Peer Counselor, Residential Crisis Support (Respite) - Independence House

Description Lived experience as a consumer of mental health services is required

Position

Peer Counselor, Residential Crisis Support (Respite) - Independence House

Function

Provides supportive counseling, promotes the development of skills for coping with and managing behavioral health symptoms, and assists program guests in developing community living skills. Provides Home and Community Based Services to clients, assisting with training in skills of daily living

Reports to: Program Director, Residential Crisis Support (Respite)

Location: Manhattan (Washington Heights)

Tasks

Acts as role model provides empathy and support to program participants (“guests”). Regularly assesses guests’ functional skills and their ability to care for their health and safety. Provides hands-on assistance with planning and preparing nutritious meals, maintaining living space, personal hygiene, and other activities of daily living. Monitors guest medication, including adherence and side-effects. Trains guests in safety procedures and conducts fire drills and self-preservation tests. Provides training in self-advocacy. Assists participants with conflict resolution. Provides health and wellness coaching, training in developing coping strategies and with symptom management. Develops Wellness and Recovery Action Plans (WRAPS) with guests. Plans and facilitates group socialization and recreational activities. Leads Wellness Self-Management and other peer support groups. Provides transportation training and escorts to appointments. Alerts Coordinator to incidents, regressions and high-risk behaviors. Provides crisis intervention in the event of an emergency. Documents services delivered, guest response to service, progress, regressions and incidents in compliance with agency procedures. Participates in the development, review and updating of transitional support plans and personal safety plans. Oversees maintenance of apartments, inventories furniture, and alerts Coordinator to maintenance problems. Delivers Peer Support HCBS with a rehabilitation focus based on an individualized recovery plan Teaches advocacy, provides outreach and engagement, self-help tools, recovery supports, transitional supports and crisis supports. Teaches skills for budgeting, shopping, meal planning, preparation, self-preservation, travel skills, & monitors living units for safety/cleanliness. Staffs Emergency Cell Phone on a rotating basis. Attends initial and ongoing training on Intentional Peer Support, Whole Health Action Management and other training as requested by supervisory personnel. Performs light cleaning tasks related to room turnover/preparation. Duties as assigned by supervisor.