The Peer Specialist needs to be able to understand, share, and discuss multiple frameworks for understanding life experiences such as homelessness and mental illness with participants and the rest of the S:US team. Peer Specialists intentionally use language in the service of listening to understand and making space for complex personal stories of recovery and resilience.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Empathize and relate to tenants of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds disclosing where appropriate their own recovery story
• Empower tenants to continue making positive progress towards recovery by helping to connect with self-help activities and providing advocacy
• Adhere to on call cell phone system to facilitate crisis intervention, emergencies and other situations that require immediate action.
• Willing and able to complete any additional assigned duties given by Program Director, Assistant Program Director, Regional Director and or Vice Presidents.
• Making positive and productive progress toward his or her own recovery.
• Demonstrate good interpersonal communications skills and the ability to empathize with, relate to and effectively work with participants of mental health services.
• Two years of active participation in mental health self-help activities, peer support or peer advocacy programs, or participant run organizations or similar experiences or programs required.
• Must be able to disclose their recovery story (where appropriate) for empowerment.
• Excellent judgment/ ability to understand boundaries when working with participants of mental health services is required.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• HSD or equivalent required
• Peer Certification for NYS OASAS or NYS OMH is a requirement, individuals who are not certified must work towards achieving certification upon employment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• College or continuing education preferred
• Basic computer skills (e.g. MS Office suite and Windows)
• Bilingual English/Spanish speaking preferred

S:US IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

Join a team of employees who care about the wellbeing of others. We believe in fostering a culture built on our core values: respect, integrity, support, maximizing individual potential and continuous quality improvement. From health and wellness resources to generous PTO, professional development, and more, explore all that we offer on our Benefits Page and see how S:US invests in you. 

We believe in fostering a culture built on our core values: respect, integrity, support, maximizing individual potential and continuous quality improvement.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information and including all other statuses protected by Federal, State and Local laws. S:US is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities, including allowance of the use of services animals. To request reasonable accommodation or if you believe such a request was improperly handled or denied, contact the Leave Team at MyMedicalLeave@sus.org.