Peer Specialist I/II/III

Ventura County • Ventura, CA

12d • Onsite

About The Position

Under direct supervision and in a learning capacity, incumbents will be responsible for the development and on-going provision of peer support services within Ventura County Behavioral Health Department to include advocacy and recovery services to clients. The ideal candidate for a Peer Support Specialist will publicly and openly acknowledge and share their own personal recovery experiences and provide support to other persons in recovery. Incumbents will be able to utilize electronic devices (cell phones, computers and software applications, faxes, scanners, etc.), to effectively communicate verbally and in writing in the role. The Peer Specialist classifications are unique in that incumbents have personal experience with behavioral health and/or recovery challenges themselves and/or may be the caregivers/family members of individual(s) with behavioral health or recovery challenges. Incumbents perform duties of increasing responsibility as expertise is gained. The Peer Specialist I is the trainee level in the Peer Specialist classification series. The Peer Specialist II is the journey level classification and is distinguished from the Peer Specialist I by the degree of responsibility of tasks performed and independent judgment exercised by incumbents. The Peer Specialist III is the lead level in the Peer Specialist classification series. The Peer Specialist III is expected to work independently, use good judgment, provide a high degree of paraprofessional behavioral health rehabilitative services, and serve as a resource for Peer Specialist I’s and II’s.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• Successful completion of a Peer Support Services (PSS) training program within the first year of employment that will allow the candidate to qualify for state-recognized PSS certification.
• Peer Specialist I: Three (3) months of recent full-time paid or volunteer experience in mental health advocacy, performing duties such as interacting with clients or patients concerning mental health or social service matters, answering questions and providing information about mental health/social services and disability benefits, and coordinating group facilitations.
• Peer Specialist II: Twelve (12) months of recent full-time paid or volunteer experience in mental health advocacy, performing duties such as interacting with clients or patients concerning mental health or social service matters, answering questions and providing information about mental health/social services and disability benefits, and coordinating group facilitations.
• Peer Specialist III: Eighteen (18) months of recent full-time paid or volunteer experience in mental health advocacy, performing duties such as interacting with clients or patients concerning mental health or social service matters, answering questions and providing information about mental health/social services and disability benefits, and coordinating group facilitations.
• Must be a current or past consumer of mental health services, substance use services, or co-occurring behavioral health services or family member or caregiver of a current or former mental health, substance use, or co-occurring behavioral health services client
• Possession of a valid California driver license is required upon appointment and must be maintained during employment to transport clients in a County vehicle
• Knowledge of: Local community behavioral health services, community agencies and support groups
• Knowledge of: Basic vehicle and field safety procedures
• Knowledge of: Office functions and procedures including basic math and record keeping
• Knowledge of: Crisis intervention techniques and public relations.
• Ability to: Publicly acknowledge and share personal recovery experiences and provide support to other person-in-recovery
• Ability to: Interact and train mental health clients and their families
• Ability to: Read and comprehend medical information
• Ability to: Obtain and complete routine forms
• Ability to: Maintain records
• Ability to: Clearly communicate both orally and in writing
• Ability to: Understand and follow oral and written instructions
• Ability to: Establish and effective working relationships with staff, other County departments, and public and private agencies
• Ability to: Utilize a computer and associated software access
• Ability to: Utilize and retrieve electronic records and files
• Ability to: Represent and advocate for the client perspective within the community and behavioral health system
• Ability to: Effectively communicate the workings of the behavioral health system to clients, families, and caregivers.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of fifteen (15) semester units of college coursework in behavioral sciences may substitute up to six (6) months of experience. (Peer Specialist II and III only)
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) skills
• Incumbents must possess current certification of training in the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) (Levels II & III ONLY)
• Incumbents may be required to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays (Levels II & III ONLY)

Responsibilities

• Teaches relevant social and daily living skills and provides supportive counseling
• Serves as a client advocate and mentor/role model demonstrating competency in recovery, effective coping skills and self-help strategies
• Provides peer assistance and mentoring to promote client engagement in supportive networks, natural supports, and activities within and outside the behavioral health system
• Participates as a treatment team member in client evaluations, treatment planning, and the implementation of treatment plans
• Facilitates peer self-help/recovery groups (e.g. Wellness Recovery Action Plan) for clients, family members, and caregivers
• Recommends and makes referrals to programs for instruction on life, livelihood, and workplace readiness skills necessary for successful reintegration into family life, the work force, and the community
• Outreaches to unengaged clients, face-to-face or by phone
• Maintains electronic health records by completing documentation of work effort in a manner consistent with departmental standards for productivity
• Assists in organizing training activities and with providing educational materials on Behavioral Health Recovery for community groups, behavioral health clients, family members, and staff
• Develops effective working relationships with agencies and organizations to advocate for client and family/caregiver empowerment
• Functions as a resource person for other lower-level peer specialists and other staff members (Peer Specialist II/III)
• Trains Peer Specialists and other behavioral health staff in the unique functions and roles of peers in the behavioral health system (Peer Specialist II/III)
• Provides consultations and guidance to other Peer Specialists in the provision of peer services to clients, families, and caregivers (Peer Specialist III)
• Transports clients to and from medical and social service appointments using a County vehicle (Peer Specialist III)

Benefits

• Possible educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on completion of Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree.
• Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.
• Veteran’s Points may apply to eligible candidates for Peer Specialist I.
• Peer Specialist I/II/III are represented by the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU) and are eligible for overtime compensation.
• The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies.

What This Job Offers

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