Peer Advocate

Position Summary:

Community Outreach & Engagement Peer

The primary focus is to outreach and engage to those individuals who are not already involved in treatment and who may be in pre-contemplation stage and making steps toward treatment & recovery. This peer will also work with clinic staff and other community-based programs in keeping individuals engaged in a recovery support system of care.

The Peer Advocate functions as a support for individuals throughout Steuben County with assistance in recovery for Substance Abuse Disorder(s), Mental Health condition(s) or both. As individuals are engaged and interested in clinical services, referrals will be made to Steuben County Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services (SCASAS).

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Promotes skills for coping with and managing behavioral health symptoms through recovery-oriented principles.
• Offers peer support using trauma-informed, nonclinical assistance with the goal of assisting individuals achieve long term recovery.
• Models recovery and provide companionship to individuals in the community.
• Provides advocacy, outreach and engagement, recovery supports, transitional supports and pre-crisis and crisis supports to individuals in the community.
• Raises awareness of local resources, pathways to recovery and helps individuals remove barriers to access.
• Helps individuals link to community services to assist with housing, financial support, counseling, self-help and medical care.
• Case by case basis, assistance with scheduling appointments, community transportation, an possible accompaniment to scheduled appointments.
• Provides person centered goal planning that includes relapse prevention.
• Helps individuals as they transition from one setting to another such as bridging from structured behavioral health programs to independent living, outpatient to community-based supports, hospital or jail to community settings.
• Communicates effectively and works cooperatively with colleagues and community professionals.
• Communicates progress and/or concerns to supervisor on a consistent basis.
• Provides crisis management as needed, identifying symptoms of decomposition.
• Documentation of encounters.
• Create and maintain detailed and accurate, service plan, progress/encounter note and discharge plan documentation within the participant record detailing progress toward attainment of recovery service plan in accordance with funding regulations, agency policy, procedure, or business practice.
• Provide emotional support, companionship and advocacy when an individual is in an emergency room or crisis unit or other service to deal with crisis.
• Ensure that the rights and confidentiality of the client are protected.
• Successfully complete any training required by the agency and for certification.
• Attend staff meetings, treatment team/provider meetings, and staff development/training seminars in accordance with agency policy, procedure, or business practice.
• Engage with other community agencies via tabling events as needed.
• All other duties as assigned by Program Coordinator.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

I. Successfully pass the NYS Justice Center background check including fingerprinting, State Central Registry, OMIG Exclusion and State Exclusion List.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Adheres to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations including, but not limited to, those governing confidentiality, privacy, program, billing and documentation standards.
• Skilled at practicing the core competencies of peer advocates, specialists, coaches.
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor when handling difficult situations.
• Abides by ethical codes of conduct established by credential and agency standards.
• Strict adherence to confidentiality requirements of the peer support credential.
• Demonstrate commitment to Agency Mission Statement.
• Provide effective, equitable, understandable and respectful quality care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, health literacy and other communication needs.
• Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize duties.
• Possession of a valid NYS Driver's license and a driver's record considered acceptable by agency and insurance carrier.
• Working knowledge of community resources and funding systems external to the agency.

Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Use hands to manipulate, handle, feel, and control items or equipment, including motor vehicle;
• Stand, sit, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, and reach;
• Climb up or down stairs;
• Able to reach above or below shoulders;
• Occasionally lift or move objects weighing up to 10 lbs
• Be able to read write and interpret written documents;

QUALIFICATIONS:

High School Diploma or GED required and a clean Driving Record. Possess a CPRA or CPRA Provisional and be willing to obtain you CPRA with in a year of employment. Must successfully complete the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC-RC exam).

• Be willing to self-disclose one's recovery journey and model that experience,
• Attest to the NYPSCB Code of Ethical Conduct
• Possess knowledge of recovery to assist others in their own recovery

The person hired for this position will be an employee of Family Service Society, but assigned to work in Steuben County under the supervision of Steuben County Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (SCASAS).

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: Up to $19.00 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Are you in possession of a valid Driver's License?
• Do you have personal experience with substance use recovery (self or family) and are you comfortable using your story to support others (Lived experience requirement).

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

License/Certification:

• Certified Peer Recovery Advocate or CPRA Provisional. (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Bath, NY 14810 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $19