Certified Peer Support Specialist

Vista Del Mar•Los Angeles, CA

6d•$21 - $24•Onsite

About The Position

For more than a century, Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services (VDM) has been dedicated to supporting children and families across Los Angeles County through high-quality programs and compassionate care. Our goal is to help children and families build strong foundations that support growth, stability, and meaningful opportunities throughout their lives. Many of the individuals we serve have faced long-standing challenges, and we are committed to meeting families where they are with respect and understanding. Vista Del Mar is guided by values centered on growth, opportunity, fairness, and excellence in service. At Vista Del Mar, our work is strengthened by the people we serve and the dedicated staff who support them. We strive to create an environment where everyone is treated with dignity, care, and respect. We recognize that personal experiences and life circumstances shape how individuals engage within their communities, and we actively work to reduce barriers while improving access and outcomes for families. Vista Del Mar is committed to fostering a workplace rooted in care, collaboration, professional growth, and mutual support, where each individual feels welcomed and valued. We believe meaningful action is the foundation of lasting trust. We welcome qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences. Relevant professional and lived experience that supports effective service delivery to children and families is valued. All employment decisions are based on job-related qualifications, experience, and organizational needs. Vista Del Mar provides a trauma-responsive continuum of services to empower children, youth, and families in Southern California to lead fulfilling lives.

Requirements

Lived experience in recovery from a substance use and other challenges, with the ability to appropriately draw upon that experience to provide peer support and mentorship to program participants.
Experience with the child welfare and/or probation systems is preferred.
High school diploma or GED preferred.
Maintains all required licenses and certifications including State Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Program. Must be registered/enrolled at time of hire.
Valid California Driver License and a driving record acceptable to the Agency’s insurance carrier.
Prior contact with, or received services from, Department of Juvenile Probation or Department of Child Family Services systems.
Must have the physical, visual, verbal and hearing ability to interact with others in therapeutic, athletic, recreational and leisure groups.
Ability to learn and perform First Aid, CPR and CPI.

Nice To Haves

Experience with the child welfare and/or probation systems is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide recovery-oriented, culturally appropriate support to youth participating in the residential Innovative Model of Care (IMC) program.
Attend on and off-campus activities with participants.
Attend treatment team, clinical and program development meetings.
Promote engagement, socialization, self-sufficiency, self-advocacy, natural support and are trauma aware.
Serve as a positive role model who inspires hope demonstrating that recovery is possible, drawing upon lived experience of recovery from substances and other challenges.
Support participants in developing their individualized path toward sustained recovery and wellness.
Provide highly individualized, community-based support and promote self-determination, healthy decision-making, and greater independence as a fully integrated member of the treatment team.
Offer valuable insight and consultation to team members, helping foster a culture in which each youth’s perspective, preferences, and experiences are acknowledged, understood, respected, and incorporated into treatment, rehabilitation, and community-based healthy activities.
Help the team better understand and appreciate each participant’s unique perspective and personal experience through relevant shared life experiences.
Advocate for program participants in out of home care and during their transition to stable housing and into the community.
Complete all required documentation accurately, thoroughly, and within established timelines, in accordance with program, agency, and regulatory requirements.
Develop a positive, respectful and trusting relationship with participants while assisting in creating appropriate boundaries.
Model recovery-oriented principles by demonstrating hope and healing. Encourage participation in recovery supports, promoting healthy coping skills, and reinforcing a culture of health, resilience, and long-term recovery.
Engage with participants by establishing and building rapport, utilizing relationship-based, trauma informed and culturally sensitive interventions.
Provide support to participants while engaged in all treatment activities. Serve as a role model for healthy relationships.
Provide individualized support to participants to assist them in making healthy decisions in order to achieve the goals such as Employment, Educational, Relational, Leadership, Citizenship and Positive Socialization.
Assist in linking participants to available resources in the community.
Support participants engagement to programmatic resources such as The Child Family Team, Milieu staff, Mental Health Providers and Community Youth Center.
Support participants in developing positive social and independent living skills by accompanying them into the community and helping them build confidence in accessing their requested referrals and resources.
Provide ongoing support, encouragement and understanding while creating a supportive relationship with appropriate boundaries.
Meet Clinical Program Manager weekly for individual supervision.
Meet with milieu staff frequently in order to receive updates on risks, concerns, schedule and plan for the day, etc.
Support and participate in the implementation of a Youth-Guided Care model (peer run meetings, Youth Council).
Continue to increase understanding, education and training associated with the position as a PSS.
Maintain consistent communication with other team members, program management and youths.
Performs other related duties as assigned.