Senior Certified Peer Support Specialist (HHOPE Program Desert Region)

County of Riverside, CA - Indio, CA

- Senior

Indio, CA

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

About the position

The Riverside University Health System's Behavioral Health Department is seeking a Senior Certified Peer Support Specialist. This posting will be used to fill current and future vacancies for open positions in Indio, CA and will have a 5/40 or 9/80 schedule. This position will be working to provide assistance with mental health or substance recovery programs and will require candidates to be comfortable with peer-to-peer support, recovery model concepts, state and federal guidelines for the practice of peer support and billing practices for peer providers. Their role in the service system is one of leadership and partnering with clinic supervisors and program administrators to support the continuum of growth and development for all staff in the Riverside University Health System-Behavioral Health (RUHS-BH) system. They are charged to assist program and clinic to sustain mission standards of providing environments that reflect hope, wellness and recovery practices to the people we serve. Incumbents will also be conducting outreach towards unhoused, community, and enhanced care populations.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Clinic Supervisor and Program Administrator to meet Department needs.
• Be comfortable with street outreach to the Justice Involved community, including homeless outreach, collaboration with probation and sheriff partners.
• Interact/work with medical/psychiatric doctors, directors, and psychiatric student doctors.
• Attend various County meetings representing Consumer Peer Services and Transitional Age Youth programs.
• 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.
• 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.

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.
• Medi-Cal Peer Support Certificate or out of state certificate must be uploaded with your resume.

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of the basic principles and practices of leadership and training.
• Knowledge of the needs and difficulties faced by clients, caregivers and families of behavioral health and/or substance abuse consumers.
• Knowledge of the public and/or private agency services available for families, children and adults with serious behavioral health needs.
• Knowledge of self-help and consumer oriented treatment models.
• Ability to effectively represent and advocate for the consumer perspective within the community and behavioral health system.

Benefits

• Salary pending on experience.
• Driver's License Required.