Peer Specialist - IMT

Job Description

Job Description

Founded in 1974, Community Access continues to uphold and operate as a pioneer of supportive housing and social services in NYC for people with mental health concerns. We proudly lead advocacy efforts that rally our community to promote human rights, social justice, and economic opportunities for all. We are built upon the simple truth that people are experts in their own lives. Our programs are spread across 25 locations and include over 1200 units of supportive housing in three boroughs, the Howie the Harp Advocacy Center, Peer-driven Crisis Respite Center, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and the Intensive Mobile Team (IMT).

Program/Department Description

Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) is an innovative, creative, trauma-informed mobile practice model designed to provide treatment, rehabilitation and support services to individuals whose needs have not been met by traditional services. IMT participants interact with homeless services, criminal justice, and behavioral health service systems. IMT teams are hired, trained and funded to maximize flexibility and continuity of care for persons who historically have been poorly served.

Community Access’ IMT Teams serve individuals who are street homeless or living between institutional settings and housing. Team members work collaboratively with settings in which the participant is living and use assertive engagement strategies to proactively engage individuals in services. IMT team members share responsibility for the people they serve, helping individuals attain housing and other personal and safety goals that may be of a health, social, work or education nature.

IMT teams are multi-disciplinary and include psychiatry, nursing, social work, peer specialists and other staff members offering rehabilitation, treatment and recovery support services. The team provides expertise in the areas of housing, substance use and harm reduction, criminal justice, peer support and behavioral health recovery. Based on their area of expertise, team members collaborate to deliver comprehensive, integrated and flexible services that are responsive to a participant’s choices, needs and goals. With a small staff to participant ratio, services are brought to the participant and offered in natural settings, 24 hours a day and seven days a week

Position Overview

The Peer Specialist is an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team of mental health clinicians. The Peer Specialist is a resource to participants and other team members in issues related to integrating wellness goals. The Peer Specialist is an individual with the lived experience within the mental health system who has a willingness to share personal and practical experience, knowledge, and first-hand insight to benefit IMT program participants; recovery experience related to substance use services or criminal justice system preferred. The Peer Specialist engages and builds trusting relationships with program participants and their networks to support the person’s recovery.

Key Performance Indicators

All key performance indicators below are expected to be met fully.

• Complete assessments and service plans as needed; assigned assessments are completed on time.
• Complete progress notes for all contacts, collaterals, and engagement attempts within 2 business days.

Job Qualifications

• Have an understanding, appreciation, and commitment to the philosophy and mission of Community Access.
• Commitment to person-centered treatment strategies, upholding participants’ rights, and self-determination in service provision.
• New York Certified Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or Provisional, or Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) required.
• Lived experience within the mental health system required, and a history of homelessness, involvement with the criminal justice system, and experience with substance use services, preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience working with individuals with a mental health condition, substance use disorder, and / or history of trauma.
• Available to work a flexible schedule, mornings, evenings and weekends in response to participant needs.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Be creative and flexible.
• Able to show initiative and be responsible for follow-through.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Be skilled in conflict mediation/negotiation and have an assertive approach to problem solving.
• Must be able to work in the community, including use of public transportation across the boroughs
• Computer proficiency in Windows operating systems and programs, such as MS Word and Excel, as well as comfort with learning new electronic systems.
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking, preferred
• Must be fingerprinted and cleared by the New York State Justice Center.  

Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should apply on

Community Access is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/D/V.

Women, People of Color and Members of the LGBT community are strongly encouraged to apply.

We are dedicated to a workforce where at least 51% of our employees identify as having a personal experience using mental health services.