Peer Support Specialist

About the role

SSG-Project 180 turns lives around through innovative, wraparound services that keep people out of institutions and in their communities. Project 180 is a leader in the forensic treatment space, offering high-quality, specialized treatment programs that serve thousands of justice-involved individuals. Our programs span criminal justice intercepts and include pre-arrest interventions, court-based diversions, jail in-reach, and intensive post-release services. Project 180 operates in partnership with County agencies including the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Department of Health Services (DHS), and the Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD).

Program

The Project Based Housing program is funded by the Department of Health Service (DHS) Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR), the ODR/ICMS program provides intensive wraparound services to the high-need/high-barrier behavioral health population in the LA County jail system. The program provides permanent supportive housing for some of the most underserved or highest utilizers in the county system. Services are delivered through a recovery oriented, harm reduction framework.

Position

The Peer Support Specialist is a member of the multidisciplinary team providing recovery-oriented services to individuals with a forensic background. This position reports to the PBH Program Supervisor and, using lived experience, the Peer Support Specialist promotes hope, engagement, and self-determination while supporting clients with engagement, skill building, community integration and helping clients to access behavioral health services, housing, benefits, and community resources.

Essential Functions

• Provide peer-to-peer support and counseling drawing from lived experience
• Actively engage clients in services through the development of strong rapport, consistent contact, use of motivational interviewing, and de-escalation techniques
• Provide outreach services as needed, meeting clients “where they are at” (service location, client’s point of view)
• Absess immediate safety concerns and respond appropriately to behavioral health crises using verbal de-escalation, conflict resolution, and crisis intervention techniques
• Provide a calm, supportive presence during high-stress situations while maintaining professional boundaries and exercising sound judgement
• Provide individual and group psychoeducation related to recovery skills. Services to target cornerstones of recovery-oriented care (instilling hope, empowerment, self-responsibility and engaging in meaningful roles)
• Coordinate community-based treatment services
• Aid in developing community living skills, including navigating public systems, accessing resources, and building natural supports
• Link clients to needed community resources to support independence (e.g. employment, education, recovery)
• Maintain awareness of environmental and situational safety risks during client engagement and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of clients, staff, and community members
• Engage with multidisciplinary treatment team to coordinate client care
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings with the on site treatment team as well as relevant community partners
• Conduct pro-active outreach and engagement to individuals within the PBH building and community alongside members of the treatment team
• Monitor ongoing participation in services/use of resources and facilitate problem solving to target barriers. Accompany clients to linkage appointments when appropriate
• Collaborate with external partners (i.e. DMH, DSH, DPH- SAPC, probation, primary care clinics, etc.) to ensure high quality, integrated care
• Leverage unique skills and abilities of team members in service delivery
• Coordinate crisis response with treatment team and support with linkage to available community resources

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain comprehensive case notes in the electronic health record per program guidelines
• Maintain and submit billing records per program guidelines
• Participate in program data collection per program guidelines
• Adhere to mandated reporting requirements

Skills and Abilities

• Empathetic and able to develop strong relationships with clients
• Communication skills: Clearly conveys information, builds rapport, and effectively engages with clients
• Culturally competent: Understands and is sensitive to diverse backgrounds and needs
• Collaborative: Able to work in diverse teams to solve complex issues
• Adaptive to changing circumstances and client needs in a dynamic environment
• Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Detail-oriented, organized and has strong time management skills

Minimum Qualifications

• Lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery and willingness to share recovery experience
• California Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification is required upon hire or must be obtained within 90 days of the employees start date
• Experience working with culturally diverse populations
• Valid CA driver’s license, proof of insurance and own vehicle required
• Ability to transport clients in their personal vehicle
• Must not be on any type of legal supervision (probation or parole)

Preferred

• Experience working with the forensic and/or dual diagnosed populations
• Experience working on an interdisciplinary team in a mental health or outpatient setting
• Knowledge of and experience with providing trauma informed services
• Spanish speaking