Peer Counselor Level II

Duties & Responsibilities

Purpose of Position: Under supervision, peer counselors provide direct services to health consumers in emergency, inpatient, outpatient, home and specialized settings. Works in close collaboration with staff, consumers and other caregivers in planning and implementing treatment plans. Empowers peers to advocate for themselves, resolve issues or problems and plan for their futures by serving as a role model.

• Assists the consumer with activities of daily living (e.g., setting-up household, public transportation, budgeting, shopping, socializing, parenting and other skills relevant to an individual’s rehabilitation goals).
• Makes home visits.
• Leads or co-leads groups including, but not limited to, dual diagnoses issues, relapse and recovery and socialization.
• Assists the consumer in identifying their own individual warning signs of relapse and identifying and developing individual coping strategies.
• Provides supportive peer counseling with respect to mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation strategies, breast-feeding education and other self-help opportunities.
• Participates in an interdisciplinary treatment and human services team in determining and implementing a comprehensive plan of care.
• Clarifies issues for the consumer and assists with the process of referral for treatment, rehabilitation, housing and supportive services.
• Follows-up to determine whether services were provided and used.
• Aids in establishing peer support networks, natural and social support systems.
• Maintains current, complete and appropriate documentation in the consumer record, prepares required forms, and may be required to use computer systems in carrying out these functions.
• Documents in Electronic Health Record (EHR) and writes progress notes for review.

Minimum Qualifications

• For Assignments in Comprehensive Emergency Psychiatric Programs (CPEPs): Certification as a Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or Peer Specialist-Provisional (NYCPS-P) issued by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB); or Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional (CRPA-P) issued by the New York Certification Board (ASAP-NYCB); or Credentialed Family Peer Advocate (FPA-C), Credentialed Family Peer Advocate Provisional (FPA-P), Credentialed Youth Peer Advocate (YPA-C), or Credentialed Youth Peer Advocate Provisional (YPA-P) issued by Families Together in New York State; and Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one (1) year of full-time satisfactory experience working with consumers of CPEP services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate or in related human services.
• For Substance Use Assignments: Certification as a Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional (CRPA-P) issued by the New York Certification Board (ASAP-NYCB); and Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one (1) year of full-time satisfactory experience working with consumers of substance use disorder services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate or in related human services.
• For All Other Mental Health Assignments: Certification as a Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or Peer Specialist-Provisional (NYCPS-P) issued by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB); and Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one (1) year of full-time satisfactory experience working with consumers of mental health services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate or in related human services.
• For All Other Assignments (Including Breastfeeding Education Assignments): Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one (1) year of full-time satisfactory experience working with consumers of peer services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate or in related human services; and A High school diploma or its educational equivalent.

Assignment Level II

In addition to meeting the qualification requirements of Peer Counselor Level I, assignment to Level II requires: One (1) additional year of experience, as described in Assignment Level I above.