Senior Peer Specialist - Staten Island Peer Advocacy Program

Job Description

Job Description

Mission Statement:

Baltic Street Wellness Solutions is committed to providing peer recovery, person-centered, trauma-informed, and compassionate services to those with mental health lived experiences.

Vision:

Our vision is to drive a cultural transformation within the mental health community by advocating for the underserved, educating for change, and inspiring wellness. We approach our role with cultural humility and mindfulness of oppressive systems.

Our Core Values:

• We value a mentoring philosophy delivered by staff with peer-lived experiences.
• We value the recovery journey of every individual with a mental health diagnosis.
• We value the personal and professional experiences of our staff and board members.
• We value community action to change societal views to break the stigma of mental health through advocacy within all systems.
• We value everyone's desire to have opportunities to obtain their visions of wellness.
• We value education and training to enhance an individual's opportunities for growth in one's journey to self-discovery.

Position Summary

The Senior Peer of the Staten Island Peer Advocacy Program is responsible for providing support, self-help, and empowerment tools to all staff/Individuals. Teach and model the principles and practices of recovery and self-help, and ensure these principles are integrated into all program services. The Senior Peer must assist the program manager with their managerial tasks as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following

• Teach and model the principles and practices of recovery and self-help
• Provide quality psychiatric rehabilitation interventions to individuals and collaterals in a timely and responsive manner
• Provide direct services to an ongoing participant caseload
• Maintain and protect the confidential nature of all matters related to this position
• Provide program participants with linkages, referrals, and case coordination with other services including mental health, education, medical, social, financial, and housing
• Submit electronically supportive housing application (2010E Form) to the Coordinated Assessment and Placement System (CAPS) for participants in need of housing.
• Teach individuals how to become better self-advocates through information sharing, explanation, and modeling
• Provide entitlement counseling and assist participants to obtain entitlements.
• Accompany individuals to entitlement offices and housing interviews
• Provide comprehensive support for employment acquisition and any requested educational assistance
• Actively participate in ongoing training as needed to meet all certification standards and credentialing policies
• Conduct timely documentation in the AWARDS Database (Progress Notes, Group Notes, Plan and Reviews, and Discharges)
• Facilitate group meetings, workshops and training sessions which include sharing your own recovery story/experience.
• Maintain program, and client records in a timely, complete, and organized manner, consistent with all applicable policies, rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Document all required program records and information in a clear & timely manner in accordance with agency regulations and policies.
• Maintain high standards of conduct in the performance of their job duties; this includes maintaining and protecting the confidential nature of all matters related to this position/program within HIPPA guidelines
• Assist management with regular scheduled reports as needed: (Weekly LOS, Monthly LOS, Monthly Program Snapshot, and Quarterly Report)
• Help with Bi-weekly supervisions to all staff.
• Assist management with the annual year-end report.
• Participate in the recruitment and interview process for any potential new Hire(s).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• High School Diploma, GED (General Equivalency Diploma) required
• College preferred but not required
• Basic Knowledge of Self-Help Techniques
• Knowledge of Community Mental Health System
• Bi-lingual abilities preferred but not required
• Basic office and computer skills proficiency
• (Microsoft Office 365, Excel, Microsoft Word, Power Point, OneDrive, and Microsoft Calendar)
• Excellent communication skills verbally and written
• Ability to be patient and supportive
• Ability to communicate over a multisystem phone line
• Must be vaccinated
• Driver’s license a plus but not required

Annual Trainings:

• Certified with the Academy of Peer Services or completion of certification within 6 months of employment (www.academyofpeerservices.org)
• Minimum of three co-occurring disorder related modules from the Center for Practice Innovation’s (CPI) Focus on Integrated Treatment (FIT) web-based training.
• One Wellness Self-Management module from CPI
• One crisis intervention planning training such as WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)
• One tobacco Cessation Training offered by the NYC (New York City) TCTTAC
• Mandatory Annual trainings (Sexual Harassment, Cultural Competency, Mandated Reporter and Fire Safety)

We Are a State Mandated Organization, COVID-19 Vaccinations are Required. Selected candidates must be vaccinated against COVID-19 and have received a booster shot. Baltic Street Wellness Solutions will require selected candidates to submit proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 and having received a booster shot prior to extending a job offer. If a candidate has a qualifying medical condition or religious exemption that contraindicates a COVID-19 vaccination, an exemption form should be requested from Human Resources.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit; reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.