Certified Peer Specialist

Certified Peer Specialist

Hope House on Crotona Park

Greenburger Center for Social and Criminal Justice, Inc.

Job Summary:

The Certified Peer Specialist for Hope House on Crotona Park (HHCP) is responsible for providing peer-based support services to residents of the Hope House program—justice-involved individuals living with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and often co-occurring substance use disorders.

Drawing upon personal lived experience with both the mental health and justice systems, the Certified Peer Specialist serves as a role model, mentor, and advocate, promoting recovery, self-empowerment, and engagement in treatment within the trauma-informed, Work-Ordered Day model of Hope House.

The Certified Peer Specialist works collaboratively with the residential and clinical teams to help residents build coping skills, navigate systems of care, and strengthen their sense of community, belonging, and self-efficacy. This position reports directly to the Program Director or their designee.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

1. Utilize lived experience to engage, support, and empower residents in achieving personal recovery goals and developing independent living skills.
2. Facilitate one-on-one and group peer support sessions that foster mutual learning, trust, and shared accountability within the Hope House community.
3. Model appropriate coping, communication, and self-advocacy skills consistent with recovery-oriented and trauma-informed care principles.
4. Collaborate with residential and clinical staff to support residents’ participation in the work-ordered day, treatment activities, and community meetings.
5. Assist residents in identifying and overcoming barriers to treatment engagement and community reintegration.
6. Support residents in navigating justice and mental health systems, including coordination with probation, courts, and community-based providers, as needed.
7. Participate in interdisciplinary case conferences and provide input based on peer perspective and resident experience.
8. Promote hope and self-determination by sharing recovery stories appropriately and modeling success in managing mental health and community reentry.
9. Support the development of recovery plans, relapse prevention strategies, and individualized service goals in collaboration with staff and residents.
10. Participate in staff meetings, supervision, and ongoing professional development to ensure adherence to best practices in peer support.
11. Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all resident interactions in accordance with program, OMH, and agency standards.
12. Uphold ethical boundaries and maintain resident confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA and agency policy.
13. Contribute to a positive, respectful, and inclusive community culture that promotes healing, accountability, and growth.

Minimum qualifications:

1. Must have lived experience with both the justice system and mental health system, and be able to draw upon this experience to support others in recovery.
2. Must possess or be eligible for New York State Certification as a Peer Specialist (NYCPS or NYS-CPS).
3. Must have a minimum of three (3) years’ experience working in mental health and/or substance use disorder (MH/SUD) service settings.
4. Demonstrated understanding of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and recovery-oriented approaches.
5. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusting, supportive relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
6. Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
7. Must possess strong written and verbal communication skills and basic computer literacy.
8. Must be reliable, self-motivated, and capable of managing multiple responsibilities in a structured environment.
9. Must be available to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as program needs require.

The essential functions of the job include:

1. Providing direct peer-to-peer support and advocacy within a residential treatment environment.
2. Serving as a recovery role model and demonstrating lived experience in action.
3. Maintaining regular attendance, reliability, and professionalism.
4. Upholding the values, mission, and therapeutic community principles of Hope House and the Greenburger Center for Social and Criminal Justice, Inc.

Salary $50,000

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