Peer Engagement Specialist, Residential Services

Peer Engagement Specialist

BHSN, one of the fastest growing organizations providing whole person care in the region, is in search of passionate individuals to join our rapidly growing team!

Your role at BHSN:
As a member of the residential services team, this position will provide engagement and support to adults recovering from mental health and/or dual diagnosis in a residential, community and/or office setting in an effort to help participants reach their full potential and transition toward independent living.

The New York Peer Specialist Certification Board defines a NYCPS - New York Certified Peer Specialist as a person who, by virtue of special knowledge, training, and experience, is uniquely able to inform, motivate, guide, and support persons in recovery from a mental health condition, diagnosis or major life disruption.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Utilizing unique recovery experiences, the NYCPS shall:
• Teach and model the value of every individual's recovery experience
• Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies
• Encourage peers to develop a healthy independence
• Establish and maintain a peer relationship rather than a hierarchical relationship
• Utilizing direct peer-to-peer interaction and a goal-setting process, the NYCPS shall:
• Understand and utilize specific interactions to assist peers in meeting their individualized recovery goals
• Demonstrate and impart how to facilitate recovery dialogues through the use active listening and other best practice methods
• Demonstrate and impart relevant skills needed for self-management of symptoms, relapse
• Demonstrate an impart how to overcome personal fears, anxieties, urges, and triggers
• Assist individuals in recovery in articulating their personal goals and objectives for recovery
• Assist individuals in recovery in creating their personal recovery plans (E.g., WRAP, crisis plan, etc.)
• Appropriately document activities provided to peers in either their individual records or program records
• The NYCPS shall serve as a recovery agent by:
• Providing and promoting recovery-based services (e.g., WRAP, IPS, etc.)
• Assisting individuals in recovery in obtaining services that suit each peer's individual recovery needs
• Assisting individuals in recovery in developing empowerment skills through self-advocacy
• Assisting individuals in recovery in developing problem-solving skills so they can respond to challenges to their recovery
• When appropriate sharing his or her unique perspective on recovery from mental illness and co-occurring disorders with non-peer staff
• Assisting non-peer staff in a collaborative process in identifying programs and environments that are conducive to recovery
• Links service recipients to resources, services and supports
• Facilitates/provides transportation to clients and attends appointments with participants as needed
• Develop, implement and facilitate socialization opportunities that are individualized to meet participants needs, wishes and abilities
• Participate and assist participant acclimate to program upon admission, throughout program stay and help prepare for program discharge
• Supports collaboration and teamwork by sharing information and responding to questions/requests from residential/treatment team and other support providers
• Provides restorative services reimbursable by Medicaid
• Participates in the writing and timely completion of any required documentation in accordance with state/federal regulations and agency policies and procedures
• Maintains client confidentiality and confidential health information
• Promotes service recipients' growth and development
• Maintains professional boundaries
• Attends and participates in meetings as requested
• Attends and/or completes all assigned trainings as required
• Assist with training new staff…