Position Information

NY HELPNo

AgencyMental Health, Office of

TitleAdvocacy Specialist 2 , Central Office;

Occupational CategoryClerical, Secretarial, Office Aide

Salary Grade18

Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)

Salary RangeFrom $66951 to $85138 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Non-competitive Class

Travel Percentage 30%

Schedule

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 8 AM

To 5 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? Yes

Telecommuting allowed? Yes

Location

County Albany

Street Address NYS Office of Mental Health

44 Holland Avenue

City Albany

StateNY

Zip Code12229

Job Specifics

Duties Description The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill an Advocacy Specialist 2, SG-18, position in the Office of Advocacy and Peer Support Services (OAPSS) located at the Central Office in Albany. OAPSS works to ensure the inclusion of recipients across the lifespan (youth, transition age youth, adults, and older adults) and their family’s perspectives into OMH policy making and program planning, development, and evaluation. Peer Coordinators work to support the successful professional development and growth of OMH’s State Operated Peer Specialists and peer services through incorporating peer support values, recruitment and retention, ongoing support and education, and feedback, monitoring, and evaluation. Peer Coordinators will support the expansion of the peer workforce by assisting in recruitment and retention efforts, educating OMH staff on peer support values and best practices as they implement peer support services in their facilities, providing education, training, and ongoing assistance to the peer workforce to ensure that they are successful and supported in?their roles, and ensuring that all OMH peer support services are trauma-informed, equitable, and in line with best practices established by the?Peer Specialist certification and credentialing entities, both in New York and nationwide. Peer Coordinators serve at the statewide and regional levels, interacting and collaborating with the OAPSS, Central Office, Long Island, Hudson River, Central New York, and Western New York Region Field Offices and State-Operated Psychiatric Centers to deliver oversight, technical assistance, support, and education and training.

Successful Peer Coordinators are Systems Advocacy Specialists. They perform a range of professional functions which include promoting changes in policies, procedures, and practices in services and supports across New York State. Systems Advocacy Specialists provide information and resources to OMH about rights, peer support values and principles, and seek to identify and eliminate disparities by promoting these values in a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive manner.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Peer Coordinators serve as the liaison between the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the community, seeking input from individuals and families in a variety of forums to create a feedback loop, and to promote voice, choice, and meaningful participation in services. Community engagement activities include but are not limited to facilitating and notetaking for the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC), participating in community forums, and working with advocacy groups to address issues and concerns.

- Peer Coordinators will perform internal to OMH and community outreach tasks with the goal of building relationships with OMH Psychiatric Centers and Peer-run/Peer-directed partners towards promotion of best practices in recruitment and retention, supervision, professional development, and fidelity to keep peer support values and principles in peer services. These tasks will include working with OAPSS NYC Peer Coordinator and Regional Advocacy Specialists (RAS) to outreach and work with Peer-run agencies/Peer-directed programs towards providing ongoing support and education to the State Operated workforce. Topics may include best practices in peer specialist recruitment, retention, supervision, and services such as cultural curiosity and trauma-informed peer support, and other topics that support peer service delivery, professional development, and peer workforce and services growth.

- Peer Coordinators may also provide individual mentoring and guidance, helping to facilitate connection to best practices in promoting a trauma-informed workforce including services and supervision as well as guidance to all State Operated Psychiatric Center inpatient, outpatient, and residential programs staff and service recipients on peer support best practices and ways to reduce the stigma and discrimination faced by individuals and families within the mental health and intersecting systems.

- Peer Coordinators provide guidance to OMH on developing peer/recovery-oriented services and support to enhance the provision of peer support services Statewide and regionally, fostering the development and growth of the peer workforce, certification and credentialing, and services. This includes but is not limited to providing guidance on person-centered language, guiding interested individuals to peer discipline training programs, and providing guidance on implementing environments that are conducive to peer services.

- Peer Coordinators will also function to ensure the inclusion of recipients across the lifespan (youth, transition age youth, adults, and older adults) and their family’s perspectives into OMH policy making and program planning, development, and evaluation. They should be proficient in systems advocacy, working internally within the Office of Mental Health (OMH) toward systemic changes through participation in internal workgroups, providing data/feedback to other departments, and reviewing potential new programs including but not limited to, participating in the OMH redesign efforts, reviewing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), providing guidance to OMH departments, and monitoring existing OMH programs. The person in this role will complete these and other duties as assigned; to successfully perform various functions, they will demonstrate effective time management, organization, and communication.

- Peer Coordinators must demonstrate effective time management, organization, and communication to perform a variety of functions within the scope of their role.

- Other specific tasks are assigned as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications Qualified candidates must possess:

A Bachelor’s degree AND two years experience as a professional advocate or service provider in the field of rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, or mental health.

OR

A Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in a human services field AND one year of experience as a professional advocate or service provider in the field of rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, or mental health.

OR

Six years of experience as a professional advocate or service provider in the field of rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, or mental health

Additional Comments Schedule and telecommuting will be discussed during the interview process. Certified Peer Specialists, Youth Peer Advocates, and Family Peer Advocates are encouraged to apply.

The Mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. The Office of Mental Health embraces diversity and promotes a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and respected. The New York State Office of Mental Health is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

How to Apply

Name Caitlin Hart

Telephone

Fax (518) 486-3897

Email Address OMHHRM@OMH.NY.GOV

Address

Street NYS Office of Mental Health

44 Holland Avenue

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12229

 

Notes on ApplyingTo be considered for this position, interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume in Microsoft Word or PDF format as an attachment to omhhrm@omh.ny.gov. Please include the title of the position and Vacancy ID #201144 in the subject line of your email when applying.

You are advised that, should you accept a job offer with the Office of Mental Health, you may be required to be fingerprinted and pay a fingerprint fee.