Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist

Solano County • Fairfield, CA

1d

About The Position

Solano County Behavioral Health Services is recruiting a Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist to provide information, support, assistance, and advocacy to recipients of behavioral health services and their caregivers or family members. Working under general supervision and within established procedures and guidelines, the specialist draws on personal lived experience to support recovery and wellness. The role serves as a resource on recovery principles for clinic and service teams, helps consumers pursue self-directed care and personal goals, and advocates for consumer and family perspectives within the behavioral health system.

The position includes one-on-one support, outreach and engagement, rehabilitation assistance, recovery planning, and connections to community-based support and resources. Specialists may help consumers with daily living, treatment and medical recovery plans, appointments, transportation, housing stability, community inclusion, coping strategies, self-advocacy, and relapse prevention. They also maintain consumer-related documentation and build working relationships with colleagues and community organizations.

The recruitment may be used to fill full-time or part-time regular, limited-term, or extra-help positions as vacancies occur. A County-approved Peer Support Training and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), or another County-approved evidence-based recovery program curriculum, must be completed before the end of the probationary period.

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Two years of personal experience in recovery from mental health or substance use challenges.
• Three months of advocacy, leadership, or engagement in peer recovery activities.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a California Driver’s License may be required.
• Complete County-approved Peer Support Training and WRAP, or another County-approved evidence-based recovery program curriculum, before the end of the probationary period.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a resource on recovery principles and lived experience as a member of clinic or service teams.
• Provide input about consumers’ successes and barriers in engaging in self-management and self-directed care.
• Assist consumers with specific goals, including follow-up after transitions in care and adherence to treatment or medical recovery plans.
• Share personal recovery knowledge when appropriate, model recovery skills, and consult with fellow team members.
• Model hope, individualized recovery, and incremental progress.
• Communicate, represent, and advocate for consumer and family or caregiver perspectives within the behavioral health system.
• Encourage consumers to connect with family, friends, and community-based groups to build self-help networks.
• Provide outreach and engagement support for hard-to-reach individuals, including people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Assist consumers in developing personal recovery plans using the WRAP model or other wellness tools.
• Help individuals articulate goals, identify and overcome fears, learn coping strategies, and develop self-management and relapse-prevention skills.
• Support recognition and understanding of social and cultural factors affecting behavioral health and treatment adherence.
• Provide or advocate for recovery-based services that support consumers’ daily living.
• Assist consumers with rehabilitation, including using transportation options, maintaining their residence, and identifying activities that support community inclusion.
• Help consumers advocate for themselves during medical appointments and attend appointments as a support when requested.
• Prepare reports and correspondence and maintain documentation such as meeting notes, progress reports, and incident reports.
• Enter consumer meeting notes into computer programs.
• Develop working relationships with colleagues, agencies, and organizations to advocate for consumer and family or caregiver empowerment.
• Support connections with community organizations, schools, the justice system, residential living and housing programs, vocational programs, and other community resources.
• Attend and participate in conferences, workshops, and trainings within the behavioral health system and community.
• Perform other duties of a similar nature or level as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED