Embedded Peer Specialist

Embedded Peer Specialist in Poughkeepsie, NY ( Dutchess County)

Monday - Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

People USA will provide Dutchess County with an Embedded Peer Specialist in Poughkeepsie , NY who will support the daily operations. The Embedded Peer Specialist provides peer support for each participant in Mid-Hudson Regional Psychiatric Unit. The Peer is available to instill hope, support wellness and demonstrate that recovery is real and does happen. Peers model and utilize trauma-informed techniques and tools, help participants set goals and engage in community and social events.

The Embedded Peer Specialist will conduct groups at the Mid-Hudson Regional Psychiatric Unit three days per week and provide support to community members in the office setting two days per week.

• Provide support for participants to divert hospitalization after discharge.
• Share personal experience and encourage mental health wellness and recovery.
• Assist in connection with mental health services, community resources, entitlements, and other services as needed.
• Model and utilize Trauma Informed techniques and tools as outlined in the following training:
  Intentional Peer Support (IPS), Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Mental Health First Aid, Emotional CPR (eCPR), Motivational Interviewing, Safe TALK, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), People, Inc. In-House Peer Advocacy Training, and Crisis Diversion / Respite House Training.
• Complete all necessary Academy of Peer Services (APS) online learning and complete NY State Peer Specialist Certification Application.
• Provide telephone support to peers.
• Help maintain a clean, safe, and secure trauma-informed environment. Educates clients on useful health & wellness topics, including but not limited to:
  • Peer/Self-help Resources
  • Helps clients to identify barriers to their recovery journeys or personal wellness, including issues related to access, quality of care, people’s rights, lack of basic needs, and stigma & discrimination.
  • Advocates for client’s side-by-side to overcome identified barriers, making sure their voices are heard, and their decisions are understood and respected.
  • Builds peer-to-peer connections/relationships based on mutuality (shared lived experiences), empathy, and hope for recovery/wellness (peers-as-proof).
  • Coaches clients to identify & accomplish whole health goals related to the Eight Dimensions of Wellness (emotional, social, physical, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, spiritual).
  • Directly connects people to the services and supports they need through direct bridging/linking (as opposed to referrals only).
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with other provider agencies, and local housing providers (landlords) within the county and its surrounding environs.
• Documents all meaningful interactions in electronic records software and maintain hard copies in clients’ files.
• Consistently support People USA’s mission to instill a sense of hope, empowerment, and self-determination in people living with mental illness that fosters recovery and a transition to wellness.
• Staff must advocate for individuals on the inpatient unit, and also assist those in the community once discharged.
• Time must be logged appropriately within working hours in the payroll system.

• High School degree or equivalency.
• Personal lived experience/s with mental illness or substance abuse preferred.
• Significant demonstrable experience in health & human services.
• Must have a clean and valid driver's license.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement People USA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to…