Peer Counselor - Level 2

Assignment Level I

Examples of Typical Tasks :

• Assists the consumer with activities of daily living (e.g., setting-up household, public transportation, budgeting, shopping, socializing, parenting and other skills relevant to an individual’s rehabilitation goals). May make home visits.
• Leads or co-leads groups including, but not limited to, dual diagnoses issues, relapse and recovery and socialization.
• Assists the consumer in identifying their own individual warning signs of relapse and identifying and developing individual coping strategies.
• Provides supportive peer counseling with respect to mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation strategies, breast-feeding education and other self-help opportunities.
• Participates in an interdisciplinary treatment and human services team in determining and implementing a comprehensive plan of care.
• Clarifies issues for the consumer and assists with the process of referral for treatment, rehabilitation, housing and supportive services.

Follows-up to determine whether services were provided and used.

• Assists the consumer in completing applications and paper work for public entitlements and may accompany consumer on visits to agency offices and treatment programs.
• Acts as a liaison with community and governmental agencies.
• Facilitates the establishment of peer support networks, natural and social support systems.
• Maintains current, complete and appropriate documentation in the consumer record, prepares required forms, and may be required to use computer systems in carrying out these functions.

Documents in Electronic Health Record (EHR) and writes progress notes for review.

Assignment II

In addition to performing the duties of Assignment Level I at a more difficult and responsible level, performs the following tasks :

Examples of Typical Tasks :

• Acts as preceptor to Peer Counselors in Assignment Level I.
• Provides education training on recipient issues to mental health and other human services providers.
• Advocates for the needs of people with psychiatric disabilities within the mental health system and within service delivery systems.
• Participates in utilization review and quality improvement activities.

Minimum Qualification

Assignment Level I

For Assignments in Mental Health :

• Certification as a Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or Peer Specialist-Provisional (NYCPS-P) issued by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB); and
• Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Counselor / Specialist Training Program or 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.

For Assignments in Substance Use :

• Certification as a Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional (CRPA-P) issued by the New York Certification Board (ASAP-NYCB); and
• Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Counselor / Specialist Training Program or one (1) year of full-time satisfactory experience working with consumers of substance use disorder services as a peer counselor / specialist, peer advocate or in related human services.

For all other Assignments :

• Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Counselor / Specialist Training Program or 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; and
• A High school diploma or its educational equivalent.

Assignment Level II

In addition to meeting the qualification requirements of Peer Counselor Level I, assignment to Level II requires :

• One (1) additional year of experience, as described in Assignment Level I above.
4 days ago