ACT Peer Specialist

PURPOSE:To serve as a role model and advocate for clients receiving ACT services out in the community. Assist in the areas of entitlements self-advocacy and empowerment daily activities housing and employment. Teach independent living skills. Function as a full member of the ACT team providing evidenced based interventions as part of the ACT model. The majority of this role is conducted in the community and is not site :Provide concrete service delivery to clients (i.e. benefits/entitlements) as per program and co-lead a variety of recovery groups on issues of self-advocacy entitlements daily living activities housing issues employment readiness smoking cessation substance use disorders and other groups as deemed with collaterals and other agency staff on behalf of clients to assist case management staff as in team meetings supervision and discharge planning document individual and groups notes in electronic health in various duties (as needed) for the programMaintain resource materials on recovery for client weekly in person visits for clients currently residing in homeless shelters and assigned to the ACTprogram and/or in clients homes or elsewhere in the community where the client is consumers in peer advocacy skills harm reduction skills and affect management clients to doctors court interviews and other appointments as independent living skills such as cooking laundry grocery shopping how to manage medication Relapse Prevention plans with diligent searches for missing clients including outreaches to DHS hospitals web searches as well as making in person physical attempts to locate be assigned other tasks and duties reasonably related to their job and/or Experience Required:Relevant life experience with NYS Entitlements Housing and Mental Health Service Delivery computer skills a Skills:Ability to articulate the companys philosophy mission and goals to a varied to author and to present effective and persuasive speeches and presentations to various groups including clients management and to respond to inquiries or complaints including those of a sensitive and confidential nature from any of the following if applicable under a variety of circumstances including adversarial situations: clients consumers managers employees regulatory agencies arbitrators union representatives vendors or to effectively present information to clients top management and staff in verbal and written Skills:Ability to perform basic mathematical skills such as addition subtraction division and Skills:Ability to define problems collect data establish facts and draw valid to work within general guidelines and minimal to organize prioritize and execute responsibilities in the face of conflicting priorities or unexpected to recognize the need for confidentiality of information and to maintain such ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL EFFORTMust be comfortable with public transportation traveling in the community as this position requires 80% of the time in the field and 20% in the office. This individual must be comfortable walking and standing for long periods of time. REQUIREMENTS: High School Diploma GED or some post-secondary education preferred as is experience with a similarpopulation in a community setting. NY Peer Specialist certification is required.