Peer Counselor, Solano SWIFT FSP

Bay Area Community Services • Fairfield, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Peer Counselor, a CalMHSA Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist for the Fairfield, Solano County FSP, provides field-based direct services and peer support in a self-help format to individuals and families working toward recovery. Drawing on personal lived experience, the counselor coaches participants and families through wellness and recovery goals and plans. Services include needs assessment, carrying out plans of care, individual peer counseling and rehabilitation support, crisis support, and referrals or linkages to longer-term supports that promote wellness.

The counselor works independently and as part of a team, managing a schedule for outreach, engagement, participant appointments, and extensive local travel connected to participants’ plans of care. The role includes maintaining a defined caseload, documenting services and billable activities in accordance with contract and regulatory guidelines, and meeting program productivity and direct-service expectations. Duties are delivered in the field. The program operates during traditional business hours on either a Tuesday–Saturday or Sunday–Thursday schedule.

Requirements

• Peer-support experience.
• High school diploma.
• Ability to use a computer or electronic platform to document work.
• Lived experience that includes homelessness; criminal justice involvement is ideal, and experience as a family member supporting someone involved in these systems is also relevant.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work in diverse communities and in various community settings.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Outlook and systems-based documentation platforms.
• Ability to document services effectively and efficiently.
• Ability to communicate facts and ideas clearly, concisely, and in an organized manner, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to understand public and private community-based resources and make referrals as needed.

Nice To Haves

• CalMHSA Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification or equivalent, or proof of enrollment; peer certification is preferred.
• Bilingual ability in a threshold language identified in BACS policy.
• Personal experience navigating the social services system.
• Experience working in varied community settings and navigating the unique characteristics of communities.
• Criminal justice involvement and/or experience as a family member supporting someone involved in these systems.

Responsibilities

• Make program offerings welcoming, engaging, and barrier-free from a peer perspective.
• Provide mentoring and shared-experience counseling to participants and families in the community.
• Conduct ongoing peer-support visits with current participants according to program standards to support continued engagement.
• Provide individualized peer support, peer counseling, skill-building, and intervention based on the plan of care and participant and program needs.
• Provide crisis support based on participants’ emergent needs and program needs.
• Provide individualized linkages to other services based on participants’ plans of care and needs.
• Orient program members to self-help resources based on recovery and wellness principles.
• Maintain a defined caseload and work flexibly with other program participants when needed and consistent with program design.
• Maintain a complex calendar of participant appointments, engagement time, and appointments with other providers and natural supports.
• Document services in progress notes and record billable services according to contract and regulatory guidelines.
• Meet program productivity guidelines.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team through coordination and collaboration.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Starting pay of $27.00 per hour, increasing to $30.00 per hour after satisfactory performance and achievement of job-related goals and requirements during the 90-day introductory period.
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and life insurance coverage options for employees.
• Vision reimbursement program.
• Children’s healthcare coverage available for as little as $25 per month.
• 403(b) plan.
• 31 days off (PTO/Holiday).
• Significant internal growth opportunities.

What This Job Offers

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