Peer Specialist - Bronx Peer Advocacy

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 Peer Specialist is responsible for providing self-help and empowerment tools to participants in the community through participant led groups as well as providing individual services. This position will develop and lead self-help groups and train new group leaders among its group attendees. 

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 
• Ensure and protect all consumer civil liberties and rights 
• Provide direct services to an ongoing client caseload 
• Attend staff meetings and presenting cases as necessary 
• Position requires working both on site and off site 
• 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 as needed. 
• 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 support groups, workshops and training sessions which can include sharing your own recovery stories/lived experiences. 
• Conduct outreach activities to community based agencies and work collaboratively with other programs within Baltic Street to maintain positive interagency relationships. 
• 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; including maintaining and protecting the confidential nature of all matters related to the position/program within HIPPA guidelines. 
• Maintain program, and client records in a timely, complete, and organized manner, consistent with all applicable policies, rules, regulations, and procedures. 
• Perform other duties as assigned  

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) 

• High School Diploma, GED required 
• College preferred but not required 
• At least one year's experience working as a peer
• Certified with the Academy of Peer Services or completion of certification within 6 months of employment (www.academyofperservices.org)
• Demonstrate knowledge of advocacy, self-help, and empowerment programs for recipients ofmental health and substance abuse services
• Bi-lingual preferred but not required  
• Office and computer skills proficiency  (Microsoft Office 365) 
• Excellent communication skills verbal and written 
• Ability to be patient and supportive 
• Ability to communicate over a multisystem phone line 
• Driver’s license a plus but not required  

Annual Trainings: 

• Mandatory Annual trainings (Sexual Harassment, Cultural Competency, Mandated Reporter and Fire Safety)  

Baltic Street Wellness Solutions will require selected candidates to submit proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 and having received a booster shot. 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.