Peer Counselor

Title:          Peer Counselor

Program:  St. Nicholas House

Program Description: St. Nicholas House is a 94-unit Single Room Occupancy (SRO) building providing permanent housing and supportive services to formerly homeless men and women and low-income individuals. A comprehensive array of support services is offered to the tenants including medical services, short-term counseling, and recreational services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential duties of the Peer Counselor include but are not limited to the following activities:

• Develop a trusting working relationship with consumers to monitor physical and mental capacity to ensure ability to live and maintain independent living.
• Meets with identified clients individually and/or in groups to discuss issues related to successful community living including budgeting, medication adherence, sobriety or harm reduction and appropriate use of leisure time.
• Maintain regular monthly or more frequent consumer home visits.
• Formulate a needs assessment and implement a service plan and provide referrals for medical care, substance abuse services, and financial and entitlements as necessary.
• Assist client with ADL skills training, escort to appointments and shopping when necessary.
• Document all contacts made with consumers and collaterals on a regular basis.
• Facilitate crisis intervention, emergencies and other situations that require immediate action.
• Maintain accurate, organized and up to date case records including regular progress notes and relevant information.
• Participate in mandated trainings, workshops, and seminars, as well as meeting with peers and supervisors.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and communicate effectively with other team members

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma/GED required
• Experience working with homeless, mentally ill and chemically addicted individuals or other special
• needs populations is a plus
• Must be able to use the New York City Transit system to escort clients to scheduled appointments, if needed.

All newly hired Project Renewal staff must provide verification of being fully vaccinated against Covid-19.