PEER SPECIALIST - CRPA

Established in 1926, Family Service League is a social services agency transforming lives and communities through mental health, addiction, housing, and essential human services with more than 60 social service programs in over 20 locations.

SCHEDULE 

Monday – Friday

Evenings and weekends required as needed.

SUMMARY

Family Service League is seeking a full-time Peer Specialist for the Outreach and Engagement Team (OET) in Mastic, NY. The Peer Specialist will provide peer support and linkage within a multidisciplinary team to those struggling with substance use and other co-occurring disorders via street outreach and referrals from internal and external sources.

Recovery Peer Advocate Certification or willing to become certified as a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) that meets NYS OASAS Guidelines required.

We offer a generous benefits package including the following:

• Health and Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Retirement Savings Plan with a 5% employer contribution
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Generous PTO (paid time off)
• Up to 11 paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave
• Student Tuition Remission Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Employee Discounts and more!

RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Peer Specialist will conduct community-based work that serves all of Suffolk County focusing on substance use disorders but not limited to the full range of DSM diagnoses, including mental health.
• Provide person centered care and share lived experience to facilitate engagement.
• Provide outreach and peer support to clients and/or their families in the field, by phone and in person.
• Provide warm and supportive hand-off to all levels of treatment.
• Provide recovery readiness support through linkage to community resources.
• Utilize motivational interviewing to assist individuals in readiness for change.
• Provide outreach to clients in order to facilitate their engagement in services and offer additional support so they can engage in treatment and live successfully in the community.
• Engage with outside providers to complete community/homeless outreach to provide harm reduction education and supplies, linkage to services, and support.
• Work closely with law enforcement to accept referrals and provide a co-response to individuals who are homeless or have substance/alcohol concerns in the community.
• Conduct individual and group sessions alongside other FSL clinics and programs.
• Participate in crisis assessments and de-escalation services.
• Coordinate with collateral contacts, including family and other providers.
• The Peer Specialist will provide opioid overdose and harm reduction education and train individuals and families to use Narcan.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary team on clients needing assessments, support, and linkage.
• Attend events in representation of the agency, including resources fairs, etc.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, partnering with Social Workers, Peers and CASACs to work collaboratively on clients needing assessments and linkage.
• The Peer Specialist will coordinate care planning with other providers of services/resources to ensure goal directed, collaborative care, including care transitions.
• Act as a resource to all team members on community-based recovery supports.
• Complete thorough and timely documentation according to regulations in the agency Electronic Health Record.
• Complete trainings and maintain proficiency with de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally.
• Foster teamwork, work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems and make decisions.
• Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities. 
• Assess situations to determine importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
• Field work is required
• All other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

High school diploma or equivalent required.

Recovery Peer Advocate Certification or willing to become certified as a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) that meets NYS OASAS Guidelines required. 

Relevant life experience and willingness to draw upon this experience to engage individuals and serve as a role model required.

Experience as a peer, paid or volunteer preferred. 

Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office required; experience with Electronic Health Records preferred.

Excellent interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills required.

Ability to work both independently, as well as part of a team and must be responsive to time deadlines.

Valid and clean NYS Driver's License and the ability to operate a vehicle in a safe manner under all driving conditions required.

Possible evening and weekend hours required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

Must be able to sit or stand for long periods of time.