Santa Barbara County Peer Support Specialist Trainee

The Position

Under direct supervision, provide information, support, assistance and advocacy for clients and/or caregivers/family members of clients of behavioral health services (mental health and co-occurring substance use disorder). Incumbents in this class provide training, support, encouragement, and related duties to assist clients and family/caregivers in coping with immediate situations. Incumbents in these classes work within a system of interdisciplinary departmental teams and will provide feedback and perspective to the behavioral health system relative to the impact and effectiveness of the services provided.

This is the entry-level class in the Behavioral Wellness Peer Specialist series. Incumbents in this class may promote to the Peer Certified Support Specialist with satisfactory work performance and upon meeting the minimum qualifications of the latter class.

The Ideal Candidate will have when working with the Behavioral Wellness Department:

• Individuals with lived experience, OR who are the parents, guardians, caregivers and/or family members living with individuals with a behavioral health, alcohol and/or substance use disorders
• Willingness and ability to effectively disclose that experience to consumers in order to establish credibility and empathy and provide examples of recovery and real-life strategies for dealing with mental illness
• Develop and maintain sound working relationships with diverse people and personalities
• Successfully work with and interact with all levels of staff and contract service agencies
• Work independently, organize and prioritize work, and meet critical deadlines
• Handle multiple tasks with competing priorities
• Be open to change and new information, and adapt behavior and work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, and unexpected obstacles
• Have the ability to prepare and write clear and concise documents (e.g., memoranda, and correspondence)
• Exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyzing and projecting consequences of decisions and/or recommendations
• Contribute to and document initial and ongoing biopsychosocial client evaluations and assessments
• Contribute to development and revision of written plan of care
• Demonstrate computer literacy for electronic health record documentation
• Recognize and communicate observations related to effects and side effects of medications and signs of substance intoxication or withdrawal
• Provide client/family education regarding client’s disposition
• Assist with incorporating discharge planning into client’s care
• Have experience providing services to persons with severe and persistent mental illness
• Have Bilingual skills in English & Spanish and/or Mixteco; desired, but not required

Examples of Duties:

• Provides personal lived experience of behavioral health related to recovery and resiliency to the people served in the behavioral health system of care.
• Supports the work of PEER Certified Support Specialists in informing, training, and empowering clients and families/caregivers of clients who directly or indirectly receive behavioral health services.
• Attends and participates in special events, conferences, workshops and trainings within the mental health system and in the community.
• Helps clients and those who support them to articulate their needs.
• Serves as a role model for clients.
• Supports the appropriate acceptance and understanding of social and cultural factors in the provision of behavioral health services.
• Provides mutual support to clients while providing transportation services.
• Observes and reports the behavioral, emotional and physical state of clients verbally and in writing to supervisor(s) and/or treatment team. Assists clients in completing online forms and applications.
• Provide the client and family/caregiver perspective in the development of programs and services and in the formulation of treatment strategies.

Employment Standards:
In order to be considered for this position, applicants must provide detailed information on their application to demonstrate how they meet the employment standards (minimum qualifications) listed below:

A high school diploma or GED equivalent; AND,

1. Experience interacting with behavioral health services or its systems of care; or
2. A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to the employment standard listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Additional Qualifications: Incumbents must complete CalMHSA Peer Support Specialist training within the first year of hire.