Peer Support Specialist- City of Rochester Crisis Intervention Services Unit

Job Summary:

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) is an individual with lived experience who uses their recovery journey to support others currently experiencing a crisis related to mental health and/or substance use conditions. As an integral member of the City of Rochester Crisis Intervention Services unit (CIS), the PSS provides empathic support, helps individuals navigate the crisis process and fosters hope and empowerment. 

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities: (Additional duties may be assigned)  

• Peer Support Services:
• Provide peer-to-peer crisis support as part of a multi-disciplinary team. 
• Share personal recovery experiences to promote engagement, hope and self-determination. 
• Help individuals understand and navigate crisis services, treatment options and community resources. Make referrals as needed (health, home, recovery related). 
• Assist in developing short-term wellness and safety plans alongside other CIS team members. 
• Assist with recognition and utilization of support systems. 
• Advocate for individual’s rights and preferences within the crisis response process. Empower individuals to be self-advocates in their own lives. 
• Support follow up care coordination, including warm hand-offs to services and supports. 
• Provide follow up calls, visits and/or short-term case management to individuals in crisis. 
• Other
• Document all services accurately and timely in compliance with organizational standards and confidentiality laws. 
• Participate in team meetings, trainings and supervision to support professional development and team integration. 
• Adheres to City of Rochester and MHA Rochester policies and department procedures.
• Supports an organizational culture of being person-centered, recovery-focused, culturally sensitive and trauma informed. 
• Must maintain peer certification throughout employment. 

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma/GED equivalence.  
• Lived experience with mental health, substance use and/or trauma related history and have demonstrated recovery. 
• Certification as a NYS Peer Support Specialist.
• Must have 1-2 years of experience working as a Peer Support Specialist. 
• Experience working in mental health, substance use or crisis setting preferred. 
• Must be able to pass background check. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to attend and support first responders on crisis calls with or without police presence for issues in areas including but not limited to, mental and behavioral health crisis, domestic violence, youth crises, substance use, wellness checks and/or other social, family and community crises within the City of Rochester.
• Ability to assess environmental and domestic conditions.
• Ability to respond to individuals in crisis calmly and respectfully. 
• Ability to exercise discretion and judgment in dealing with sensitive issues.
• Ability to provide options for hospital and criminal system diversion, crisis services, safety planning, treatment options and community resources. 
• Knowledge about community systems (social services, criminal justice, mental health, substance use, housing, etc.).
• Knowledge of the geography of the city of Rochester and willingness to provide community-based visits across all zip codes within the Rochester City limits. 
• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality. 
• Strong communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to work with others on a multi-disciplinary team.  
• Strong organizational skills. 
• Skill with planning and scheduling to ensure the timely completion of independent tasks and short-term projects. 
• Ability to gather data and compile information. 
• Commitment to person-centered, recovery-oriented, trauma- informed and culturally responsive care. 
• Individuals must demonstrate sensitivity, respect, and competency with diverse cultural backgrounds, social identities and practices of community members and be willing to participate in anti-racism focused diversity training to increase skills in this area.
• Residents of the City of Rochester preferred. 
• Bi-lingual in Spanish preferred.

Equipment, Machines and Software Used:

• Ability to operate various office equipment including computer, printer, telephone, fax machine, photocopier, scanner, and calculator.
• Computer Software: Microsoft Office to include Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel. Experience with Paylocity payroll system preferred. 
• Must have reliable transportation. 

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Work performed in the community: in homes, community locations, crisis centers, hospitals and on the street. Work is performed in all weather conditions. 
• Prolonged periods of walking and/or sitting at a desk, answering calls and working on a computer required. 
• Ability to exert up to 15 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. 
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization’s facilities. 
• Finger dexterity required to operate telephone and computer keyboard. 
• Hearing at a level to enable one to hear normal conversation. 
• Visual requirements of having the ability to read documents, the computer screen, etc. 
• Exposure to emotionally intense situations; support and supervision are regularly provided. 

Environmental Conditions:

• Work is performed primarily in the community where there is minimal to moderate risk based on community circumstances. 
• Community based crisis work is performed with other multi-disciplinary team members. 

Work Hours:

• The standard work week is 25 hours.
• Hours of work are M-F from 4:00pm-9:00pm. Flexibility may be required on occasion. 
• This work cannot be performed from home or in hybrid format.  
• This is a 12-month contract that may be renewed. 

Compensation:

• Compensation will be $23/hr.

Disclaimer:

• All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
• This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.  
• The company reserves the right to add to or revise an employee's job duties at any time at its sole discretion.
• This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.