Certified Peer Support Specialist/Trainee (Multiple Locations)

The Riverside University Health System's Behavioral Health Department is seeking multiple Bilingual and Non-Bilingual Certified Peer Support Specialists/Trainees. This posting will be used to fill current and future vacancies for Consumer, Parent Partner, and Family Advocate openings. Positions throughout multiple locations across Riverside County.

• Consumer: Has personal recovery experience from mental health or substance abuse, for at least 1 year.

• Family Advocate: Has experience guiding family members through their mental health or substance recovery journey for at least 1 year (can be friend that they consider to be family).

• Parent/Partner: Has direct experience as a parent/foster parent assisting their children through their mental health recovery for at least 1 year.

In order to be considered, candidates must be able to share personal experiences with others.

HOW IT WORKS

• Applicants will answer questions about personal experience, work experience, and qualifications.

• The most competitive applicants (based on specialized skills) will be referred

         for interviews.

• Applicants will receive email notification once their application is no longer being

         considered due to Candidate Pool expiration.

Some positions may require a law enforcement background investigation which requires completion of an extensive questionnaire, meeting with a background investigator, and submitting several references.

Competitive candidates will possess current or previous experience as a consumer, family advocate or parent partner of mental health or substance recovery services.

Schedule: Schedules vary depending on location and department needs.

Valid California Driver's License and CALMHSA MEDI-CAL PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION may be required at various locations.

Under direction, provide information, support and assistance and advocacy for recipients, and/or caregivers/family members of consumers of mental health services and to provide feedback and perspective to the mental health system relative to the impact and effectiveness of the services provided and to do other work as required.

Incumbents in this class perform the full journey level scope of assignments in the Mental Health Peer Specialist series and report to either a program supervisor or a regional manager; team with mental health professionals in the provision of consumer treatment, directly assist consumers and families/caregivers in the utilization of appropriate community resources, provide education and information to consumers and the community; and provide a unique consumer perspective to the mental health team.

Incumbents in this class provide a full range of information, training, support, encouragement, advocacy, service effectiveness assessment and related services in order to assist the consumer and family/caregiver in coping with immediate situations. The consumer and family/caregiver perspective is provided in the development of programs and services and in formulation of treatment strategies. Incumbents of this class do not attempt to modify or change the consumer's personality structure. Classes in this series differ from those in the Clinical Therapist series in that the latter, due to advanced education and experience, use independent judgment in making diagnoses, developing treatment plans, and providing a wide range and variety of mental health services including psychotherapy. This series differs from the Behavioral Health Specialist series in that the latter provides general counseling, initial assessment and case management. In contrast, this series provides information and assistance based on the unique perspective of being a recipient of or having been closely associated with the direct receipt of mental health services. 

"Applications will be reviewed in the order of when it was received"

Peer Support Specialist Trainee

• Provide meaningful self-disclosure of personal lived experience of behavior health-related and/or substance abuse-related recovery and resiliency to the people served in the system of care (required by State Certification).

• In a training capacity, 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.

• Facilitate self-help groups for consumers, youth, family members, and caregivers.

• Attend and participate in special events, conferences, workshops, and trainings within the behavioral health system and in the community.

• Develop 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 working relationships with agencies and organizations to advocate for consumer, family and caregiver empowerment.

• Help prepare and support clients, families and 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.

• Assist and promote consumers and those who support them in support networks and activities.

• Document all activities as required, following appropriate Medi-Cal billing practices.

Certified Peer Support Specialist

•  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 (required by State Certification).

• 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.

• Facilitate self-help groups for clients, youth, family members, and caregivers.

• Attend and participate in special events, conferences, workshops, and trainings within the behavioral health system and in the community.

• Develop activities, programs and resources which support consumers, families and caregivers in achieving their goals.

• Supports the appropriate recognition, acceptance and understanding of social and cultural factors in the provision of behavioral health services.

• Develop effective working relationships with agencies and organizations to advocate for consumer, family and caregiver empowerment.

• Help prepare and support clients, families and 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.

• Assist and promote consumers and those who support them in support networks and activities.

• Document all activities as required, following appropriate Medi-Cal billing practices. 

Peer Support Specialist Trainee Recruiting Guidelines:

Mental Health Peer Specialist Trainee : $18.69 - $25.62

Education: Possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate is required.

Experience: Depending on the assignment, 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 and/or substance abuse consumer.

Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification must be obtained within two (2) years of the employee start date. Failure to obtain a Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification may lead to termination.

License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required.

Knowledge of: The basic needs and difficulties faced by ethnically diverse consumers, 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.

Ability to: Learn the basic principles of the behavioral health system and effectively work within the system; represent and advocate for the consumer perspective within the community and behavioral health system; understand 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; establish and maintain working relationships with a wide range of community agencies and organizations; obtain and record accurate information for case documentation and other reports.

Certified Peer Support Specialist Recruiting Guidelines:

Mental Health Peer Specialist : $22.41 - $30.50

Education: Possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate is required.

Experience: Depending on the assignment, 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 and/or substance abuse consumer.

AND

California State Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification.

A valid Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification must be obtained prior to the employment start date. Employees holding a Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification must be re-certified every two (2) years. Failure to maintain a valid Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification may lead to termination.

License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required.

Knowledge of: The needs and difficulties faced by ethnically diverse consumers, families and caregivers 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; and methods to effectively communicate with consumers, families and caregivers, the community and the behavioral health treatment team.

Ability to: 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; establish 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.

For specific questions regarding this position, please contact Valeria Ramirez by e-mail at Varamirez@rivco.org