Certified Peer Specialist

The Certified Peer Specialist is a valued member of the interdisciplinary outpatient behavioral health team who uses their lived experience of mental health and/or substance use recovery to inspire hope promote resiliency and support individuals in achieving their self-identified recovery goals.

The Peer Specialist provides recovery-oriented person-centered peer support services to individuals receiving care in an OMH Article 31 Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Services (MHOTRS) program.

Services include individual and group peer support psychoeducation recovery coaching advocacy community linkage wellness planning and skill development. The Peer Specialist partners with individuals to build confidence increase self-advocacy strengthen natural supports develop coping strategies and promote meaningful community participation while collaborating with the interdisciplinary treatment team.

All services are provided in accordance with OMH regulations MHOTRS guidance organizational policies and the New York Certified Peer Specialist Code of Ethics.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide recovery-oriented peer support services utilizing lived experience in a purposeful ethical and person-centered manner.
• Establish supportive relationships that foster hope empowerment resilience and recovery.
• Conduct peer support sessions using evidence-informed recovery principles.
• Assist individuals in identifying personal strengths goals and wellness strategies while navigating behavioral health medical and community support systems.
• Support the development of Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP) and other recovery planning tools when appropriate.
• Connect individuals with community resources benefits housing employment education transportation and other recovery supports.
• Promote engagement in treatment and reduce barriers to care.
• Collaborate and communicate changes in an individuals functioning with a multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Participate in treatment planning meetings case conferences and supervision as needed.
• Complete timely accurate and compliant documentation within the Electronic Health Record.
• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA OMH regulations and organizational policies.
• Maintain professional boundaries while appropriately utilizing lived experience.
• Participate in required trainings supervision quality improvement initiatives and continuing education.
• Perform other duties as assigned to deliver effective treatment and client satisfaction.

Compensation:

The ideal candidate will:

Demonstrate competency with Problem Solving: Uses sound judgment to identify concerns evaluate options and assist individuals in developing practical recovery-oriented solutions while recognizing situations requiring clinical intervention.

Technical Skills

Demonstrates proficiency with Electronic Health Records (EHR) Microsoft Office telehealth platforms documentation standards and technology necessary for service delivery.

Customer Service

Provides compassionate respectful trauma-informed and recovery-oriented services while promoting dignity inclusion and person-centered care.

Interpersonal Skills

Develops trusting relationships through empathy active listening professionalism and collaboration while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

Written & Oral Communication

Communicates effectively with clients families community providers and members of the interdisciplinary treatment team. Produces timely accurate organized documentation that complies with organizational and regulatory standards.

Case Management Collaboration

Assists individuals with resource linkage advocacy care coordination and navigation of community supports while collaborating with clinical staff.

Ethics

Maintains compliance with the New York Certified Peer Specialist Code of Ethics HIPAA regulations OMH guidance and organizational policies.

Organizational Support

Supports the mission vision values and goals of the organization.

Strategic Thinking

Identifies opportunities to improve engagement recovery outcomes and service delivery.

Planning and Organizing

Effectively manages time prioritizes responsibilities completes documentation timely and meets deadlines.

Professionalism

Demonstrates integrity accountability confidentiality ethical conduct and respectful communication.

Productivity

Meets established productivity expectations while maintaining quality service delivery.

Innovation

Take initiative and develop creative ideas for recovery groups wellness activities engagement strategies and peer programming.

Qualifications:

• Current New York Certified Peer Specialist (NYCPS) certification or New York Certified Peer Specialist-Provisional (NYCPS-P) required.
• Demonstrated lived experience with mental health recovery and willingness to appropriately utilize lived experience in supporting others.
• Knowledge of recovery-oriented person-centered and trauma-informed care.
• Ability to comply with the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board Code of Ethics.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Strong interpersonal organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary treatment team.
• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associates or Bachelors degree in Human Services Psychology Social Work or a related field preferred.
• Experience providing peer support advocacy mentoring group facilitation or community outreach preferred.
• Experience working within behavioral health or recovery-oriented programs preferred.
• Experience working in an MHOTRS program is a PLUS.
• Spanish speaking is a PLUS

Apply today and help us bring hope and healing to families across New York one client at a time.

Required Experience:

IC