Peer Counselor Level II

About the role

Marketing Statement NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx (NCB) is a member facility of the New York City Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, NCBH specializes in women’s and children’s services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. It’s Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 800 babies into the world each year. NCBH is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need. At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Responsibilities

• 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).
• May make 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.
• Assists the consumer in completing applications and paper work for public entitlements and may accompany consumer on visits to agency offices and treatment programs.
• Acts as a liaison with community and governmental agencies.
• Facilitates the establishment of 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.
• Acts as preceptor to Peer Counselors in Assignment Level I.
• Provides education training on recipient issues to mental health and other human services providers.
• Advocates for the needs of people with psychiatric disabilities within the mental health system and within service delivery systems.
• Participates in utilization review and quality improvement activities.

Requirements

• For Assignments in Comprehensive Emergency Psychiatric Programs (CPEPs): Certification, which must be maintained for the assignment’s duration, 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