SUMMARY: The Peer Support Specialist I is responsible for assisting 18-20 chronically homeless adults in skills development and engagement in their mental illness and addiction recovery plans. The Peer Support Specialist I is expected to assist the consumer in a kind, caring, and trauma-informed way to assess, plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate actions required to meet the consumer’s health and human services needs. Peer Support Specialists must have past lived experience with homelessness and with mental health and addiction (see Qualifications section.) Peer Support Specialists also participate in the operations of the SanaVida Healing Center which includes bathrooms, showers, a mailroom, and life skills workshops for people experiencing homelessness.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES include the following as well as other duties that may be assigned:
- Understand that Trauma-informed Care is our prime directive and is a treatment framework that involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects on our consumers of all types of trauma.
- Treat all consumers equally, with respect, and according to the guidelines and staff rules. Our standard is one of graciousness and kindness. When misbehaviors occur, respect the consumer and divert the behavior if possible.
- Engagement: lead activities and coaching to encourage and support consumers to participate in behavioral health treatment.
- Therapeutic activity: provide structured non-clinical activity to promote recovery, wellness, self-advocacy, relationship enhancement, development of natural supports, self-awareness and values.
- Support the maintenance of community living skills to support the person’s treatment to attain and maintain recovery within their communities.
- Record case information, complete accurately all necessary forms, Homeless Management Information System and Activate Care entries and produce statistical reports.
- Perform HMIS consumer intakes and CARS consumer assessments.
- Maintain HMIS and Activate Care with suitable data integrity. Provide data reports that demonstrate accurate outcomes.
- Adhere to the staffing schedule and the position description developed by the Program Manager/Director to ensure consistent, safe, and reliable staffing.
- Be the bridge for your consumers to connect with and engage behavioral health treatment, often be preparing them for that experience while they wait for their scheduled appointment.
- Be willing to share your own experiences when it benefits your consumer.
- Help consumers achieve wellness and the highest possible degree of self-sufficiency
- Facilitate multiple care aspects (case coordination, healthcare coordination, information sharing, etc.)
- Help consumers make informed decisions by acting as their advocate regarding their clinical status and treatment options.
- Develop effective working relations and cooperate with multi-disciplinary teams.
- Travel the extra mile and interact with consumers to keep track of their progress and to ensure satisfaction.
- Assess and address motivational and psychosocial issues.
- Adhere to professional standards as outlined by protocols, rules and regulations.
- Accept the advice and supervision of the assigned supervisor.
- Attend weekly All Staff meetings.
- Attend weekly case management meetings.
- Attend staff in-service and other trainings. CPR and First Aid training are required with the expectation that each staff member can perform CPR if necessary.
- Meet regularly with Program Manager and clinical supervisor for coordination, clinical review and mentoring.
GENERAL JOB PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Knowledge of Work: Possesses and utilizes knowledge of the job which is essential to perform the specific functions and related work.
Quantity of Work: Accomplishes an appropriate volume of satisfactory work under normal conditions.
Quality of Work: Consistently demonstrates accuracy, thoroughness, maturity, and dependability.
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Timeliness: Completes assignments on or ahead of schedule.
Ability to Learn New Duties: Interprets, analyzes and responds appropriately in new situations. Develops guidance and
procedures.
Training: Keeps core competencies current by participating in skills training. Trains staff.
Judgment and Common Sense: Decisions/actions are sound, including safety and risk management.
Cooperation: Willing to work with others toward common goals.
Communications: Demonstrates relevance and clarity of written and oral expression. Effectiveness in exchanging ideas and information.
Initiative: Ability to originate, develop and create new ideas or take steps to get things done.
Problem Solving: Identifies and evaluates alternative solutions and selects the most appropriate course of action.
Attendance and Punctuality: Shows daily ability to reliably meet scheduled appointments, arrives on time and prepared to work, respects others’ time, and sets an example for others.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Possess a high school diploma or equivalent degree.
- Have past lived experience with homelessness.
- Be self-identified as having experience with the process of recovery from a mental illness or substance use disorder, either as a consumer of these services or as the parent, caregiver or family member of a consumer.
- Be willing to share your experience.
- Have a strong dedication to recovery.
- Agree, in writing, to adhere to the Code of Ethics.
- Successfully complete the 80-hour training requirements for a peer support specialist through a CalMHSA-approved training entity. 80 hours of MediCal Peer Support Specialist Training through an approved training provider is required for all Initial Certification applicants (paid by employer.)
- Pass the state peer support specialist certification examination.
Language and Communications Skills:
- Ability to effectively present information both orally and in written format and respond to questions from staff, guests, residents, government entities, accountancy authorities, service partners and the general public.
- Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and ability to quickly learn additional applications if required
- Well organized, self-starter
- Possesses excellent telephone, electronic, written, and verbal communications skills
- Spanish-speaking preferred
Mathematical Skills:
- Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.
Reasoning Ability:
- Ability to define and solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITES:
- A deep sense of compassion and understanding for homeless and marginalized individuals
- A dedication to and practice of social justice
- Must be mature, even-tempered and team spirited, respectful of the challenges of others, and have tempered judgment of others
- Possess passion and enthusiasm for the mission of Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra
- Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and make sound independent decisions
- Comfortable and knowledgeable in consensus-based decision making and practice of non-violent communication
- Acts ethically, responsibly, and with utmost integrity
PHYSICAL & SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to easily climb stairs to a second story
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- Ability to easily bend and lift 20 lb. overhead
- Ability to read and comprehend administrative documents as well as data on a computer screen
- Ability to hear normal conversations and answer phones
- Hand, finger and body coordination sufficient to fulfill requirements of the position
- Ability to stand or sit for extended periods of time
TRAVEL:
- This job requires routine travel (driving) within the Salinas Valley area and occasional driving and other travel to perform advocacy tasks and attend training.
Pay: $27.00 - $28.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Loan forgiveness
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Work Location: In person
