Description
Mental Health Association of Nassau County (MHANC) is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to improving mental health in our community through advocacy, education, program development, and the delivery of direct services. Our organization is looking for a motivated individual with a calling to help adults with mental illness by becoming a Peer Companion - Group Facilitator.
Peer Specialist utilizes personal experience and peer specialist training to assist others in their recovery from psychiatric illness. May perform a variety of duties depending on strengths and/or interests.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Conducts regularly scheduled self-help, peer support, advocacy, or informational groups on-site or off-site utilizing required communication, intentional peer support, listening skills training, support skills, etc.
- Utilizes knowledge and understanding of peer directed recovery-based philosophy.
- Completes necessary paperwork and records pertinent documentation.
- Maintain client confidentiality.
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Education and Experience
- Six months to one year part time or full-time experience in delivery of direct services to mental health consumer/survivors (volunteer or paid), preferred.
- Six months part-time or full-time first hand experience in self-help or peer directed services and/or peer support groups.
Other Qualifications
- Firsthand knowledge of mental health service delivery system.
- Belief in the possibility of recovery for all individuals diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses.
- Good oral and written communication skills.
- Knowledge of consumer/survivor/ex-patient movement and peer run or peer driven services that incorporate recovery based philosophies.
- Ability to relate to both other survivors of mental illness and psychiatric diagnosis and mental health professionals.
- Working knowledge of mental health service delivery system.
- Valid and “clean” New York State Drivers’ License, required.