Peer Support Specialist I​/II

DEFINITION

Under direct supervision, positions in this classification provide peer to peer support services including: monitoring, informing, supporting, assisting and empowering clients and their family members/caregivers who directly or indirectly receive behavioral health services; assist in developing and coordinating activities, programs and resources which directly support clients and family members/caregivers in achieving wellness and recovery oriented goals; facilitate peer to peer assistance as a part of a team setting;

conducts outreach to clients, family members/caregivers and the community; and acts in a liaison role between clients, family members/caregivers and community service providers; prepares reports and maintains confidentiality related to consumer services; and performs other duties as required.

Incumbents in the Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist series are members of the community who have personal lived experience as a consumer or close family member/caregiver of a consumer of behavioral health or substance use programs.

Incumbents in this class are responsible for providing peer support based on lived experiences to consumers of behavioral health services and their families, including education, training and technical assistance.

Behavioral Health Care Leadership.

Peer Support Specialist II, may provide direct supervision to Peer Support Specialist I.

The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all the duties listed.

• Serves as a team member in developing and modifying treatment plans; implements treatment plans and reports progress to recovery team.
• Supports client and family/caregiver involvement in the behavioral health system through client-centered engagement.
• Provides consumer, child/youth, or family voice and perspective as necessary regarding service needs and organizational and system planning.
• Facilitates or assist with facilitating self-help model support groups, such as WRAP.
• Provides case management to the target populations identified by the Behavioral Health Department under the supervision of a manager, team leader or experienced case manager.
• Serves as mentor to teach and show consumers and family members/caregivers how to function independently and in finding community resources: assists with access/linkage to community resources such as housing, transportation, education and employment.
• Assist clients in a wide variety of daily living activities, such as completing applications and forms, providing transportation and navigating support service systems.
• Participates in countywide regional outreach activities related to Behavioral Health services.
• Shares personal lived experiences related to behavioral health and recovery in a variety of settings including person-to-person, small and large group and public presentations.
• Provides basic crisis intervention, and support in groups as well as on an individual basis. May be asked to respond to 24-7 crisis coverage.
• Completes all evaluation and clinical documentation in a timely and prescribed manner.
• Participates in behavioral health education programs, conferences and community programs and attends training conferences relevant to current behavioral health problems; and performs other duties as required.
• Performs related work as required, which may include but is not limited to preparing correspondence and reports, copying and filing documents, answering telephone, ordering supplies and materials, entering computer data, maintaining logs and lists, sending and…