Embedded Peer Specialist

Embedded Peer Specialist

People USA will provide Dutchess County with an Embedded Peer Specialist in Poughkeepsie, NY who will support the daily operations. The Embedded Peer Specialist provides peer support for each participant in Mid-Hudson Regional Psychiatric Unit. The Peer is available to instill hope, support wellness and demonstrate that recovery is real and does happen. Peers model and utilize trauma-informed techniques and tools, help participants set goals and engage in community and social events. The Embedded Peer Specialist will conduct groups at the Mid-Hudson Regional Psychiatric Unit three days per week and provide support to community members in the office setting two days per week.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide support for participants to divert hospitalization after discharge.
• Share personal experience and encourage mental health wellness and recovery.
• Assist in connection with mental health services, community resources, entitlements, and other services as needed.
• Model and utilize Trauma Informed techniques and tools as outlined in the following training: Intentional Peer Support (IPS), Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Mental Health First Aid, Emotional CPR (eCPR), Motivational Interviewing, Safe TALK, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), People, Inc. In-House Peer Advocacy Training, and Crisis Diversion / Respite House Training.
• Complete all necessary Academy of Peer Services (APS) online learning and complete NY State Peer Specialist Certification Application.
• Provide telephone support to peers.
• Help maintain a clean, safe, and secure trauma-informed environment. Educates clients on useful health & wellness topics, including but not limited to: Peer/Self-help Resources, Helps clients to identify barriers to their recovery journeys or personal wellness, including issues related to access, quality of care, people's rights, lack of basic needs, and stigma & discrimination, Advocates for client's side-by-side to overcome identified barriers, making sure their voices are heard, and their decisions are understood and respected, Builds peer-to-peer connections/relationships based on mutuality (shared lived experiences), empathy, and hope for recovery/wellness (peers-as-proof), Coaches clients to identify & accomplish whole health goals related to the Eight Dimensions of Wellness (emotional, social, physical, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, spiritual), Directly connects people to the services and supports they need through direct bridging/linking (as opposed to referrals only).
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with other provider agencies, and local housing providers (landlords) within the county and its surrounding environs.
• Documents all meaningful interactions in electronic records software and maintain hard copies in clients' files.
• Consistently support People USA's mission to instill a sense of hope, empowerment, and self-determination in people living with mental illness that fosters recovery and a transition to wellness.
• Staff must advocate for individuals on the inpatient unit, and also assist those in the community once discharged.
• Time must be logged appropriately within working hours in the payroll system.

Job Requirements & Qualifications:

• High School degree or equivalency.
• Personal lived experience/s with mental illness or substance abuse preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish Preferred.
• Significant demonstrable experience in health & human services.
• Must have a clean and valid driver's license.

Reports to - Director of Peer Navigation

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement People USA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. People USA complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. People USA expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of People USAs employees to perform their expected job duties is not tolerated.