Peer Support Specialist

Felton Institute • Santa Rosa, CA

18d • Onsite

About The Position

The Peer Support Specialist supports individuals living with serious mental illness in establishing a path toward recovery and stability. Working within a multidisciplinary team at Felton Institute’s Bridge Housing site, the specialist provides care and case management, mental health and substance use recovery and wellness services, and crisis prevention and intervention. The role serves adults who may have psychiatric and co-occurring substance use disorders, including people experiencing homelessness and people involved with CARE Court.

The specialist conducts intakes and comprehensive assessments, helps clients develop service plans based on their recovery goals, and advocates for and connects participants with resources across the criminal justice, shelter, hospital, and outpatient systems. Services use motivational interviewing and recovery- and trauma-informed approaches, and may include employment and vocational support, housing applications and placement, life-skills training, community support development, and peer groups.

The position requires accurate client records and electronic data entry, completion of administrative tasks, and participation in team meetings and case conferences. Food preparation, storage, or service is also part of the role. This is a temporary, two-month, onsite position with a flexible full-time schedule that includes some evening and weekend hours; it is not a 9-to-5 outpatient-clinic position. The role reports to the Program Manager and is union-represented by SEIU Local 1021.

Requirements

• High school diploma or higher.
• At least one year of therapeutic intervention experience applying a comprehensive range of case management, substance abuse counseling, assessment, and crisis intervention skills.
• Lived experience with mental health challenges and/or recovery from a substance use disorder, and prior involvement with the criminal justice system.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Wellness and Recovery Model, the Supported Employment Model, and other evidence-based practices.
• Ability to work cooperatively on a multidisciplinary team and with clients from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Food handler permit to serve food at a residential care facility.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to prioritize projects.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, and fluency in spoken and written Spanish.
• Ability to maintain proper documentation as determined by program requirements.
• Basic knowledge of computer software applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat.
• Ability to work a flexible full-time schedule, including some evening and weekend hours.

Nice To Haves

• Associate of Arts (AA) degree or higher from an accredited institution.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals living with serious mental illness in establishing a path toward recovery and stability.
• Provide care and case management, mental health and substance use recovery and wellness services, and crisis prevention and intervention as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Conduct intakes and comprehensive assessments with adults who may have psychiatric and co-occurring substance use disorders.
• Help clients create individual service plans based on recovery goals and steps to achieve those goals.
• Advocate for and liaise with participants within the criminal justice system, shelter system, hospitals, and outpatient services.
• Provide or connect participants with employment counseling, vocational rehabilitation, housing applications and placement, and life-skills training.
• Assist in developing community support systems and networks.
• Use motivational interviewing and recovery- and trauma-informed approaches when delivering services.
• Set up and sustain peer self-help and educational groups.
• Prepare, store, or serve food.
• Maintain accurate records after each client contact or service and complete electronic data entry in accordance with documentation and program compliance standards.
• Complete administrative tasks within timelines, including chart completion and meeting attendance.
• Contribute to team meetings and case conferences through case presentations, discussion of clinical issues, and exchange of information and ideas.
• Adhere to confidentiality laws and reporting requirements.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned to meet program goals and objectives.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED