Peer Specialist - Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center : Job Details

The Bedford-Stuyvesant Family Health Center (BSFHC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves all of the primary health care needs of families in the heart of North and Central Brooklyn. Our mission is to provide the most professional, courteous and highest quality health care, with dignity, to those we serve, especially the undeserved population, without regard for ability to pay. Peer Specialist function as part of the team concept in the Center's health delivery system, which is devoted to the delivery of integrated behavioral health and primary care in an ambulatory setting with emphasis on prevention and health maintenance.Duties and Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Provide pre-crisis, post-crisis, and transitional support to patients, helping them develop self-help strategies, manage mental illness, and build healthy community networks.
• Use a person-centered approach to empower participants to live safely and independently in the community.
• Implement individualized support plans, connecting participants with resources and services to aid in their recovery. Promote and explore positive social activities and community integration.
• Support clients in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals.
• Provide resources and connect individuals to appropriate and available support services.
• Lead as well as teach members how to facilitate Recovery Dialogues and overcome relapse fears.
• Utilize the personal lived experience with mental and emotional and /or substance abuse challenges to empower individuals served by the program to define and pursue their own strength-based recovery and wellness goals.
• Assist clients in building social skills in the community that will enhance their quality of life.
• Document all services and outreach efforts via progress notes in the EHR within 24hours.
• Collaborate with provider regarding the coordination of care and services.
• Maintain positive working relationships with patients staff, individuals and visitors.
• Performs other duties, consistent with the goals and objectives of the program, as directed
• Providing interpretation, follow-up, and case management for health and social services
• Building rapport with patients provide ongoing follow-up, support, and advocacy.
• De-escalates clients in the waiting area who are having a hard time. Moves clients who are struggling with psychotic symptoms or severe anxiety to waiting areas with less stimulus.Fields all calls to behavioral health and alerts providers of emergencies or whether there is problem with a prescriptiona client needs a prior authorization

Education and Experience:

• High School graduation or evidence of having satisfactory passed a High School Equivalency Program; and
• 5 years of professional Behavioral Health experience; or
• An equivalent combination of training, education, and experience
• Knowledge of the concerns and challenges of persons living with SMI and/or SUD; AND/OR
• Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.
• Knowledge and skill to teach and engage in basic problem-solving strategies to support individual clients in self-directed recovery.
• Knowledge to use community resources necessary for independent living and ability to teach those skills to other individuals with severe mental illness.
• Preferred: Certified as a Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or Peer Specialist-Provisional (NYCPS-P) issued by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB) or have equivalent experience.

Other Related Skills/Experience and requirements:

• Must be flexible with scheduling
• Maintain HIPPA patient/employee confidentiality
• Excellent interpersonal skills must demonstrate professionalism, courteous and respectful attitude in dealing with patients, team members, families and significant others
• Display courtesy, tact and patience with all members of the team members and extended community
• Ensure that all patients and visitors receive personalized prompt attention and are treated with receptiveness, dignity and respect

Benefits Overview:We offer attractive compensation with comprehensive benefits including: Generous Paid Vacations and Holidays. Medical, 401k Retirement Plan with discretionary Match, Free Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability, Commuter Tax Savings Plan.Hourly rate: $22 and based on experienceBSFHC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER