Mental Health Peer Support Worker

Salary : $59,868.64 - $72,171.84 Annually

Location : Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA

Job Type : Full-Time / Part-Time

Job Number : 25-D2J-A

Department : Behavioral Health Services

Opening Date : 01 / 06 / 2025

Closing Date : 1 / 21 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit : 01

Description

Under supervision, the Mental Health Peer Support Worker provides support and wellness / recovery services to peers (consumers of mental health services and their family members / caregivers) in the community.

The County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department (BHSD) strives to be a premier integrated behavioral health care provider, employer, and partner. We are a passionate team of caring, courageous staff and professionals dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals, children, families, and older adults impacted by mental health and substance use challenges. To support achievement of their hopes, dreams, and quality of life goals, our team provides high quality whole-person care and comprehensive community-based behavioral services through the lens of race, equity, diversity and inclusion. We are looking for stellar health care professionals like you to start a rewarding career with us and be a partner for health and wellness in the community.

This Mental Health Peer Support Worker posting is being opened to create a list that will be used to fill vacancies for the next 3-4 months. Qualified applicants will remain on the list for the next 3-4 months and will be referred to available vacancies during that time. The supplemental questions on the bulletin are important for the filtering process, so be sure to select all those that you are interested in.

Learn more about the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services at and follow us on :

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Typical Tasks

Depending on Assignment)

• Informs peers regarding the wellness and recovery process, including the consumer / family, self-help and empowerment movements and self-help practices in support of mental health recovery;
• Communicates, represents and promotes the peer perspective within the mental health system;
• Provides peer assistance and mentoring on a one-to-one basis;
• Develops and promotes wellness and recovery groups;
• Assists in a variety of support activities including peer support groups, peer recovery and family and / or psycho-educational groups;
• Advocates for peers in the development of a strength-based wellness and recovery plan;
• Develops effective working relationships with agencies and organizations to advocate for consumer and family / caregiver empowerment including self-help and wellness / recovery movements;
• May provide outreach to peers in the community;
• Assists peers in navigation of the mental health system, referral to various county agencies, community mental health organizations, accessing benefits, personal medical services, social and recreational opportunities, special events, conferences, workshops and training;
• Advocates that peers' needs are met by appropriate caregivers;
• Develops communication and marketing materials for program activities;
• Confers with professional staff to assist in evaluating peer needs or problems;
• Provides appropriate documentation and paperwork as needed on peer services;
• May provide transportation to peers;
• Attends trainings and staff meetings as required;
• May perform as a disaster service worker;
• Performs related work as assigned.

Employment Standards

Sufficient education, training and experience to demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities listed below.

Experience Note : The knowledge and abilities are typically acquired through lived experience as a consumer (or family member / caregiver) of the services provided by a mental health services program AND six (6) months of experience providing direct mental health peer support or peer recovery services to individuals or working with family members / caregivers of individuals with mental health issues.

A valid California driver's license and County permit.

Knowledge of :

Ability to :

The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more

The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification.

In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below.

Retirement Benefits

The County offers robust retirement plans including a (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being.

Health Flexible Spending Account

The empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)

The enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the , an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000.

Life and AD&D

The County offers life and disability benefits including , Insurance, These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial / legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support.

Employee Wellness

The offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey.

Education Reimbursement

A generous program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development.

NOTE : Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts.

Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes.

Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED for your application and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun. Vague, incomplete or non-responsive answers could result in no or low scores in a competitive rating process. A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. Do you understand these requirements?

Do you possess lived experience as a consumer of mental health services; or do you have a family member or someone you are the caregiver for, who uses the services provided by a mental health services program?

As a condition of funding for this position, it is required that the incumbent either be a consumer of mental health services or a family member / caregiver of a consumer. Please describe how you have obtained life experience as a consumer of mental health services or a family member / caregiver of a consumer.

Do you possess at least six (6) months of experience providing direct mental health peer support or peer recovery services to individuals or working with family members / caregivers of individuals with mental health issues?

Describe your experience providing direct mental health peer support or peer recovery services to individuals, or working with family members / caregivers of individuals with mental health issues.

Do you hold an active California Driver's License?

Enter your California Driver's license number and the expiration date. If you do not possess one, enter "N / A".

Please select the number of years of life or work experience that you possess with a Mental Health Services Program.

How many years of experience do you possess providing direct mental health peer support services?

Select from the list below which experiences you have assisting others in navigating Mental Health Services?

Select the knowledge you have of or use in Peer Support / Wellness and Recovery Model. You may select multiple functions.

Please select any of the diverse communities you have experience working with :

Describe your experience and your approach to providing peer support based mental health services / substance use treatment services to the diverse community / communities you selected in the previous question. Include in your response the name of the employer, job title, dates of experience, hours worked per week and your specific responsibilities. If none, please indicate "N / A."

Do you have at least 6 months experience working (paid or volunteering) with transgender / gender-diverse folks?

Please describe your experience working with transgender / gender diverse folks. If none, please indicate "N / A."

Do you possess experience providing peer support or peer recovery services to others in substance use treatment services, or lived experience with a substance use treatment services program?

How many years of experience do you possess providing direct substance use peer assistance and mentoring on one-to-one basis to adolescents and youth dealing with substance use issues?

Select which types of experiences below you have assisting adolescents and youth in navigating the Substance Use Treatment Services System of Care.

Describe any work, advocacy, or volunteer experience you have had in a substance use treatment services program serving the family members of adolescents and youth with substance use disorder. Include in your response the name of the employer, job title, dates of experience, hours worked per week and your specific responsibilities. If none, please indicate "N / A."

Which Santa Clara County regions are you willing to work? Check all that apply.

How did you find out about this job?

If you selected an event / fair or other in the question above, please specify. If not, type n / a.

CERTIFICATION

Do you certify that all of the statements made on this form are true, complete and correct to the best of your knowledge and belief and are made in good faith? Do you understand that you may be expected to substantiate these self-ratings if invited to interview for this position?

Required Question

Salary : $59,869 - $72,172