Certified Peer Support Specialist/Trainee (Blythe)

County of Riverside; Blythe (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health in Blythe, CA seeks Consumer Certified Peer Support Specialists/Trainees to join the Crisis Division. You will support individuals in crisis using your lived recovery experience and collaborate with clinical teams.

Training and supervision are provided. Positions include multiple programs with varying shifts; the role requires a California driver’s license and potential Medi-Cal Peer Support certification within two years.

Qualifications

• Experience as a consumer of behavioral health and/or substance recovery services is preferred.
• Ability to draw on lived recovery experience to support others.
• Willingness to participate in ongoing training and supervision.

Responsibilities

• Provide support, encouragement, and guidance to individuals in crisis.
• Assist with navigating services and accessing community resources.
• Document required information and participate in program training.
• Collaborate with clinical teams to incorporate consumer perspective.

Skills

Crisis experience

Recovery experience

Lived experience

Education

High school diploma / GED

Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification

California Driver's License

Job description

Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health’s Crisis Division is seeking qualified Consumer Certified Peer Support Specialists/Trainees to join our team in Blythe.

In this role, Peer Support Specialists/Trainee Consumers provide support, encouragement, and guidance to individuals receiving behavioral health services by drawing on their own lived experience with recovery. They assist individuals in crisis with navigating services, accessing community resources, developing coping strategies, and working toward personal goals. Incumbents share their recovery experiences, when appropriate, to inspire hope, promote resilience, and strengthen engagement in treatment. They also collaborate with clinical teams by offering the consumer perspective, advocate for individual needs, support system navigation, and complete required documentation while participating in ongoing training and supervision. The Crisis division provides rapid response to emergency calls out on the field to all populations in need.

Competitive candidates will possess current or previous experience as a consumer of behavioral health or substance recovery services and have experience working within crisis environments.

Schedule

Blythe MCMT Integrated program - Crisis: 4/10 schedule, Wednesday- Saturday 9:30 am - 8:00 pm.

Mobile Response Program - Crisis: Initially a 4/10 schedule and will eventually turn into a 9/80 schedule.

Holidays and Overtime may be required depending on department needs.

The schedule is subject to change based on operational needs. See Schedule, Overtime, Standby/On-Call, and Travel Obligations under APPLICATION INFORMATION for details.

Hourly Salary Range

Peer Support Specialist Trainee: $20.2151-$27.7092

Certified Peer Support Specialist: $24.2363-$32.9854

A valid California Driver’s License and CalMHSA Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification may be required depending on the specific position and program assignment.

Meet the Team!

Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health is a leading provider of mental health and substance use services in Riverside County. With a dedicated team of professionals, including psychiatrists, clinicians, peer specialists, and paraprofessionals, RUHS-BH serves over 45,000 individuals annually.

We are committed to delivering culturally competent, evidence-based care across all ages. Our programs, including Mental Health Services, Substance Use Services, and the Public Guardian’s Office, address the diverse needs of our community.

At RUHS Behavioral Health, you’ll join a compassionate, innovative team where your skills make a real difference. We offer opportunities for growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact.

If you’re passionate about advancing your career while improving mental health in Riverside County, RUHS Behavioral Health is the place for you!

For more information, please visit www.ruhealth.org/behavioral-health

Peer Support Specialist Trainee Recruiting Guidelines

Education: Possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate is required.

Experience: Depending on the assignment, current or previous recovery experience as a consumer of behavioral health and/or substance abuse services or as a family member/caregiver of a former or current behavioral health and/or substance abuse consumer.

Other Requirements

• Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification must be obtained within two (2) years of the employee start date. Failure to obtain a Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification may lead to termination.
• Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required.
• Spanish Bilingual exam may be required.

Knowledge of

The basic needs and difficulties faced by ethnically diverse consumers, caregivers and families of behavioral health and/or substance abuse consumers; the public and/or private agency services available for families, children and adults with serious behavioral health needs, such as schools, social services and other systems.

Ability to

Learn the basic principles of the behavioral health system and effectively work within the system, represent and advocate for the consumer perspective within the community and behavioral health system, understand the cultural and social factors affecting behavior patterns, effectively communicate the workings of the behavioral health system to service consumers, parents, family members, and caregivers, establish and maintain working relationships with a wide range of community agencies and organizations, obtain and record accurate information for case documentation and other reports.

Certified Peer Support Specialist Recruiting Guidelines

Education: Possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate is required.

Experience: Depending on the assignment, current or previous recovery experience as a consumer of behavioral health and/or substance abuse services or as a family member/caregiver of a former or current behavioral health and/or substance abuse consumer.

AND

California State Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification.

Other Requirements

• Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required.
• Spanish Bilingual exam may be required.

Knowledge of

The needs and difficulties faced by ethnically diverse consumers, families and caregivers of behavioral health and/or substance abuse consumers; the public and/or private agency services available for families, children and adults with serious behavioral health needs, such as schools, social services and the behavioral health treatment team, the self-help and consumer oriented treatment models; and methods to effectively communicate with consumers, families and caregivers, the community and the behavioral health treatment team.

Ability to

Understand the principles of the behavioral health system and effectively work within the system; effectively represent and advocate for the consumer perspective within the community and behavioral health system; understand and articulate the cultural and social factors affecting behavior patterns; effectively communicate the workings of the behavioral health system to service consumers, parents, family members and caregivers; establish and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of community agencies and organizations; obtain and record accurate information for case documentation and other reports.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to respond to calls out in the field regardless of the weather conditions, with or without reasonable accommodation.

For questions regarding this recruitment

Please contact Edgar Manzo at (951) 955 - 0951 or [e-mail]. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.

• Provide meaningful self-disclosure of personal lived experience of behavior health-related and/or substance abuse-related recovery and resiliency to the people served in the system of care (required by State Certification).
• In a training capacity, inform, train, support, and empower consumers, families and caregivers who directly or indirectly receive behavioral health services.
• Communicate, represent and promote the consumer, families and caregivers' perspective within the behavioral health system.
• Facilitate self-help groups for consumers, youth, family members, and caregivers.
• Attend and participate in special events, conferences, workshops, and trainings within the behavioral health system and in the community.
• Develop activities, programs and resources which support consumers, families and caregivers in achieving their goals.
• Support the appropriate recognition, acceptance and understanding of social and cultural factors in the provision of behavioral health services.
• Develop effective working relationships with agencies and organizations to advocate for consumer, family and caregiver empowerment.
• Help prepare and support clients, families and caregivers at consumer progress consultation meetings and at a variety of formal and informal hearings.
• Help consumers and those who support them to articulate their needs.
• Focus on and is sensitive to consumer, family and caregiver satisfaction with the services received and general satisfaction with behavioral health services.
• Assist and promote consumers and those who support them in support networks and activities.
• Document all activities as required, following appropriate Medi-Cal billing practices.
• Respond to emergency crisis calls out in the field, clients homes, schools, hospitals, and anywhere needed.