Peer Coordinator II

or over 117 years, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens has been providing quality social services to the neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens, and currently offers 160-plus programs and services for children, youth, adults, seniors, and those struggling with mental illness.

The ACT team provides an integrated set of evidence-based treatment, rehabilitation, case management, and support services delivered by a mobile, multi-disciplinary mental health treatment team. ACT supports client recovery through a highly individualized approach that provides clients with the tools to obtain and maintain housing, employment, relationships and relief from symptoms and medication side effects. ACT services are developed through the person-centered service planning process and adjusted through the process of daily team meetings.

STATEMENT OF THE JOB:
The Peer Coordinator II is part of the multi-disciplinary team and is responsible for delivering intensive in-home and community-based services to individuals living with severe mental illness, whom have a treatment history characterized by frequent use of psychiatric hospitalization and emergency rooms, involvement with the criminal justice system, alcohol/substance abuse, and lack of engagement in traditional outpatient services. The Peer Coordinator II will play a vital role in outreach and engagement of clients on the ACT team. The Peer Coordinator II will used personal lived experience as a service recipient to serve as a role model, educate clients about self-help techniques and self-help group processes, teach effective coping strategies and symptom monument skills, help clients develop daily living skills, assist in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals, and assist in the development of community support systems and networks. The Peer Coordinator II will collaborate with ACT team members to ensure clients become both linked and engaged with identified community providers and that their support network is sufficient to meet their needs. The Peer Coordinator II engages clients in peer-based services to identify and overcome barriers to community integration, utilizing a peer relationship to foster connection, trust, understanding and validation with community providers and supports. The role will require on call coverage and a willingness to work flexible hours.
* Responsible for providing services to clients in their home environment, community settings, provider offices and additional locations as needed.
* Responsible for providing non-clinical, direct support services to clients with psychiatric diagnoses, co-occurring substance use, chronic physical health problems and complex social needs.
* Provide intensive emotional and practical support to clients, especially when clients are transitioning between settings or from hospital to community.
* Conduct home visits as assigned- Individual sessions with clients emphasizing prevention and preparing for independent community living and the promotion of optimum mental and emotional health. May require helping clients deal with issues associated with but not limited to family and social relationships; stress and symptom management; activities of daily living; medication management; and housing readiness.
* Assist and instruct clients in attending to daily living skills such as personal hygiene, grooming and laundry, nutrition/meal preparation, budgeting, and socialization tasks.
* Community navigation including accompanying to first behavioral health and medical appointment, travel training, reengagement in community care, referral to services with ability to identify and address potential services and barriers to obtain and maintain such services.
* Advocate with and for clients to achieve personal goals and address barriers such as fear, stigma and communication disparities with community providers and supports
* Make visits to hospitalized clients to coordinate care. Provide advocacy for hospitalized clients. Assist with follow up care to support discharge planning, transition back to community and promote complete recovery.
* Develop short-term person-centered treatment plans to assist clients towards achieving their goals.
* Monitor and record client progress and modify plan according to needs and preference.
* Perform various needs assessment for essential ongoing community integration and support.
* Meet monthly required levels of treatment contacts with at least 80% of contacts occurring in the community.
* Provide emergency care and crisis intervention as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:
* High School Diploma or GED.
* Peer Certification preferred.
* 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 recipient of mental health, substance services or homeless services preferred.
* History of mental illness and at least one year of symptom remission.
* Knowledge of mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
* Knowledge of the second language is preferred (Spanish, Russian, Creole, Cantonese).
* Ability to work flexible hours and days – including weekends/evenings/holidays according to needs of a 24/7 program.
* Able to lift up to 10 pounds.

BENEFITS:
* We offer competitive salary and excellent benefits including:
* Generous time off (Vacation/ Personal Days/ Sick Days/ Paid Holidays annually)
* Medical,
* Dental
* Vision
* Retirement Savings with Agency Match
* Transit
* Flexible Spending Account
* Life insurance
* Public Loan Forgiveness Qualified Employer
* Training Series and other additional voluntary benefits.

For more information on our organization, please visit our website at: www.ccbq.org EOE/AA.