Position Summary
The Senior Peer Advocate is a behavioral health professional with lived experience who provides leadership, mentorship, and direct support to individuals receiving mental health supports services. This role promotes recovery, wellness, and self-sufficiency while modeling peer support principles. The Senior Peer Advocate also assists with training, program development, and supervision of peer staff and peer interns.
Key Responsibilities
Peer Support & Engagement
- Provide individual and group peer support services based on lived experience.
- Assist clients in developing recovery goals, wellness plans, and self-advocacy skills.
- Offer emotional support, crisis de-escalation, and encouragement.
- Help individuals navigate behavioral health, social service, and community systems.
Leadership & Mentorship
- Serve as a role model for peer staff, interns, and participants.
- Provide guidance, coaching, and task supervision to Peer Advocates.
- Support onboarding and training new peer staff.
- Promote adherence to peer support values, ethics, and recovery-oriented care.
Advocacy & Coordination
- Advocate for individuals’ needs within treatment teams and service systems.
- Collaborate with clinicians, case managers, and community providers.
- Link individuals to resources such as housing, employment, education, and healthcare.
Program Support, Compliance & Professional Development
- Assist in developing and facilitating peer-led groups, workshops, and activities.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation in compliance with agency and regulatory standards.
- Ensure services align with agency policies, Medicaid/State guidelines, and peer certification standards.
- Maintain required certifications and participate in ongoing training.
- Uphold confidentiality, boundaries, and ethical standards in all interactions.
Qualifications
Required
- Lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery.
- Certification as a Peer Advocate/Peer Specialist (NYS Certified Peer Specialist- OMH).
- High school diploma or equivalent (associate or bachelor’s degree preferred).
- Minimum of 2–4 years of experience in a peer support role.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
- Basic computer proficiency (documentation, email, Microsoft Office)
Preferred
- Experience providing coaching, mentoring, or training.
- Knowledge of trauma-informed care and recovery-oriented systems.
- Familiarity with documentation systems (EHR) and service coordination.
- Proficiency in Excel
Core Competencies
- Recovery-oriented mindset
- Leadership and team collaboration
- Cultural humility and inclusivity
- Crisis management and problem-solving
- Advocacy and system navigation
Work Environment
- Community-based, and in-program setting
- May include travel within the community
- Ability to engage with clients in various settings (office, community, virtual)
Salary Range
#IND1
