DirectJobHub
Jobs · OTHR · New York

Peer Counselor - Level II

NYC Health + Hospitals · Bronx, NY · 1 wk ago
OTHRFull-time

About the Role

NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx (NCB) is a 215-bed community hospital specializing in women’s and children’s services, as well as Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. As part of the New York City Health + Hospitals system, NCB is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for all, with a focus on compassionate and culturally appropriate community-based care. The hospital’s Labor and Delivery service delivers over 800 babies annually.

At NYC Health + Hospitals, the mission is to deliver high-quality health services without exception. Employees embody the ICARE values—Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence—through empathic communication and partnerships.

Responsibilities

Under supervision, peer counselors provide direct services to health consumers in emergency, inpatient, outpatient, home, and specialized settings. They work collaboratively with staff, consumers, and caregivers to plan and implement treatment plans, empowering peers to advocate for themselves and serve as role models.

  • Assist consumers with activities of daily living (e.g., household management, public transportation, budgeting, shopping, socializing, parenting, and other rehabilitation-related skills). May include home visits.
  • Lead or co-lead groups focused on dual diagnoses, relapse and recovery, socialization, and other relevant topics.
  • Help consumers identify personal warning signs of relapse and develop individualized coping strategies.
  • Provide supportive peer counseling on mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation strategies, breastfeeding education, and other self-help opportunities.
  • Participate in interdisciplinary treatment and human services teams to determine and implement comprehensive care plans.
  • Clarify issues for consumers and assist with referrals for treatment, rehabilitation, housing, and supportive services. Follow up to ensure services are provided and utilized.
  • Assist consumers in completing applications and paperwork for public entitlements, and accompany them to agency offices and treatment programs.
  • Act as a liaison with community and governmental agencies.
  • Facilitate the establishment of peer support networks and natural/social support systems.
  • Maintain current, complete, and appropriate documentation in consumer records, including progress notes and Electronic Health Record (EHR) entries.

At a more advanced level (Assignment Level II), peer counselors also:

  • Serve as preceptors to Peer Counselors in Assignment Level I.
  • Provide education and training on recipient issues to mental health and other human services providers.
  • Advocate for individuals with psychiatric disabilities within the mental health system and service delivery systems.
  • Participate in utilization review and quality improvement activities.

Requirements

For Comprehensive Emergency Psychiatric Programs (CPEPs):

  • Certification (must be maintained) as a Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or Peer Specialist-Provisional (NYCPS-P) by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB); or Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional (CRPA-P) 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) by Families Together in New York State.
  • Satisfactory completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one year of full-time experience working with consumers of CPEP services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate, or in related human services.

For Substance Use Assignments:

  • Certification (must be maintained) as a Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional (CRPA-P) by the New York Certification Board (ASAP-NYCB).
  • Satisfactory completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one year of full-time 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 (must be maintained) as a Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or Peer Specialist-Provisional (NYCPS-P) by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB).
  • Satisfactory completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one year of full-time 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):

  • Satisfactory completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one year of full-time experience working with consumers of peer services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate, or in related human services.
  • A high school diploma or its educational equivalent.

For Assignment Level II:

  • One additional year of experience beyond the requirements for Peer Counselor Level I.

Similar jobs