Peer Support Specialist

Peer Support Specialist

Crossroads to Hope

Agency Overview

Felton Institute responds to the needs of our community by providing innovative, evidence-informed social services that transform lives. Our organization offers 50 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
Crossroads to Hope is peer-run transitional housing for adults with serious mental health challenges who are diverted into community-based treatment from the criminal justice system. Staff with lived experience and certified as peer providers provide 24-hour on-site support and services in a County-owned home in Downtown Santa Rosa. Peer providers support their peers both individually and in groups.
Crossroads seeks to enhance a multi-modality approach for adult diversion clients who are determined to be at-risk for IST (Incompetent to Stand Trial) by adding intensive peer support services for up to 6 individuals at one time within a transitional housing environment. Eligible individuals will be identified through Sonoma County’s Pretrial program process using a Pretrial Risk Assessment Tool, Public Safety Assessment administered by the Department of Probation. Additionally, a county clinician is embedded within the pretrial process to conduct needs assessments and determine appropriate levels of care for those individuals in custody. The clinician consults with clients about available treatments in the community and with their consent, the clinician provides a warm handoff to services where the Crossroads to Hope peer provider support team will meet with the client before they are scheduled for placement into the program.

Job Description
The Peer-led, client-centered program includes recovery and wellness strategies, independent living skills, building a support network, accessing community resources, and establishing long-term stable housing.
Peer Providers will collaborate with clinicians from the ACT team to conduct an intake, support clientdriven recovery plans, facilitate educational and support groups, provide navigation for needed community services, and help support the overall well-being of the residents. Peer Provider will support individuals living with serious mental illness to establish a path towards recovery and stability.
Peer Provider will adhere to laws regarding confidentiality and reporting requirements, and will maintain accurate, detailed observation and progress records for electronic data entry. Additional duties may be assigned as needed in order to meet the requirements of the program.

Program Specific Responsibilities

• Help clients create individual service plans based on recovery goals and steps to achieve those goals.
• Advocate for and liaise with clients within the criminal justice and upon release for what they need
• Provide or connect clients 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 to stabilize client’s living situation.
• Provides crisis prevention planning and crisis intervention and support, as appropriate.
• Maintain records after each client contact or service, in collaboration with MH Diversion program, clinicians, MHSA Coordinator, and /or Program Manager
• Submit updated and timely MHSA Quarterly reports and Training Logs
• 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, cultural and gender identity backgrounds
• Strong organizational, time-management skills and ability to prioritize projects.
• Strong communication and Interpersonal skills
• 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 Director

Job Type: Full Time

Work Schedule: Onsite

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Salary Range: 58,000-62,000 USD Annually (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.

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.