Case Manager/Peer Specialist (Young Adult ACT)

Organization Overview: The Goddard Riverside Community Center (Goddard Riverside) and the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center (Isaacs Center) are well-established Manhattan community-based agencies that support services to approximately 30,000 New Yorkers. We are two of New York City’s leading human services organizations meeting the needs of children, youth and families, homeless individuals, and older adults through-out Manhattan and New York City. We work every day for a fair and just society where all people have the opportunity to make choices that lead to better lives for themselves and their families. The Isaacs Center focuses primarily on the needs of children and low-income families, out-of-school and out-of-work youth, and aging New Yorkers. We operate at community centers located in the neighborhoods of East Harlem and Yorkville, and seek to deliver programs that are impactful, innovative, and intergenerational.

Program Description: The Young Adult Assertive Community Treatment (YACT) Team is a unique and nontraditional licensed outpatient psychiatric clinic specifically for individuals between the ages of 18-28, who have demonstrated a high service need with multiple hospitalizations, emergency room visits and difficulty maintaining stability in the community. YACT is derived from the nationally recognized Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model and an evidence-based practice. The YACT Team serves clients who when referred are residents of Manhattan.

Position Summary: The Peer Specialist is responsible for building relationships with clients and their support system to support the client’s recovery as well as providing case management and counseling services. The Peer Specialist is part of a multidisciplinary team that provides comprehensive psycho-social services designed to improve or maintain client’s ability to function in the community.

Schedule: Monday-Friday (35 hours a week, 9am-5pm)

Salary Range: $41,500 - $45,000

Candidates must have the required qualifications to be considered for the position. The salary offer will be based on the candidate’s number of years experience in the exact or comparable position and additional preferred qualifications will be taken into account.

Roles, Responsibilities, and Essential Duties

1. Peer Specialist Services

• Provide a broad array of counseling/support services and serves as a role model to individuals living with chronic mental illness, psychological trauma or substance use
• Educate clients about self-help techniques and self-help group processes; teach effective coping strategies and teach wellness management skills,
• Willingness to share personal, practical experience, knowledge and first-hand insight to benefit program enrollees as appropriate and clinically indicated.
• Assist with navigating the service systems, including but not limited to behavioral and medical health, criminal-legal, shelter system, and entitlements.
• Assist in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals, and assist in the development of community support systems and networks

2) Provide case management services

• Carry a caseload of YACT clients
• Perform client assessments and formulate treatment goals
• Facilitate client participation in entitlement programs, psychiatric services, medications management, rehabilitation and other activities
• Refer clients to community health services
• Accompany clients to appointments as needed
• Communicate regularly with clients’ families about their needs and progress
• Serve as liaison to other service providers
• Maintain up-to-date client case records according to program guidelines
• Visit clients in residential facilities, hospitals, on the street and in other locations
• Rotate on-call service after outside work hours

3) Participate as an ACT team member

• Attend staff meetings, case conferences, and training programs to upgrade skills and knowledge
• Attend supervision meetings to review client progress and case management strategies
• Work collaboratively with IMT team staff in a team case management model

4) Other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• High School diploma required; Certified Peer Specialists or Credentialed youth peer advocates
• Person would have experience as a recipient of mental health services

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Experience in Harm Reduction preferred
• Experience working with people with histories of substance abuse, mental illness, trauma and homelessness preferred
• Ability to be flexible in a fast-paced work environment
• Strong written and verbal skills
• Ability to speak Spanish or other languages is a plus

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have/be:

• Able to work in the Microsoft Office Suite, should especially be proficient in Word, Outlook, and Excel
• Able to use or learn to use AWARDS database
• Able to use or learn other electronic databases, programs, and funder-related software as needed such NIMRS and Maven

Physical Requirements/Working Environment

• Field work required; Must be able to travel throughout the 5 boroughs
• Walking; Climbing stairs occasionally

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace community grounded in respect for differences. We support hiring a broadly diverse team of qualified individuals who will contribute to our organizations.

Goddard Riverside and Isaacs Center provide equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of this position and title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job related task other than those specifically presented in this description. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

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