JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: PEI FULL-TIME PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

POSITION TYPE: FULL-TIME, NON-EXEMPT

LOCATION: AMADOR COUNTY, CA

DO NOT APPLY THROUGH BAMBOOHR. WE WILL NOT RECEIVE YOUR APPLICATION. YOU MUST APPLY THROUGH CAL VOICES' ONLINE JOB APPLICATION LINKED HERE.

DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THIS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT HERE.

ABOUT CAL VOICES

Cal Voices is a 501(c)(3) public benefit organization dedicated to improving the lives of residents in the diverse communities throughout California through advocacy, education, research, and culturally relevant peer support services. In all its programs, Cal Voices works with individuals and families with mental health challenges to promote wellness and recovery, prevention, and improved access to services and supports.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Cal Voices has an immediate opening for a Full-time (37.5 hours per week) PEI Peer Support Specialist (PSS) for the Labyrinth Stress Reduction Project and LGBTQ Support Groups in Amador County. Under the supervision of the Cal Voices’ Program Manager, the PSS provides culturally-relevant peer support and linkage services to Amador County clients utilizing the Labyrinth Stress Reduction Project and LGBTQ Support Groups. The PSS will be responsible for providing labyrinth stress reduction services as a method for outreach and engagement in isolated, rural parts of Amador County and the underserved communities living in these regions. The goal of this position is to increase knowledge and understanding pertaining to mental health and improving timely access to Behavioral Health Services. Additionally, the PSS will work with Sierra Wind staff by facilitating peer-run support groups, providing one-on-one peer support and participating in other day to day operations of the center. The PSS will possess a thorough knowledge of community-based resources, and recovery-based services. The PSS will be expected to assist individuals and families in improving their quality of care through self-help support services and the development of other strategies, such as Wellness and Recovery Action Plans.

Cal Voices is a consumer-run grassroots advocacy organization. As such, applicants should have personal lived experience of recovery from a mental health challenge. Individuals with experience receiving public mental health services in any California county, who are bilingual/bicultural, and/or members of underserved groups (e.g., racial/ethnic minorities; LGBTQ community members, etc.) are strongly encouraged to apply. Familiarity with the concepts of wellness, recovery, peer support, cultural and linguistic competence, public mental health systems, and the Mental Health Services Act is highly desired for this position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants who do not possess all of these minimum qualifications will not be interviewed:

• Personal lived experience of recovery from a mental health challenge (applicants must meet the accepted definition of a mental health “consumer”)
• Member or ally of the LGBTQ community
• The ability to consistently work a minimum of 37.5 hours each week and adhere to an assigned schedule
• Knowledge of community event planning
• Reliable personal transportation readily accessible throughout the workday
• A valid class "C" California driver license
• An auto insurance policy meeting or exceeding the minimum legal standards in California
• A high school diploma or its equivalent
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• A clean criminal history, as evidenced by the results of a DOJ screening
• The ability to work evenings and weekends as program needs dictate
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Power Point, Publisher, Access and Excel)
• Any combination of education, training, and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities described herein

PLEASE CAREFULLY READ AND FOLLOW THE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AT THE END OF THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT. INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.

JOB DUTIES

Core Services

• Develop meaningful activities for program clients that decrease isolation and increase socialization, including activities that support clients’ recovery goals and reflect their cultural identities with focus on prevention and early intervention
• Conduct peer support groups and recovery-oriented group activities through the sharing of personal stories, validation, and reminiscing techniques

• Facilitate self-help support groups in natural settings
• Collaborates with staff, volunteers, and community members around specific strategies towards prevention and early intervention
• Link clients and family members with community resources, self-help supports, and recovery-based services
• Develop strategies to connect clients to benefits, entitlements, and resources
• Assist clients with setting recovery goals, developing an individual WRAP™, and solving problems directly related to recovery

Advocacy, Outreach and Engagement

• Conducts community outreach, trainings, presentations to educate community members
• Provide encouragement, motivation and support to the client who is seeking to establish or strengthen his/her recovery
• Provide outreach services to unserved and underserved individuals
• Assist clients in building and maintaining personal support networks
• Conduct data collection and client satisfaction surveys
• Attend trainings, meetings, and events with provider agencies and county mental health staff
• Ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times in accordance with Federal, State, County, and agency standards
• Plan and provide feedback related to support groups, workshops, conferences, and other coordinated efforts to improve mental health services
• Participate in crisis assistance training and other related training, as needed
• Facilitate meetings and make group presentations

Other Responsibilities

• Perform all other duties as assigned

• Create flyers, newsletters, and other publications for social marketing

• Develops Wellness and Recovery Action Plans (“WRAPs”) with clients

• Organize, coordinate, and participate in public presentations, community events, and cultural activities to promote and provide Labyrinth stress reduction services

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Candidates must possess KNOWLEDGE of:

• The basic needs and problems of adult mental health clients, including those from underserved and ethnic communities
• The complex public and/or private agency services available for individual’s mental health needs, including community and recovery-based resources and culture-specific groups
• Self-help and peer support principles
• Key elements, values, and goals of the Mental Health Services Act (Prop. 63)
• Current legislation, laws, and issues impacting mental health services in California
• Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher and PowerPoint

Successful candidates will have the ability to:

• Effectively communicate, establish, and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with a wide range of individuals and groups in various settings
• Demonstrate equality in relationship with clients and capacity for self-awareness
• Be proficient in Microsoft Office (outlook, excel, word, power point, publisher)
• Perform data collection activities
• Demonstrate the ability to shift problems into vision
• Assist in preparing monthly/quarterly reports

• Model effective coping techniques and communication skills

• Use language that is non-judgmental and non-clinical
• Demonstrate advocacy and teamwork skills
• Portray professionalism in appearance and conduct
• Demonstrate culturally-sensitive and appropriate interaction
• Apply self-help and support principles and techniques to problems and issues

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

This position requires employees to:

• Consistently work at least 37.5 hours per week, and adhere to an assigned work schedule
• Frequently drive to/from various locations within Amador County using their own transportation
• Perform moderate typing and engage in daily computer use
• Sit/remain stationary for the majority of the day
• Write notes or otherwise record important information
• Speak in public, make public presentations, and facilitate trainings and support groups
• Sometimes work in the evenings or on weekends to attend appointments, events, meetings, and trainings
• Occasionally travel to conferences/trainings held in distant locations
• Speak to others via telephone, in person, and in public settings
• Read, understand, and summarize information both verbally and in writing
• Make decisions and engage in ongoing problem-solving activities

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Employment at Cal Voices is strictly at-will and this position is dependent upon continued funding. Compensation begins at $18.00/hour. This is a full-time (37.5 hours/week) position. Full-time positions receive employer-paid medical, dental, and vision benefits, along with paid holidays and up to 150 hours (four weeks) of paid time off each year. Full-time employees may also enroll in our group life insurance and retirement plans.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

To apply for this position, you must apply online on

• Only online applications are accepted. Cal Voices will not consider resumes or other application materials submitted by email, fax, or in-person.
• Do your homework. We want to hire the right person, not a warm body. Learn about our agency, who we are, and what we do before you apply. Check out our website (www.norcalmha.org) and read about our programs. Your application will tell us whether you really want to work at Cal Voices or just want a job.
• Be prepared. Keep a copy of this job announcement with you when you complete the online application, as several questions will ask you to respond to specific information listed in this announcement. You must upload an electronic copy of your resume in the online application. A separate cover letter is not required. The online application asks you to provide the names and contact information for three professional references, so make sure this information is up-to-date and ready to go.

• Take your time. The online application takes about 20 minutes. You can save your progress at any time and return later to complete your application before the deadline. When reviewing your application, we will consider how your responses reflect your qualities as a potential employee. The ability to follow instructions, attention to detail, thoughtfulness, thoroughness, accuracy, spelling, and grammar all matter. Slow down and make your responses count.

APPLY ON OUR WEBSITE: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/3266206/Cal-Voices-Employment-Application

If you have any questions about this position or the online application, please contact:

CONTACT PERSON: Katrina Ozier

EMAIL/PHONE: tozier@calvoices.org | 209 223-1956

EMAIL SUBJECT LINE: PEI Peer Support Specialist