Peer Specialist (SOS) – Covering Ulster County

Do you have personal experience with behavioral health, substance and homeless services?  Are you looking to make a huge impact on someone’s life?  Do you want to make a difference in your community?  If so, Independent Living, Inc. is looking for you!  We are hiring a Peer Specialist (SOS) Safe Options Support that can be engaging and supportive towards individuals that are in unfortunate situations related to their housing situation.  Not only will you assist them with safe options of support, but you’ll also be able to assist with removing the barriers that are interfering with their ability to maintain supportive housing.

As a Peer Specialist (SOS) Safe Options Support, you’ll conduct outreach and engagement to assist individuals find and keep supportive housing, assess their social and health needs, and foster relationships with other community providers.

 Independent Living, Inc., is a progressive and dynamic cross-disability services organization and a leader in the provision of peer services in the Hudson Valley region.  As a Peer Specialist (SOS) Safe Options Support, you prefer someone with “lived” experience as a past or current participant of behavioral health, substance services or homeless services. High School diploma/equivalent or higher plus two years of advocacy experience, providing advocacy services to people who are mentally ill and/or homeless.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Persistent and assertive outreach and engagement using strength-based approaches beginning either at known “hangouts” or “Hot spots”.
• 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 collaborations with the centralized SOR Hub to identify available housing and to support participants through the process. Tasks may include completing necessary applications, 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 issues that are impacting the participant’s ability to manage and retain supportive housing.
• Foster relationship with community providers to ensure that recipients are connected with appropriate services as they transition back into the community.
• Appointment navigation including 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 actively participate in all supervisory sessions, meetings and training sessions provided by Independent Living, Inc. and specific to The Safe Options Support program.
• The above list of responsibilities is not intended to be all inclusive, other responsibilities and/or training may be assigned or required.

SHIFT:

• Ulster County – Sunday through Thursday, 10am – 6pm

PAY RATE:

• $22.55/hr – $23.45/hr

BENEFITS:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays from the first day of employment

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with homeless and/or precariously housed populations, preferred but not required.
• Knowledge of homeless resources, shelter systems, and 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.
• High School diploma/equivalent or higher. (Bachelor’s degree in human services, preferred but not required).
• Two years of advocacy experience, providing advocacy services to people who are mentally ill and/or homeless.
• Must have “lived” experience as a past or current participant of behavioral health, substance services or homeless services, preferred.
• Must complete approved advocacy training programs within the first six months of employment.
• CRPA (Certified Recovery Peer Advocate), preferred.
• NYCPS (New York Certified Peer Specialist) certification, required.
• Must have a working knowledge of the recovery process and be willing to promote multi-pathways to recovery.
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of ASL, a plus.
• Honesty, respect for diversity, high personal standards, language and behaviors reflecting such values and the Independent Living philosophy.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize the need for and facilitate connections between consumers, IL and other disability related services.
• Knowledge of local, statewide and national disability related issues and community dynamics.
• Working knowledge of confidentiality requirements related to records pertaining to Mental Health and Chemical Dependency laws.
• Excellent written and verbal presentation skills.
• Must have good time management skills and be self-directing, especially if there is any downtime.
• Must possess a valid unrestricted driver’s license and have reliable transportation.