About the Role
The ACT Certified Peer Specialist uses lived experience and recovery to build hope, strengthen engagement, and empower participants. As a valued member of the interdisciplinary team, the Certified Peer ensures that participant voice, choice, and self-determination remain central to care and treatment planning.
Responsibilities
- Use lived experience in a professional and purposeful manner to inspire hope, strengthen engagement, and support participants in their recovery journeys.
- Partner collaboratively with participants, families, team members, and community providers.
- Manage an assigned caseload and serve as chart manager for designated participants.
- Provide direct support, education, information, and skill-building services based on each participant’s goals and needs.
- Bring the participant perspective to treatment planning, team discussions, and decision-making.
- Coach, educate, encourage, and empower participants to use their voice and make informed choices about their care and lives.
- Advocate for participant preferences, strengths, goals, and choices throughout the service-planning process.
- Participate actively in interdisciplinary team meetings, trainings, care coordination, and clinical discussions.
- Help team members and community partners understand the value of participant voice, choice, and self-determination.
- Serve as a bridge between participants and professionals, fostering communication, trust, and mutual understanding.
- Participate in community outreach and represent the participant perspective with community stakeholders when appropriate.
- Support crisis intervention and other ACT services and activities as part of the interdisciplinary team.
- Contribute to quality improvement initiatives by sharing participant feedback and insights.
- Complete progress notes, assessments, treatment plans, and other required documentation accurately and within established timelines.
- Maintain compliance with applicable federal and state regulations, agency policies, procedures, and documentation standards.
- Participate in the on-call rotation.
- Complete required training and ongoing professional development to maintain certification and strengthen skills.
Requirements
- Lived experience with mental health challenges and the ability to share personal experiences in a thoughtful, supportive, and recovery-oriented manner.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, writing, organizational, and telephone skills.
- The ability to prioritize responsibilities, adapt to changing needs, and manage multiple tasks effectively.
- Strong professional boundaries and sound judgment.
- The ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- A commitment to ongoing learning, training, and professional development.
- A genuine belief in the strengths, abilities, and potential of the individuals we serve.
- Valid New York State Driver’s License required.
Skills
- Lived experience
- Recovery
- Interpersonal skills
- Communication skills
- Writing skills
- Organizational skills
- Telephone skills
- Collaboration
- Learning
- Training
- Professional development
Location
- 140 NY-303, Valley Cottage, NY 10989
Work Type
- Full-time
Experience Level
- Previous experience in a peer, behavioral health, human services, or other supportive role preferred.
Education Level
- High School Diploma or GED required.
- New York State Certified Peer Specialist certification required; Provisional Certification accepted.
- Personal lived experience with mental health challenges required.
Salary/Compensations
- $25 Provisional and $28.50 Full Certification
About the Company
- Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is an evidence-based, person-centered approach providing treatment, rehabilitation, and support to individuals living with serious mental illness.
- A mobile, multidisciplinary team delivers individualized services in participants’ homes and community settings, helping them achieve meaningful goals related to housing, employment, relationships, wellness, and recovery.
- ACT also incorporates harm reduction and trauma-informed care.
Equal Opportunity
- An Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and Veterans
