Peer Specialist

Job description

Job Title: Peer Specialist
Job Summary:
CASES is a New York City agency working at the forefront of the intersection between behavioral health and involvement in the criminal justice system. Our mission is to increase public safety through innovative services that reduce crime and incarceration, improve behavioral health, promote recovery and rehabilitation, and create opportunities for success in the community. The Behavioral Health division consists of a continuum of services for justice-involved individuals with serious mental illness, including outpatient clinic, health home care management (HHCM), assertive community treatment (ACT), and intensive mobile treatment (IMT).
IMT is a multi-disciplinary team of behavioral health professionals (e.g., psychiatric care providers, registered nurses, behavioral health specialists, peer support staff) who work with 27 clients identified by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Single Point of Access (SPOA) who have frequent movement across the behavioral health care system (outpatient and inpatient), the housing system (shelter, street, supportive, and independent housing) and the criminal justice system (jail, probation, parole); existing underlying risk of violence and/or violent behavior; serious mental illness diagnosis; and/or a history of, or active use of, substances.
IMT services include assessment and treatment planning, crisis intervention, medication management, medication assisted treatment, integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment, individual and group therapies, psycho-education, psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation, assistance with medical concerns and medication, linkage and follow-up assistance to primary medical care including on-going communication with primary care physicians, assistance with activities of daily living, assistance obtaining entitlements, housing procurement and support, linkage/coordination with the criminal justice system, and shelter system, and assistance in using family and community resources. The primary goal of IMT is engagement and improving clients’ quality of life through engagement in treatment, rehabilitation, housing and support services that promote wellness, recovery, community integration as well as community safety.
Shift Hours: This position is full-time Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Salary: The salary range for this role is $51,500 - $53,045 per year
Location Address: 2090 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10027. Our office is easily accessible by public transportation.
Workplace Flexibility: Flexible (for roles that have days that can be partially remote, e.g., being able to draft notes at home after going to the office/community in the morning).
What You Will Be Doing:
• Build relationships with clients and their networks of support in order to provide hope and support the person’s recovery.
• Assist clients with navigating the service systems, including behavioral and medical health, criminal justice, shelter system, entitlements and transportation.
• Complete progress notes in the electronic health record within a timely manner for all services provided. Complete other assessments, such as crisis relapse prevention plans.
• Work with external stakeholders – such as hospitals, shelters, jails, primary care – to achieve positive client outcomes.
• Provide services in a strengths-based, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive manner.

What We Are Looking For:
• Personal experience as a recipient of mental health services, substance use services and/or the criminal justice system.
• Willingness to share personal, practical experience, knowledge, and first-hand insight to benefit program enrollees.
• Experience working with adults who have needs in the areas of mental health, substance use, trauma, violence risk, homelessness, frequent psychiatric hospitalizations, and criminal-justice involvement.
• Strong commitment to social justice and the CASES mission.

Preferred Skills:
• Previous use of an electronic health record, Footholds AWARDS preferred.
• Experience in a multidisciplinary setting and field-based clinical work preferred.
• Peer certification preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish a plus.

Employee Benefits:
CASES cares about employee wellbeing, and we offer a comprehensive benefits package to support you and your family, including:
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off – starting at 25 days-off annually
• 12 Paid Holidays per year
• Retirement 403b Competitive matching up to 6%
• Employee Referral Program
• Visit www.cases.org/careers/ to learn more about benefits offered by the CASES

Our Values
At CASES, we like to move with PURPOSE , which reflects our values:
PEOPLE| Hold people’s stories with dignity
UNITY| Commit to a shared mission
RESPECT| Celebrate the strength of diversity
PROGRESS| Always work to improve
OPTIMIZE| Make the best use of resources
SOLUTIONS| Work together to solve problems
EMPATHY| Seek to understand others
Although we would love to learn about the skills of every candidate, only selected candidates that are selected will receive a response. We encourage you to apply for any position(s) you feel you are qualified for.
CASES is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with CASES is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital, military, or citizenship status. We also actively recruit individuals with prior involvement in the criminal legal system.
Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
35 hours per week excluding breaks