Peer Support Specialist

Peer Support Specialist

Bridge Housing Site Management and Support Services

Justice Services Division

Agency Overview

Felton Institute responds to the needs of our community by providing innovative, evidence-informed social services that transform lives. Our organization offers 60+ programs that address mental health, the unhoused, early care and education, those impacted by the justice system, transitional age youth, as well as aging adults. Our programs combine the latest scientific research with cultural sensitivity and a deep commitment to supporting and reflecting the communities we serve. Felton offers a dynamic, challenging, and supportive work environment where we encourage the use of professional development, that staff can utilize throughout their career.

Program Description

Bridge Housing is intended to address the immediate shelter, and treatment needs of people who have serious behavioral health conditions and are experiencing homelessness. The site management and support services team are responsible in maintaining a 80-bed transitional recovery and community re-entry housing facility for those suffering from mental illness and/or substance use disorder who are experiencing homelessness. The target population often suffers from complex and co-occurring medical conditions and other characteristics that can challenge their ability to navigate mental health, physical health, and substance use treatment in the Santa Rosa community. This interim shelter is for individuals experiencing homelessness who have serious behavioral health conditions and/or substance use disorder issues who are willing to receive treatment. A particular focus will be Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court clients with a court-ordered care plan. CARE Court is aimed at helping those suffering from untreated mental health and substance use disorders that lead to homelessness, incarceration, or worse. Services include 24/7 medical and clinical staffing with a department-assigned Housing Coordinator who will provide “gatekeeping” to assure appropriateness of all referrals. Referrals must be clients with a mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorder and are either precariously housed or are unsheltered. The proposed services will provide enhanced support to help homeless clients quickly exit to permanent housing utilizing a client-centered modality. A client-centered approach can also include a public defender and supporter to help make self-directed care decisions in addition to their full clinical team.

Position Summary

• Peer Provider will support individuals living with serious mental illness to establish a path towards recovery and stability.
• Provide care and case management, mental health and substance use recovery and wellness services, and crisis prevention and intervention within context of multidisciplinary Team.
• Peer Support Specialist will adhere to laws regarding confidentiality and reporting requirements, and will maintain accurate, detailed observation and progress records for electronic data entry.
• Perform administrative tasks within timelines (chart completion, meeting attendance, etc.).
• Works a flexible, full-time schedule to accommodate program/client needs. Some evening and weekend hours are required. This is not a 9-5 position in an outpatient clinic.
• Performs intake and comprehensive assessments with adults who may have psychiatric and dual diagnosis disabilities (substance use disorders).
• Help clients create individual service plans based on recovery goals and steps to achieve those goals.
• Advocate for and liaise with participants within the criminal justice, shelter system, hospitals, and outpatient services.
• Provide or connect participants with employment counseling, vocational rehabilitation, completion of housing applications and placement, and provision of life skills training.
• Assist in the development of community support systems and networks.
• Use motivational interviewing, recovery and trauma-informed approaches when delivering services.
• Set up and sustain peer self-help and educational groups.
• Food prep involved including the preparation, storage, or service of food
• Maintains records after each client contact or service, in accordance within Felton Institute’s documentation and program compliance standards.
• Contributes to team meetings and case conferences through presentation of cases, discussion of clinical issues, and exchange of information and ideas.
• Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as required in order to meet program goals and objectives.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least a High School Diploma, required. Associate of Arts (AA) degree or higher from an accredited institution, is preferred.
• Minimum of 1-year therapeutic intervention experience, applying comprehensive range of case management and substance abuse counseling, assessment and crisis intervention skills
• Lived experience (mental health challenges and/or in recovery from a substance use disorder, and prior involvement with the criminal justice system).
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Wellness and Recovery Model, the Support Employment Model, and other evidenced based practices.
• Ability to work cooperatively on a multidisciplinary team, and to work with clients of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds
• A food handler permit to serve food at a residential care facility
• Strong organizational, time-management skills and ability to prioritize projects.
• Strong communication & Interpersonal skills and fluent Spanish speaking and writing
• Ability to maintain proper documentation as determined by programmatic requirements
• Basic knowledge of a variety of computer software applications (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat).

Additional Information

Reports to: Program Manager

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Onsite

Salary Range: $34 - $36 per hour (DOE)

Benefits (subject to election and eligibility): Fully-Paid Medical and Dental Plans; Health Reimbursement Card, Paid Time Off (personal, vacation, and sick time), 403B with company match.

This position is union-represented by SEIU Local 1021 and is subject to the applicable collective bargaining agreemen t.

Applying Instruction

Candidates should apply for the position at our career page “careers.felton.org” OR directly email resumes to “jobs@felton.org”.

IMP NOTE: Job responsibilities are subject to change according to program requirements.