging/linking (as opposed to referrals only)
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with other provider agencies, and local housing providers (landlords) within the county and its surrounding environs

• Documents all meaningful interactions in electronic records software and maintain hard copies in clients' files

• Consistently support PEOPLe, USA's mission to instill a sense of hope, empowerment, and self determination in people living with mental illness that fosters recovery and a transition to wellness.

• Staff must advocate for individuals on the inpatient unit, and also assist those in the community once discharged.

• Time must be logged appropriately within working hours in the KRONOS System.

Required Education and Experience:

• High School degree or equivalency.

• Personal lived experience/s with mental illness or substance abuse.

• Bilingual English/Spanish Preferred

• Significant demonstrable experience in health & human services

• New York State Certified Peer Specialist must be obtained within 6 months of hire

• Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP)

Reports to Director of Health Home Care Coordination and Peer Services