What are the responsibilities and job description for the SOS Peer Specialist position at People USA?
Organization: People USA Non-Profit
Location: Newburgh, NY
Position Title: Peer Specialist for HONOR SAFE OPTIONS SUPPORT (SOS) Program
Payrate: $24.04 per hour
Work Schedule: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ( M-F) Must be Flexible
Job Summary: People USA will provide Orange and Dutchess County with a Peer Specialist (i.e., persons with lived experiences with behavioral health challenges) for HONOR SAFE OPTIONS SUPPORT (SOS) Program. The Peer Specialist will provide comprehensive care to the street homeless with mental health, addiction, or trauma. The peer speicalist will continue to follow participants for several months after housing placement to ensure their stability, independence, and wellbeing in their new community. The role will require field based work, periodic on-call coverage, and a willingness to work flexible hours. On-the-job training will be provided around CTI and regular learning collaboratives will be available to enhance the Peer Specialist’s professional development.
Using the mutuality of shared lived experiences, the Peer Specialists will help people get started on and continue their own positive pathways to behavioral health and wellness..
- .As educators, they will explore with people new ways to improve their behavioral health and overall well-being.
- As advocates, they will resolve any issues people are having obtaining quality services that meet their needs.
- As peers, they will connect people to others (including staff themselves) who have similar lived experiences, and who can understand and support them.
- As connectors, they will directly link people - using warm handoffs - with other useful health and wellness resources in the community - services, supports, and resources (following a psychiatric rehabilitation model). Job
Responsibilities:
- Outreach and engagement using strength-based approaches beginning either at known “hangouts” or “Hot spots” within the Orange/Dutchess County area or during an inpatient hospital admission or emergency department visit.
- Continuously assess the health and social needs of participants through SOS’s conversational and observational assessments and formalized risk assessments tools for those identified as being at high risk.
- Work in collaboration with the centralized SOR Hub to identify available housing and to support participants through the process. Tasks may include completing HRA 2010e, applying for housing, prepping for interviews, follow up with housing providers, and assistance with moving in (day of move) with obtaining housing supplies and learning the neighborhood.
- Participate in hospital discharge planning meetings to identify the best community resources for returning patients.
- Collect and report data, as required and work with team leader, data analyst and other SOS teams to use data to inform future care delivery.
- Once housed work with participants and their housing providers to resolve clinical issues that are impacting on the participant’s ability manage and retain supportive housing.
- Foster relationship with community provides to ensure that recipients relate to appropriate services as they transition back into the community.
- Appointment navigation includes accompaniment to appointments, travel training, reengagement in community care, and addressing barriers to care.
- Review documentation and conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments to determine the medical, psychiatric, housing, and other social needs in the community.
- Obtain historical and collateral information from multiple sources to support participants behavioral and physical health needs.
- Monitor, evaluate and record participants’ progress with respect to care plan goals. • Attend and participate in team meetings and supervisory sessions.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements: Minimum High School Diploma or equivalent or higher. New York State Certified Peer Specialist preferred or required Completion of an internship or comparable training in peer advocacy; experience in providing advocacy services to people who are mentally ill and/or homeless. Past or current participants of behavioral health, substance services or homeless services preferred. VALID & CLEAN Driver’s License
- Experience working with homeless and/or precariously housed populations preferred but not required.
- Knowledge of homeless resources, NYC shelter systems, and MTA transit systems a plus.
- Knowledge of counseling principles and methods for mental illness and substance use disorders.
- Knowledge of treatment, rehabilitation, and community support programs as they relate to recipient/residents, families, and staff.
- Ability to develop, evaluate, implement, and modify treatment intervention to meet the needs of individual recipients.
- Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports.
- Computer proficiency and good documentation skills.
Reports to Director - Dominick Marino
People USA recruits, employee train and provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. People USA complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. People USA. expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of People USAs employees to perform their expected job duties is not tolerated. People USA promotes within no matter the race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
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