Peer Specialist - Psychiatric ED #85 - St. John's Episcopal Hospital

Who We Are:

St. John’s Episcopal Hospital is the only hospital providing emergency and ambulatory care to the densely populated, culturally and economically diverse, and medically underserved populations of the Rockaways and Five Towns in southern Queens County and southwestern Nassau County, New York. Celebrating over 110 years of community care, the 257-bed facility provides people of all faiths with comprehensive preventive, diagnostic treatment and rehabilitative services, regardless of ability to pay.

Come Grow With Us!

Type: Full Time

Shift: Days

Hours: Varies

Pay: $22.50 - $23.75 / Hour

Job Description:

Under supervision, peer counselors provide direct services to health consumers in emergency, inpatient, outpatient, home and specialized settings. Works in close collaboration with staff, consumers and other caregivers in planning and implementing treatment plans. Empowers peers to advocate for themselves, resolve issues or problems and plan for their futures by serving as a role model.

Responsibilities:

• Provides orientation, companionship, and support to persons seeking mental health services in the behavioral health units; Acts as a liaison and support to patients being admitted to inpatient and outpatient units.
• Uses personal experience, serves as a role model and encourages mental health wellness and recovery.
• Provides supportive peer counseling with respect to mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation strategies and self-help opportunities; Assists patients in identifying their warning signs of relapse and developing coping strategies.
• Leads or co-leads groups including, but not limited to, substance abuse, mental health wellness and recovery.
• Clarifies issues for the patient and assists with the process of referral for treatment, rehabilitation, housing and social services.
• Acts as a liaison with community and governmental agencies.
• Serve as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team in determining and implementing a comprehensive plan of care. Assists Mobile Crisis Team as needed by providing peer support in the community.
• Contributes to departmental QA and PI initiatives.
• Provide brief follow-up intervention services to patients that have been discharged until connections in the community are made. May accompany patient on visits to initial treatment appointments as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• A High school diploma or its educational equivalent.
• Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one (1) year of full-time satisfactory experience working with consumers of mental health services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate or in related human services
• Demonstrates a capacity to work collaboratively in a team setting, with an ability to listen to others, participate actively, and take appropriate responsibilities.