Organization: People USA – Non-Profit Peer Run Behavorial, Mental Health, Recovery, and Wellness
Position: Ulster Recovery Specialist
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 40 Hours Per Week
Location: Kingston, NY
Position Description & Responsibilities:
Recovery Specialist assists individuals with psychiatric diagnoses to participate in diverse, person-centered, self-directed services and meaningful activities that promote empowerment and robust recovery. They provide direct contact, outreach, curriculum development, group facilitation, counseling, mentoring, systems navigation, community oversight and crisis support as needed. This position assists with Recovery groups at their assigned location and Nights Out/Mixers on a rotating basis.
- Maintains regular meaningful contact with clients (amount determined by clients), with no less than one (1) face-to-face and two (2) additional indirect contacts per month.
- Educates clients on useful health & wellness topics, including but not limited to
- Peer/Self-help Resources
- Recovery from Mental Health Challenges (from a Psychiatric Rehabilitation perspective)
- Wellness & Whole Health (SAMHSA’s Eight Dimensions of Wellness)
- Community Resources (across all domains of health, e.g.: physical, mental, substance use, socio-economic determinants of health)
- Trauma & Healing
- Wellness Planning & Prevention (e.g., WRAP)
- Natural Supports (developing/maintaining).
- 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).
- Provides peer support, sharing stories, personal feelings, information, and strategies for living well.
- 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.
- Submits fully completed monthly reports on time.
- Regularly attend related meetings, including Reach One Regional Meetings
- 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.
- Align all behaviors with core values that promote trauma-informed care, customer engagement and satisfaction, mutuality & empathy, and a philosophical commitment that everyone can and will recover.
- Staff must document their time in Kronos effectively. Staff cannot work over their positions allotted hours without Supervisor approval.
- Provide direct contact, outreach, curriculum development, group facilitation, counseling, mentoring, systems navigation, community oversight and crisis support as needed to individuals with psychiatric diagnoses.
- Deliver peer support locally at libraries, coffee shops, community centers, traditional service environments, shelters, jails, street outreach locations such as bridges and tunnels, at home, etc.
- Assist individuals with finding educational opportunities, employment, social activities and home health integration of services.
- Advocate for each person by understanding who the person is now, his/her life experiences, and his/her goals for the future. Interview those individuals who are of primary importance to the potential participant.
- Work with participants toward their recovery goals, both individually and in group settings in various locations/environments.
- Must be cognizant of all relevant employment, educational, housing, entitlement and social support in the community and proactively facilitate connection to these services with participants as needed.
REQUIREMENTS:
- This position requires a thorough understanding of the process and the possibility of robust recovery for people diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities. People with personal experience as a recipient of mental health services and/or of personal recovery are encouraged to apply.
- Honesty, respect for diversity, high personal standards, professional language and behaviors reflecting such values and the Independent Living philosophy.
- Knowledge of ADA, mental health laws and systems, Social Security Programs, Work Incentives, Entitlement Programs, supported employment, Federal/state/local services, laws, and systems related to individuals with disabilities.
- High School Diploma or Equivalent is required.
- Ability to obtain the NY State Peer Specialist Certification.
- Must have demonstrated knowledge of histories, patterns, and issues contributing to Mental Health and Substance Abuse recidivism.
- Demonstrated ability to recognize the need for and facilitate connections between consumers and services.
- Knowledge of local, statewide, and national disability-related issues and community dynamics.
- Excellent written and verbal presentation skills.
- Must be able to work evenings and weekend hours.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Seeking candidates who have been recipients of mental health services and have personally navigated the mental health system.
- Completion of the Academy of Peer Services Training
- Minimum of 2 years of experience working with individuals with mental health diagnoses. Advocacy of two or more years preferred.
- Valid and Clean Driver's License
- Knowledge of ASL is also desirable.
Director of Employment and Recovery Services - Angela Nkrumah
