Peer Recovery Specialist

Project 180•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$28 - $31•Hybrid

About The Position

SSG-Project 180 turns lives around through innovative, wraparound services that keep people out of institutions and in their communities. Project 180 is a leader in the forensic treatment space, offering high-quality, specialized treatment programs that serve thousands of justice-involved individuals. Our programs span criminal justice intercepts and include pre-arrest interventions, court-based diversions, jail in-reach, and intensive post-release services. Project 180 operates in partnership with County agencies including the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Department of Health Services (DHS), and the Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD). The Project Based Housing program is funded by the Department of Health Service (DHS) Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR), the ODR/ICMS program provides intensive wraparound services to the high-need/high-barrier behavioral health population in the LA County jail system. The program provides permanent supportive housing for some of the most underserved or highest utilizers in the county system. Services are delivered through a recovery oriented, harm reduction framework. The Peer Recovery Specialist is a member of the multidisciplinary team providing recovery-oriented services to individuals with a forensic background. This position reports to the PBH Program Supervisor and, using lived experience, the Peer Recovery Specialist promotes hope, engagement, and self-determination while supporting clients with engagement, skill building, community integration and helping clients to access behavioral health services, housing, benefits, and community resources. The Peer Recovery Specialist conducts individual and group sessions and works collaboratively with the treatment team and supports clients in making measurable progress towards their individualized goals.

Requirements

Lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery and willingness to share recovery experience
California Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification is required upon hire or must be obtained within 90 days of the employees start date.
Experience working with culturally diverse populations.
Valid CA driver’s license, proof of insurance and own vehicle required. Ability to transport clients in their personal vehicle.
Must not be on any type of legal supervision (probation or parole).
Verification of Employment Eligibility and Background Check.
Basic computer skills

Nice To Haves

Experience working with the forensic and/or dual diagnosed populations.
Experience working on an interdisciplinary team in a mental health or outpatient setting.
Knowledge of and experience with providing trauma informed services.
Spanish speaking

Responsibilities

Provide peer-to-peer support and counseling drawing from lived experience
Actively engage clients in services through the development of strong rapport, consistent contact, use of motivational interviewing, and de-escalation techniques. Provide outreach services as needed, meeting clients “where they are at” (service location, client’s point of view)
Assess immediate safety concerns and respond appropriately to behavioral health crises using verbal de-escalation, conflict resolution, and crisis intervention techniques.
Provide a calm, supportive presence during high-stress situations while maintaining professional boundaries and exercising sound judgement
Provide individual and group psychoeducation related to recovery skills. Services to target cornerstones of recovery-oriented care (instilling hope, empowerment, self-responsibility and engaging in meaningful roles).
Service delivery is consistent with ethical standards and a harm reduction, strength based, trauma informed framework.
Shares life experiences and successes with history of homelessness, incarceration and substance use/mental health recovery when clinically appropriate.
Coordinate community-based treatment services
Assist in developing community living skills, including navigating public systems, accessing resources, and building natural supports.
Develop and maintain partnerships with residential, sobering/detox centers for client referrals.
Link clients to needed community resources to support independence (e.g. employment, education, recovery). Monitor ongoing participation in services/use of resources and facilitate problem solving to target barriers. Accompany clients to linkage appointments when appropriate.
Collaborate with external partners (i.e. DMH, DSH, DPH- SAPC, probation, primary care clinics, etc.) to ensure high quality, integrated care.
Engage with multidisciplinary treatment team to coordinate client care
Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings with the on site treatment team as well as relevant community partners.
Conduct pro-active outreach and engagement to individuals within the PBH building and community alongside members of the treatment team.
Maintain awareness of environmental and situational safety risks during client engagement and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of clients, staff, and community members.
Actively contribute to planning and execution of clinical interventions in collaboration with the treatment team, ensuring services are person-centered and recovery-focused. Leverage unique skills and abilities of team members in service delivery.
Coordinate crisis response with treatment team and support with linkage to available community resources.
Maintain comprehensive case notes in the electronic health record per program guidelines.
Maintain and submit billing records per program guidelines
Participate in program data collection per program guidelines.
Adhere to mandated reporting requirements.
Regular attendance required. Holiday or weekend work may be required.
Maintain and uphold the Agency mission statement, values, policies, procedures, and principles.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Maintain active license and/or registrations as applicable (i.e. BBS, CCAPP, Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification)