Certified Peer Support Specialist; Mental Health Worker III

CERTIFIED PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST (Mental Health Worker III)

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

This recruitment is open to the public for a minimum of five business days and will remain open on a continuous basis until 11:59 p.m. (PST) on the day the needs of the County are met. Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

The first round of consideration is Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

The open eligible list established by this recruitment will be used to fill current and future Certified Peer Support Specialist (Mental Health Worker III) positions. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County.

County of Orange, Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the direction of the Agency Director, a new and dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five service areas – Administrative Services, Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Specialized Medical Services and Public Health Services – is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.

Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Division consists of the following service areas:
Adult and Older Adult Behavioral Health, Children and Youth Services, Quality Management Services, Mental Health Services Act Office, Data Analytics and Evaluation, Crisis and Acute Care Services, Substance Use Services, and Forensics and Justice Involved.

Crisis and Acute Care Services provides responsive services to adults and youth in a behavioral health crisis. Services include mobile mental health-Crisis Assessment Team (CAT), Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT), OC Links (24/7 Resources line), Crisis Stabilization Units (CSU), Crisis Residential Programs and In-home Crisis Stabilization services, as well as inpatient psychiatric hospital services and the coordination of 9-8-8.

The immediate vacancies are within the Crisis Assessment Team (CAT) program.

The Certified Peer Support Specialist (Mental Health Worker III) assigned to CAT will serve as a Client or Family Peer Support Specialist and will be responsible for providing peer support, crisis intervention and assistance to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

The Certified Peer Support Specialist will respond to all populations to include Children & Youth, and Adults & Older Adults. When responding to Children and Youth crisis calls the Certified Peer Support Specialist will serve as a Parent or Youth Partner. As a Parent Partner, they will work with youth and their families providing peer support services which may include helping the parent or guardian understand and navigate the crisis such as accessing mental health services and community resources.

Referrals and linkages to resources, transportation support, and other related duties will also be provided during the crisis.

The Certified Peer Support Specialist collaborates with other providers of the mobile crisis response teams, including mental health specialists and behavioral health clinicians. They will play a critical role in supporting individuals experiencing behavioral health crisis by offering peer support, sharing lived experience and assisting in de-escalating crisis situations.

The ideal candidate must be a Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist by California Mental Health Services Authority. Additionally, the ideal candidate must have lived experience with a mental health condition by at least one of the following options below and be willing to self-identify and share their experiences to assist clients and their family members with their recovery journey.

• A past or current client of mental health services
• As a parent/caregiver advocating on behalf of child/youth who is receiving or has received mental health services
• Providi…