Peer Support Specialist

Salary information: $3,214 - $4,103 approximate monthly / $18.54 - $23.67 approximate hourly. This position is in the UPEC General bargaining unit. Please refer to the applicable bargaining unit labor agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) for potential future salary increases: Shasta County Labor Agreements. Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere. With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. The Probation Department provides services and supervision, accountability, rehabilitation, and support services for both youth and adults in the criminal justice system to include divisionary services, conducts pre-sentence/adjudication investigations, prepares sentencing and disposition reports and other court ordered reports, makes placement recommendations for juveniles and adults, completes assessments, and develops case plans. Following sentencing/disposition, the department monitors adults placed on formal supervision and juveniles placed on supervision by the court and given terms of probation. The major divisions and "core" functions of the department are adult and juvenile intake and supervision, adult pretrial services, and the Community Corrections Center providing reentry services. Under general supervision and in cooperation with professionals and paraprofessionals, learn to perform a variety of paraprofessional services in the community or clinic setting; act as a resource and support system for participants; provide liaison functions between participants and service providers; support self-empowerment of participants to act on their own behalf regarding their needs; provide services to participants and their family members/caregivers, both individually and in group settings, and perform related work as required. The Peer Support Specialist is a paraprofessional class and is distinguished from licensed and case management personnel in that the Peer Support Specialist does not assume primary responsibility for participants. The ideal candidate will be able to meet the criteria to become certified through California Mental Health Services Authority, which requires being at least 18 years old and possession of a high school diploma or equivalent. Having experience participating in related programs is desirable. A candidate selected to move forward must not be on active Probation or on Probation Supervision in the last three (3) years and will be required to complete a background investigation. Act as a resource and provide direct assistance and guidance to participants of the related programs; coordinate services for participants; supports and engages participants in productive activities which promote growth toward a successful outcome; provide support and advocacy to help participants stabilize and benefit from treatment and services; support participants in combating negative self-talk, overcoming fears, and solving problems; provide assistance and mentoring on a one-on-one basis with participants; act as a resource for participants/family members/caregivers regarding services, referral information, and guidance in understanding agency policies and procedures; support participants in articulating, setting, and accomplishing goals; participate as a team member in the collaboration of assessment and treatment of participants; facilitate connections for participants/family members/caregivers to other community resources or providers; follow agency protocol when delivering programmatic guidance, as well as making referrals to health care providers and relevant programs within the community when the participants' issues are not within the Peer Support Specialist's scope of work; participate in reciprocal education with other providers to support integration of peer support within provider teams; facilitate educational and support groups for participants/family members/caregivers; communicate with community based organizations on behalf of participants, family members, and other related parties as part of connecting and engaging them in services within the community; provide case management services; assist with related paperwork and tasks; provide support during legal hearings; provide transportation for appointments, interviews, court hearings, etc.; collect relevant data during assessments and interventions within the scope of work; maintain accurate and current documentation; and attend regularly scheduled meetings and trainings. Support the work of professional staff; assist with trainings in accordance with local and state policies; assist in quality control assurance activities, evaluation of documentation, inventory of equipment and supplies, and team meeting facilitation; facilitate the provision of programmatic services to participants and corresponding education as necessary; assist with the facilitation of participant classes and peer support groups; accompany licensed staff into the community to participate in support of participants, family members, and caregivers during crisis responses; provide evidence based resources for the safety of participants; collaborate with staff and community partners; promote positive relationships and open communication between participants, family members, caregivers and other staff; and may promote programmatic services through public speaking engagements in the community, as well as personal contacts with prospective participants, family members, and caregivers. Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following: Basic knowledge of programmatic issues faced by participants; counseling techniques; the principles of wellness, resiliency, and recovery; the power of beliefs/values and how they support or work against recovery; the steps necessary to establish healing relationships; the importance of self-care; may acquire knowledge of federal, state, and local program policies, and procedures; knowledge of local community resources available to participants, family members, and caregivers which may require referral; cultural issues and factors in service delivery; confidentiality and ethical standards; and working knowledge of computers, social media platforms, texting, and telephone communication skills. Understand and interact sensitively, effectively, and professionally with persons and participants from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, including supervisors, managers, co-workers, professionals, other agencies, and members of the public; communicate effectively; articulate the difference in treatment goals vs. recovery goals; co-facilitate a variety of group activities that support and strengthen recovery; deal with conflict and difficult interpersonal relations in the workplace; disseminate information on the benefits of services within the various programs; support participants with excellent customer service; provide transportation; effectively work with people in crisis situations; provide support and coaching to participants; communicate rules and objectives; handle multiple tasks; organize and prioritize; follow written and oral instruction; use computers and related software, databases, and social media platforms; work effectively as part of a team; and maintain confidentiality standards for all participants. Having been a participant of the related program and/or having personal experience of a consumer (e.g. family member and/or care giver) of the services provided by the related program. Possession of a valid California driver's license. Please explain your personal and/or family experience with mental illness, substance use disorder, criminal justice system involvement, child welfare and/or foster care as required for this position. If none, please type N/A. Have you ever received services from a Peer Support Specialist and/or related program? If "Yes," please indicate when you were a participant and what type of training and program. If "No," please type N/A. I have received a high school diploma or equivalent. Yes/No I acknowledge this position requires an appropriate California driver's license. Yes/NoWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk or hear, and taste or smell. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside-weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. All new employees are required to have their paycheck directly deposited to a bank account. Some positions may require a valid California driver's license and acceptable driving record according to County policy. Reasonable accommodations may be made for those persons who are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of the position. As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a preliminary offer of employment with Shasta County will be subject to a background investigation, including a criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history, (if any), will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered. Based on the results of the background investigation and criminal history check, applicants may then be provided with an offer of employment conditioned on the results of a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol testing. Shasta County participates in E-Verify. For more information visit DOJ Right to Work Poster. If you do not have internet access, contact Personnel at (530) 225-5515 to request a flyer. In accordance with Government Code Section 3100