The Certified Peer Specialist is a valued member of the interdisciplinary outpatient behavioral health team who uses their lived experience of mental health and/or substance use recovery to inspire hope, promote resiliency, and support individuals in achieving their self-identified recovery goals.
The Peer Specialist provides recovery-oriented, person-centered peer support services to individuals receiving care in an OMH Article 31 Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Services (MHOTRS) program.
Services include individual and group peer support, psychoeducation, recovery coaching, advocacy, community linkage, wellness planning, and skill development. The Peer Specialist partners with individuals to build confidence, increase self-advocacy, strengthen natural supports, develop coping strategies, and promote meaningful community participation while collaborating with the interdisciplinary treatment team.
All services are provided in accordance with OMH regulations, MHOTRS guidance, organizational policies, and the New York Certified Peer Specialist Code of Ethics.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide recovery-oriented peer support services utilizing lived experience in a purposeful, ethical, and person-centered manner.
- Establish supportive relationships that foster hope, empowerment, resilience, and recovery.
- Conduct peer support sessions using evidence-informed recovery principles.
- Assist individuals in identifying personal strengths, goals, and wellness strategies while navigating behavioral health, medical, and community support systems.
- Support the development of Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP) and other recovery planning tools, when appropriate.
- Connect individuals with community resources, benefits, housing, employment, education, transportation, and other recovery supports.
- Promote engagement in treatment and reduce barriers to care.
- Collaborate and communicate changes in an individuals functioning with a multidisciplinary treatment team.
- Participate in treatment planning meetings, case conferences, and supervision as needed.
- Complete timely, accurate, and compliant documentation within the Electronic Health Record.
- Maintain confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, OMH regulations, and organizational policies.
- Maintain professional boundaries while appropriately utilizing lived experience.
- Participate in required trainings, supervision, quality improvement initiatives, and continuing education.
- Perform other duties as assigned to deliver effective treatment and client satisfaction.
The ideal candidate will:
Demonstrate competency with Problem Solving: Uses sound judgment to identify concerns, evaluate options, and assist individuals in developing practical, recovery-oriented solutions while recognizing situations requiring clinical intervention.
Technical Skills
Demonstrates proficiency with Electronic Health Records (EHR), Microsoft Office, telehealth platforms, documentation standards, and technology necessary for service delivery.
Customer Service
Provides compassionate, respectful, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented services while promoting dignity, inclusion, and person-centered care.
Interpersonal Skills
Develops trusting relationships through empathy, active listening, professionalism, and collaboration while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
Written & Oral Communication
Communicates effectively with clients, families, community providers, and members of the interdisciplinary treatment team. Produces timely, accurate, organized documentation that complies with organizational and regulatory standards.
Case Management Collaboration
Assists individuals with resource linkage, advocacy, care coordination, and navigation of community supports while collaborating with clinical staff.
Ethics
Maintains compliance with the New York Certified Peer Specialist Code of Ethics, HIPAA regulations, OMH guidance, and organizational policies.
Organizational Support
Supports the mission, vision, values, and goals of the organization.
Strategic Thinking
Identifies opportunities to improve engagement, recovery outcomes, and service delivery.
Planning and Organizing
Effectively manages time, prioritizes responsibilities, completes documentation timely, and meets deadlines.
Professionalism
Demonstrates integrity, accountability, confidentiality, ethical conduct, and respectful communication.
Productivity
Meets established productivity expectations while maintaining quality service delivery.
Innovation
Take initiative and develop creative ideas for recovery groups, wellness activities, engagement strategies, and peer programming.
Qualifications:
- Current New York Certified Peer Specialist (NYCPS) certification or New York Certified Peer Specialist-Provisional (NYCPS-P) required.
- Demonstrated lived experience with mental health recovery and willingness to appropriately utilize lived experience in supporting others.
- Knowledge of recovery-oriented, person-centered, and trauma-informed care.
- Ability to comply with the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board Code of Ethics.
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary treatment team.
- High School Diploma or GED required.
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field preferred.
- Experience providing peer support, advocacy, mentoring, group facilitation, or community outreach preferred.
- Experience working within behavioral health or recovery-oriented programs preferred.
- Experience working in an MHOTRS program is a PLUS.
- Spanish speaking is a PLUS
Apply today and help us bring hope and healing to families across New York — one client at a time.