Peer Support Specialist II - Part Time

Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care ( UBHC ), established in 1971, offers a full continuum of evidence based behavioral health and addiction services for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors throughout New Jersey. UBHC’s 1,060 experienced behavioral health professionals and support staff are dedicated to treatment, prevention, and education.

UBHC , one of the largest providers of behavioral health care in the country, has a budget of $260 million and has 15 sites throughout New Jersey. Services are readily accessible and include: inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, screening, crisis stabilization, family/caregiver support, community outreach and case management, supportive housing, supported employment, prevention and consultation, employee assistance programs, and a licensed therapeutic school from preschool through high school. Specialty services include the New Jersey suicide prevention helpline and peer help lines for police, veterans, active military, teachers, mothers of special needs children and child protective service workers.

In FY2016, UBHC treated 16,199 consumers, had 24,502 admissions, and touched the lives of 19,441 individual callers through peer support. In addition, UBHC is the primary mental health training resource for the New Jersey departments of Human Services, Children and Families, and Corrections, delivering 16,000 trainings each year.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking a Peer Support Specialist II (Part Time) for the 988 Lifeline Services within Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. The Peer Support Specialist provides engagement, support, and assessment for callers that meet quality and quantity standards. Performs functions in support of the Unit’s mission of providing streamlined, prompt, and “customer friendly” services. Receives telephone, chat and/or text requests for service, undertakes assessment of the service need of the client, and responds by offering peer support and appropriate referrals or disposition. Demonstrates competency in recognizing the unique needs of clients and applying relevant assessment and support skills with regard to a wide range of issues.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

Interacts with client in a therapeutic manner.

Participates in ensuring all service requests are handled in an effective and “caller friendly” manner.

Assesses service requests/referrals and responds in accordance with prescribed procedures.

Assesses client’s condition in order to make/authorize an appropriate disposition.

Ensures that inquiries, and other contacts with professionals, outside agencies, and other parties are responded to in a professional and cordial manner, per client feedback and as observed by supervisor.

Assumes overall management for completion of call, chat and/or text and documentation for disposition.

High School diploma or equivalent.

Four (4) years of full-time experience in the mental health care field.

Be a self-identified current or former user of mental health or co-occurring services who has personal experience and knowledge of recovery and has a minimum of one (1) year of experience supporting others.