Certified PEER Support Specialist​/Trainee; Family Advocate

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 Family Advocates. Positions are available throughout multiple locations across Riverside County.

• Has personal experience assisting a family member over the age of 18 with their behavioral health or substance recovery for at least 1 year.

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

• 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. Applications may remain active up to 6 months.

Schedules vary depending on location and department needs.

• Peer Support Specialist Trainee: $19.43 - $26.64
• Certified Peer Support Specialist: $23.30 - $31.71

Valid California Driver's License and CALMHSA Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification may be required at various locations.

The Certified Peer Support Specialist performs the full journey level scope of assignments in the Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist series and reports to either a program supervisor or a regional manager team with behavioral health professionals in the provision of consumer treatment, directly assisting consumers, families and caregivers in the utilization of appropriate community resources, providing education and information to consumers and the community, and provides a unique consumer perspective to the behavioral health team.

Incumbents provide a full range of information, training, support, encouragement, advocacy, service effectiveness assessment, and related services in order to assist the consumer, family and caregiver in coping with immediate situations. The consumer, family and caregiver perspective is provided in the development of programs and services and in formulation of treatment strategies. Incumbents do not attempt to modify or change the consumer's personality structure.

Responsibilities include:

• 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.
• 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 be sensitive to consumer, family and caregiver satisfaction with the services received and general satisfaction with behavioral health services.
• Assist and promote consumers and those…