The Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA) is a community-based not-for-profit committed to recovery-focused mental health services through advocacy, community education and direct services.  We are recognized as the leader in Westchester in providing person-centered services that involve collaborating with each individual to achieve his or her goals.   

MHA facilitates recovery by providing services that reflect our deeply held values that include the recognition of individual rights of self-determination, choice, shared decision-making and collaborative work. Our highly trained staff utilize evidence-based practices throughout our comprehensive array of trauma-informed and recovery-oriented services.  

Through our robust services, as well as our advocacy programs and community events, MHA is able to meet the needs of thousands of men, women, children and families each year, helping them live independent lives in the community.

Join our Team!  We have an exciting new opportunity for a Certified Peer Specialist in our Mobile Crisis Response Team in Mount Kisco and surrounding communities. 

The primary purpose of the MCRT Team partnership model to support law enforcement in addressing mental health crisis through rapid engagement, assessment of needs, and providing short-term support and linkage to necessary services, such as crisis prevention and response team, crisis stabilization services, treatment programs, County Single Point of Access (SPOA), peer supports, care management, respite and social services.  The MCRT Team is charged with addressing a wide range of behavioral health related crisis including crisis resolution, suicide threats, wellness checks, substance misuse, and more, relaying on a trauma-informed, de-escalation and harm reduction techniques.  This program runs 24/7 staffing model.

SUMMARY of DUTIES
The Certified Peer Specialist will provide direct peer support services to participants, contribute to treatment team planning, and assist with outreach and transitional care efforts in community. Most importantly, the Certified Peer Specialist will draw upon his or her own lived experience to help develop and maintain the program’s culture of respect and focus on the participant’s potential for achieving recovery.  The Specialist will support recovery by providing services that reflect our deeply held values that include the recognition of individual rights of self-determination, choice, shared decision-making and collaboration.  When possible he/she will utilize evidence-based practices; always embracing a trauma-informed and person-centered approach.

SPECIFIC DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES
1.    Enhancing initial outreach, engagement and retention efforts to help participants and families stay connected to needed services.
2.    Assist in engagement and retention activities to promote optimum involvement with the team, including helping team to maintain a recovery-oriented approach to outreach before and after participants enroll in the program. 
3.    Providing concrete and social supports to clients and families through case management, helping to support participant’s efforts towards returning to school or work.
4.    Knowledge of the common challenges associated with mental health and substance use conditions. 
5.    Helping to shape the team’s culture to one that promotes person-centered, recovery-focused, strengths-based service delivery.
6.    Engage daily with members of law enforcement, 9-1-1 services, first responders and other various entities of emergency services. 
7.    Follow the established policies and procedures.
8.    Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and standards.
9.    Operate agency vehicle.
10.    Other related duties.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS
1.    Lived experience of recovery from mental health and/or substance use conditions is highly valued. 
2.    Prior knowledge and/or use of Trauma-Informed, Person-Centered Practice and Motivational Interviewing are a plus.   
3.    Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.
4.    Knowledge and skill to teach and engage in basic problem-solving strategies to support individual clients in self-directed recovery.
5.    Knowledge of the common challenges associated with mental health conditions
6.    Familiarity with and ability to use an Electronic Health Record system. 
7.    Strong attention to detail.
8.    Effective crisis intervention skills.
9.    Problem solving skills.
10.    Bilingual in Spanish is preferred

QUALIFICATIONS
1.    Required: The Certified Peer Specialist must hold State certification as a Peer Specialist, OR provisional certification at hire.
2.    Bilingual- fluent in Spanish. 
3.    Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality standards as promulgated by the state; (OMH, OASAS, DOH) and federal government (SAMHSA and 42CFR). 
4.    The Certified Peer Specialist must be reliable and able to work independently and understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality. 
5.    Lived experience of recovery from mental health and/or substance use conditions is highly valued. 
6.    Must possess strong organizational, writing skills and time management skills.  
7.    Must be able to work independently, including making decisions to respond to immediate programmatic needs.
8.    Must also be flexible, respectful, creative and person-centered.  
9.    This position requires a thorough understanding of the process and possibility of robust recovery for people diagnosed with mental health conditions.
10.    Basic Computer knowledge and ability to document in an electronic health record is required. 
11.    The Certified Peer Specialist must have a valid Driver’s License and a driving record that is satisfactory to our insurance carrier. 
12.    The Certified Peer Specialist must maintain current New York State Defensive Driving certification. 
13.    The Certified Peer Specialist must be cleared NYS Justice Center through fingerprinting for a Criminal History Records search. 
14.    The Certified Peer Specialist must be cleared by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs Staff Exclusion List (SEL) and the New York State Medicaid Exclusion List. 
15.    The Certified Peer Specialist must be cleared by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) for instances of child abuse and/or neglect. 
16.    The Certified Peer Specialist must be legally eligible to work in the United States.   
17.    The Certified Peer Specialist must be cleared by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs Staff Exclusion List (SEL) and the New York State Medicaid Exclusion List. 
18.    The Certified Peer Specialist must be cleared by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) for instances of child abuse and/or neglect. 
19.    The Certified Peer Specialist must be legally eligible to work in the United States.   

MHA of Westchester is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to cultural competency, diversity, and inclusion and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by the applicable law.

To apply, please send your cover letter and résumé by email to employment@mhawestchester.org with “Certified Peer Specialist-MCRT” as the subject line of the email. Thank you.