About the Role
The Adult Certified Peer Specialist (NYCPS) uses lived experience of mental health recovery to provide non-clinical, recovery-oriented support to adult clients at HSVS’s OMH-licensed MHOTRS clinic. The Peer Specialist offers one-to-one support, co-facilitates groups, assists with navigation and self-advocacy, and partners with the multidisciplinary team to strengthen engagement, hope, and self-management. This role is supervised by licensed clinical staff and complements, but does not duplicate, clinical services.
Responsibilities
- Provide individual peer support (in-person, telehealth, and community-based) focused on recovery goals, wellness planning, coping skills, and system navigation.
- Facilitate or co-facilitate peer-led groups (e.g., recovery, wellness, social connection, skills practice).
- Use intentional, appropriate self-disclosure to promote hope and model recovery; maintain professional boundaries.
- Conduct outreach and engagement, including pre-admission contacts to help prospective clients enter care.
- Coordinate warm handoffs with clinicians; participate in treatment planning, case conferences, and team meetings.
- Support linkage to community resources (benefits, housing, employment/education, social supports).
- Promote person-first, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed care.
- Complete strengths-based progress notes for each contact, linking to treatment goals; record start/stop times for 15‑minute unit billing.
- Use EHR templates for Peer Support; follow confidentiality/HIPAA and agency documentation standards.
- Pre-admission peer contacts: obtain Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts (LPHA) co-sign prior to billing.
- Accurately log units for HCPCS H0038 (HE); add HQ for group services per policy; adhere to daily unit limits.
Requirements
- High school diploma required.
- Lived experience of mental health recovery and a willingness to share one's recovery story in service to others required.
- New York State Certified Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or Provisional NYCPS required.
- Candidates hired with a provisional certification must obtain full certification within 12 months of hire.
- Experience working in behavioral health, peer-run, or human services settings preferred.
- Strong communication, empathy, boundary-setting, and teamwork skills; comfort with basic technology/EHR.
- Bilingual capability (Spanish/English or other community languages) strongly preferred.
- Commitment to recovery-oriented, person-centered, and culturally responsive practice.
- Completion of agency orientation (documentation, telehealth, crisis escalation, safety) and ongoing CE.
- Ability to travel locally within Brooklyn/NYC as needed (no client transport in personal vehicle).
Skills
- Communication
- Empathy
- Boundary-setting
- Teamwork
- Basic technology/EHR proficiency
- Bilingual capability (Spanish/English or other community languages) preferred
Location
- 66 Boerum Place, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
Work Type
- Full-Time
- Travel Percentage: Up to 25%
Education Level
- High School Diploma or Equivalent
Salary/Compensations
- $22.11 - $25.00 Hourly
Benefits
- Rewarding work in a team environment.
- Paid vacation, sick, personal days, and holidays.
- 403(B) retirement plans with employer contribution.
- Health, dental, vision and life insurance.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Flexible spending account (Dependent Care, Medical, Parking, and Transit).
- Employee appreciation programs and events.
- Tuition assistance program.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Wellhub discount
- Verizon Wireless discount.
- BJs membership discount.
- Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & more.
About the Company
- For over 150 years, Heartshare has been dedicated to championing and empowering New Yorkers society has too often overlooked and underestimated.
- HeartShare Human Services of New York nurtures and empowers children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Equal Opportunity
- HeartShare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).
- If you need to request accommodation during the recruiting process, please reach out to Leaves@heartshare.org.
