Per Diem Mobile Crisis Peer Specialist

Job Title: Mobile Crisis Peer Specialist – Per Diem

Job Location: Garrison, NY

Work Schedule: Per Diem: as needed Monday through Friday – 12 PM to 8 PM

Payrate: $24.03 per hour

People USA is seeking a per diem Mobile Peer Specialist who will provide people living with mental health, substance use, or social determinants of health issues with peer advocacy and crisis intervention throughout the Putnam County area. Using the mutuality of shared lived experiences, the Peer Specialists will help people get started on and continue their own positive pathways to behavioral health and wellness.

The Putnam County Mobile Crisis Outreach Team provides community-based crisis response and interventions including triage, screening, assessment, referrals/linkage to appropriate care, as well as care collaboration with community providers and follow-up services.

• Address referrals from community providers, including referrals via warm hand-offs.
• Work in collaboration with community providers, team members, and external partners.
• Build peer-to-peer connections/relationships based on mutuality (shared lived experiences), empathy, and hope for recovery/wellness (peers-as-proof).
• Advocate for the participant by understanding the individual through a trauma-informed lens.
• Support participants toward recovery goals and wellness goals related to SAMHSA’s 8 Dimensions of Wellness.
• Directly connect individuals to appropriate levels of care and community resources as appropriate.
• Triage and screen referrals, support participants through safety planning in conjunction with MCOT clinician.
• Provide follow-up support for participants.
• Complete documentation according to Agency and Program policies and procedures.
• Consistently support People USA’s mission to instill a sense of hope, empowerment, and self-determination in people living with mental health concerns that fosters a sense of recovery and a transition to wellness.
• Other duties as assigned.
• The Peer Specialist will represent the peer perspective (i.e., persons with lived experiences with behavioral health challenges).

• Honesty, respect for diversity, high personal standards, language, and behaviors reflect such values.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize the need for and facilitate connections between consumers and the community.
• Understanding of available community support.
• Working knowledge of confidentiality requirements related to records pertaining to Mental Health and Chemical Dependency laws.
• Must have good time management skills and be self-directing.
• Must have reliable transportation - Personal Preferred.
• Must have a Valid/Clean Driver's License to meet company's insurance standards.
• High School Diploma Required.

• At least two years in recovery from acute care environment.
• Completion of the Academy of Peer Services Training and the ability to obtain the NY State Peer Specialist Certification.
• A shared vision of hope for people experiencing a crisis.
• Work or Volunteer experience providing peer support, advocacy, or human services; experience with Crisis preferred.
• Basic knowledge of community support services/resources.
• Completion of Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) training (preferred).
• Understanding of recovery and wellness vs. illness-based system (preferred).
• Demonstrated knowledge of histories, patterns and issues relating to mental health and substance use crisis.
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.

Reports to Program Director - Putnam Mobile Crisis