Peer Specialist Supervisor

The Center for Urban Community Services, a national leader in the development of effective housing and service initiative for homeless people, invites applications for Peer Specialist Supervisor positions with the Intensive Mobile Treatment Team. The Intensive Mobile Treatment Team works with individuals that move frequently across the behavioral health care system (outpatient and inpatient), the homeless services system (shelter, street, Safe Haven), and the criminal justice system (jail, probation, parole), and have barriers to engaging in the services they need.

IMT teams are hired, trained and funded to maximize flexibility and continuity of care for persons who were poorly served by more traditional service models. The mission of IMT is to improve an individual’s quality of life through counseling, advocacy (both on an individual and systems level), support and assistance with meeting one’s individual needs and goals, and most importantly, by providing an opportunity to connect with a diverse team of service providers. IMT teams work with individuals regardless of their current or past experience with substance use, mental health concerns, physical health concerns, involvement with the criminal justice system, and/or history of violence. IMT teams stay connected to individuals regardless of their location in shelter, on the street, in housing, hospital or jail. By staying connected over time, across systems and boroughs, we expect fewer people to fall through the cracks.

The Peer Specialist Supervisor (PSS) is a supervisory position whose primary duty is the management and supervision of Peer Specialist staff. The PSS has lived experience as a recipient of mental health, substance use, or criminal justice services. The PSS oversees Peer Specialist staff performance, development, and service delivery; supports staff in setting professional goals; educates staff on the core competencies of peer work; and collaborates with the Clinical Supervisor on team oversight. The PSS also maintains a caseload of IMT participants, providing direct peer support services in the field. This position reports to Program Management.

Essential Functions include, but are not limited to:

Supervision and Staff Management

• Make hiring decisions for Peer Specialist roles, including interviewing, selecting, and onboarding candidates. Orient new staff to job responsibilities and the provision of peer support within the IMT model.
• Provide one hour of individual weekly supervision to each Peer Specialist, ad hoc supervision as needed, for learning and support.
• Collaborate with the Clinical Supervisor to build effective supervisory relationships with individual supervisees, providing the policy and regulatory information needed to perform their jobs well, maintaining open communication, and welcoming feedback.
• Monitor and ensure the quality of supervisee services and documentation in line with regulatory, agency, and funder standards. Provide timely positive feedback and address substandard performance directly.
• When substandard performance is not corrected within a reasonable timeframe, initiate a progressive disciplinary process in consultation with program administrators and Human Resources, and document the process for the employee's personnel file.
• Complete performance evaluations collaboratively with the Program Director, on time and in a manner that supports supervisee growth.
• Identify supervisee training needs; provide instruction, refer to training opportunities, and ensure completion of all required trainings.
• Educate Peer Specialist staff on the core competencies of peer work, model recovery-oriented values, and structure learning opportunities that support professional development.
• Utilize psychosocial history and client documentation to inform the supervisory process and support the crisis intervention process.
• Inform program administrators of significant clinical or operational issues as they arise.
• Exercise independent judgment in determining supervisory strategies, structuring staff development plans, and escalating personnel or clinical concerns to program administrators or Human Resources.
• Apply agency policies, funder requirements, and regulatory standards to guide supervisory decisions — interpreting and adapting them to real-world situations rather than executing prescribed procedures.

Program Management

• Treat all employees with care, respect, and equity. Contribute to a program culture of high performance, continuous learning, and staff development.
• Work collaboratively with site management to identify and respond to program needs, participate in new initiatives, and contribute to achieving program performance targets.
• Ensure adherence to agency and site policies and procedures, including personnel and fiscal control policies. Foster cooperation across teams and encourage full participation in staff meetings.
• Respond promptly and effectively to program incidents, including while off site. Participate in agency activities as needed or assigned.
• Participate in the program's 24/7 on-call rotation, ensuring availability to respond to participant and staff needs outside of standard scheduled hours.

Services to IMT Participants

• The PSS carries a direct service caseload of IMT participants and delivers peer support services in the field alongside supervisory duties.
• Build relationships and communicate effectively with a caseload of IMT participants to meet service needs, using Intentional Peer Support (IPS) and shared lived experience as the foundation of the work.
• Work collaboratively with participants to develop and implement effective service plans, taking into account goals, interests, diagnoses, medication regimens, risk factors, collateral contacts, and psychosocial history.
• Assist participants with activities of daily living including but not limited to hygiene, personal care, cleaning, and preparation for apartment inspections.
• Provide community-based services including accompanying participants to medical appointments, benefits offices, housing interviews, shopping, job interviews, court appearances, and other destinations; meet participants wherever they reside.
• Assist participants in accessing eligible federal, state, and local benefits by identifying programs, completing applications, escorting to appointments, and tracking renewals.
• Support housing placement by identifying appropriate options, assisting with applications and documentation, coordinating with housing providers, and providing support through move-in.
• Ensure that Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAPs), Safety Plans, and Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) to support participant self-direction and crisis planning are completed.
• Provide effective crisis prevention and intervention using a person-centered approach. Coordinate with emergency services, accompany participants when necessary, and conduct discharge planning and follow-up.
• Engage collateral providers, family members, and community supports as appropriate, modeling effective collateral coordination for supervisees.
• Enter and maintain accurate, timely service documentation in designated databases, including progress notes, service plans, assessments, and benefit forms, in compliance with agency and funder standards.