Senior Certified Peer Support Specialist

County of Riverside•Throughout Riverside County, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health is seeking a qualified Senior Certified Peer Support Specialist to support the Peer Certification program in Riverside, CA. Senior Certified Peer Support Specialists draw upon their advanced lived experience in behavioral health or substance use recovery, combined with formal State Certification, to provide leadership, training, mentorship, and direct peer support services. In this role, incumbents facilitate certification trainings, support trainees, collaborate with clinical teams, and model recovery-oriented practices while promoting hope, empowerment, and resilience. Senior Peer Specialists serve as role models within the peer workforce, offering guidance, structured training, and ongoing support to new and existing Peer Support Specialists. They ensure that peer services are delivered in alignment with state standards, trauma-informed practices, and RUHS-BH values. Competitive candidates will possess a CALMHSA state certification and prior Certified Peer Support Specialist work experience.

Requirements

Possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate is required.
Current or previous recovery experience as a consumer of behavioral health and/or substance abuse services or as a family member/caregiver of a former or current behavioral health consumer.
One year as a Medi-Cal Certified Peer Support Specialist, or an out-of-state peer support certification holder with two (2) years of direct full time peer support work experience, with the understanding that Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification is required within six (6) months of the employment start date.
Knowledge of the basic principles and practices of leadership and training; the needs and difficulties faced by clients, caregivers and families of behavioral health and/or substance abuse consumers; the public and/or private agency services available for families, children and adults with serious behavioral health needs, such as schools, social services and other systems; the self-help and consumer oriented treatment models; methods to effectively communicate with consumers, families and caregivers, the community, and the behavioral health treatment team.
Ability to act in a lead capacity; understand the principles of the behavioral health system and effectively work within the system; effectively represent and advocate for the consumer perspective within the community and behavioral health system; understand and articulate the cultural and social factors affecting behavior patterns; effectively communicate the workings of the behavioral health system to service consumers, parents, family members, and caregivers; develop and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of community agencies and organizations; obtain and record accurate information for case documentation and other reports.
Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required.
A valid Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification must be obtained within six (6) months of the employment start date.
Employees holding a Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification must be recertified every two (2) years.
Failure to maintain a valid Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification may lead to termination.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application.
The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

Nice To Haves

Possess a CALMHSA state certification
Prior Certified Peer Support Specialist work experience

Responsibilities

Provide meaningful self-disclosure of personal lived experience of behavioral health-related or substance abuse-related recovery and resiliency to the people served in the system of care and the peer employees train, support and mentor (required by State Certification)
Act as a resource person for and assist in the training, work assignment and supervision of other peer specialists.
Provide guidance and leadership in the solution of the most complex consumer service and case related situations.
Inform, train, support, and empower consumers, families and caregivers who directly or indirectly receive behavioral health services.
Communicate, represent and promote the consumer, families and caregivers' perspective within the behavioral health system.
Develop and co-facilitate self-help groups for consumers, youth, family members, and caregivers.
Attend, participate and take a leadership role in special events, conferences, workshops, and trainings within the behavioral health system and in the community.
Develop and promote activities, programs and resources which support consumers, families and caregivers in achieving their goals.
Support the appropriate recognition, acceptance and understanding of social and cultural factors in the provision of behavioral health services.
Develop effective personal and departmental working relationships with agencies and organizations to advocate for consumer, family and caregiver empowerment.
Help prepare and support consumers and families/caregivers at consumer progress consultation meetings and at a variety of formal and informal hearings.
Help consumers and those who support them to articulate their needs.
Focus on and is sensitive to consumer, family and caregiver satisfaction with the services received and general satisfaction with behavioral health services; investigate the most sensitive complaints.
Assist and promote consumers and those who support them in support networks and activities.
Document all activities as required.