INSET Peer Specialist

Job Summary/Objective

The INSET Peer Specialist is a member of HALI’s INSET team. The INSET Peer Specialist has primary responsibility for building engagement in HALI’s innovative new INSET (Intensive and Sustained Engagement Team) program. Leveraging the power of shared lived experience, INSET will provide a voluntary recovery alternative for people with complex needs related to mental health, substance misuse, medical issues, family and systemic trauma, and histories of homelessness, incarceration, and/or frequent hospitalization. This role will report to the Senior Director of Empowerment Services.

Essential Job Duties/Responsibilities

• Utilize frameworks such as Trauma Informed Peer Support, Wellness Recovery Action Plan, Eight Dimensions of Wellness, Recovery Coaching, Motivational Interviewing, and Active Listening. 
• Support the 24/7 efforts of the INSET Program by working on-call rotation, offering phone support to enrolled individuals. 
• Provide intensive and hands-on, time-limited peer support and service linkage services for the approximately 20-25 enrollees. 
• Support participants with bridging from respite, emergency rooms, periods of incarceration and more. 
• Ongoing engagement with individuals enrolled in INSET, supporting with the creation of recovery plans, and building connections to services. 
• Schedule and facilitate networking and support groups for participants as requested. 
• Documentation of engagement efforts and ongoing support offered to enrolled individuals. 
• Coordinate meetings with enrollees in the setting of their choice. 
• Project positive image of HALI via inter-agency relationships and occasional public speaking and promote overall agency vision of recovery, peer support, empowerment, and social justice. 

Additional tasks/duties as assigned.

To accomplish this job successfully, employee must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Strong understanding of system resources, including housing, entitlements, and clinical (mental health, SUD, and medical) treatment options and relevant resources available in Suffolk County. Experience working with individuals who navigate insecurity of shelter, food, clothing or support is a plus.
• Demonstrably strong understanding, in concept and practice, of Recovery, Trauma-Informed Peer Support, Eight Dimensions of Wellness, WRAP, DEIA imperatives. 
• Strong understanding of AOT, and the ability to articulate the need for alternatives. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfort with public speaking. 
• Experience with Electronic Health Records

Education, Experience, Licenses and/or Certifications

Required:

• High School diploma or GED. Bachelor’s degree a plus. 
• 2+ years of experience with peer support, mental health, housing, and/or social services 
• Identification with mental health lived experience and willingness to disclose experience, and ability to strategically use experiences to relate to and support others now experiencing challenges. Hands Across Long Island l 159 Brightside Avenue Central Islip, NY 11722 
• Valid NYS driver’s license.

Preferred: 

• NY Certified Peer Specialist (CPS or CPS-P) and/or credentialed Youth Peer Advocate (YPA or YPA-P); NY Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) a plus. 
• Lived experience navigating systems such as Psychiatric Hospitals, Substance Detox/Rehabilitation, Criminal Justice, and/or Housing and Social Service

Travel Requirements: Some local travel may be required. A HALI vehicle will be used as appropriate.

Physical Requirements: Ability to perform routine office and community-based work, including sitting, standing, walking, using standard office equipment, driving locally, and occasionally lifting or carrying up to 20 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.