PEER SPECIALIST - CRPA

Job Description

Job Description

Established in 1926, Family Service League is a social services agency transforming lives and communities through mental health, addiction, housing, and essential human services with more than 60 social service programs in over 20 locations.

SCHEDULE

Monday- Friday

Evenings and weekends required as needed.

SUMMARY

Family Service League is seeking a full-time Peer Specialist for the Outreach and Engagement Team (OET) in Mastic, NY. The Peer Specialist will provide peer support and linkage within a multidisciplinary team to those struggling with substance use and other co-occurring disorders via street outreach and referrals from internal and external sources.

Recovery Peer Advocate Certification or willing to become certified as a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) that meets NYS OASAS Guidelines required.

We offer a generous benefits package including the following:

• Health and Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Retirement Savings Plan with a 5% employer contribution
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Generous PTO (paid time off)
• Up to 11 paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave
• Student Tuition Remission Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Employee Discounts and more!

RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Peer Specialist will conduct community-based work that serves all of Suffolk County focusing on substance use disorders but not limited to the full range of DSM diagnoses, including mental health.
• Provide person centered care and share lived experience to facilitate engagement.
• Provide outreach and peer support to clients and/or their families in the field, by phone and in person.
• Provide warm and supportive hand-off to all levels of treatment.
• Provide recovery readiness support through linkage to community resources.
• Utilize motivational interviewing to assist individuals in readiness for change.
• Provide outreach to clients in order to facilitate their engagement in services and offer additional support so they can engage in treatment and live successfully in the community.
• Engage with outside providers to complete community/homeless outreach to provide harm reduction education and supplies, linkage to services, and support.
• Work closely with law enforcement to accept referrals and provide a co-response to individuals who are homeless or have substance/alcohol concerns in the community.
• Conduct individual and group sessions alongside other FSL clinics and programs.
• Participate in crisis assessments and de-escalation services.
• Coordinate with collateral contacts, including family and other providers.
• The Peer Specialist will provide opioid overdose and harm reduction education and train individuals and families to use Narcan.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary team on clients needing assessments, support, and linkage.
• Attend events in representation of the agency, including resources fairs, etc.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, partnering with Social Workers, Peers and CASACs to work collaboratively on clients needing assessments and linkage.
• The Peer Specialist will coordinate care planning with other providers of services/resources to ensure goal directed, collaborative care, including care transitions.
• Act as a resource to all team members on community-based recovery supports.
• Complete thorough and timely documentation according to regulations in the agency Electronic Health Record.
• Complete trainings and maintain proficiency with de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally.
• Foster teamwork, work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems and make decisions.
• Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities.
• Assess situations to determine importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
• Field work is required
• All other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

High School diploma or equivalent required.

Certified Peer Specialist or Credentialed Family Peer Advocate or working towards certification required.

Prior experience as a peer, paid or volunteer, preferred.

Relevant life experience required and willingness to draw upon this experience to engage individuals and serve as a role model.

Excellent interpersonal skills and strong verbal and written communication skills required.

Ability to problem solve, make clear decisions and work as part of a team required.

Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office and Electronic Health Records required.

Bilingual Spanish strongly preferred.

Some evening and weekend hours may be required.

Valid and clean NYS Driver’s License required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to sit and stand for long periods of time.