Harlem Hospital Center has been a bedrock of the Harlem community since 1887. The hospital provides a wide range of medical, surgical, diagnostic, therapeutic and family support services to the residents of Central Harlem, West Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood. Harlem is the largest hospital in the area, capable of treating the most seriously ill. Harlem provides over 90 specialized ambulatory care services, dentistry and oral surgery, behavioral health services, and community substance abuse treatment.

At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Duties & Responsibilities

Under supervision, peer counselors provide direct services to Behavioral Health consumers in Emergency, Inpatient, Outpatient, home and community settings. Peer counselors contribute to the treatment team in a variety of ways, most importantly by creating a welcoming environment for individuals with complex behavioral health, chemical dependence and/or physical health needs. Peer Counselors work in close collaboration with staff, consumers and other caregivers in planning and implementing treatment plans. They empower service recipients to self-advocate through education, self-disclosure and guidance. Peer counselors model strengths based recovery strategies that will aid service recipients to resolve problems and reach goals.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Sharing lived experience as a way of encouraging consumers on their mental health recovery journey
• Engaging patients to motivate them to set positive goals, and help them better understand the purpose and benefits of their time spent in the therapeutic milieu of the unit
• Assisting patients in seeking clarification about the treatment and recovery process during their interactions with the treatment team
• Collaborating with other treatment team members to provide advocacy, referral, and linkage to community resources and benefits.
• Documenting care provided in the patients' medical record, especially through use of Epic group flowsheets and note templates
• Participating in interdisciplinary treatment meetings to ensure that peer services provided align with goals in the comprehensive patient-centered plan of care and recovery plan.
• Exemplifying ICARE values in all their interactions with patients and colleagues
• Acts as preceptor to Peer Counselors in Assignment Level I.
• Provides education training on recipient issues to mental health and other human services providers.

Minimum Qualifications

Assignment Level I
For Assignments in Mental Health:
1. Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Counselor/Specialist Training Program; and
2. Certification as a Peer Specialist (NYCPS) issued by the Peer Specialist Certification Board.

For Assignments in Substance Use:
1. Certification as a Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) issued by the New York Certification Board.
For all other Assignments:
1. A High school diploma or its educational equivalent; and
2. Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Counselor/Specialist Training Program; or
3. 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.