Peer Support Specialist (Certified)

NAMI San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

NAMI San Diego is seeking a dedicated Peer Support Specialist to collaborate with UPAC staff on the Alternatives to Incarceration program. You will provide outreach, direct services, and housing-related support to individuals experiencing homelessness and those involved with the justice system.

The role requires personal lived experience, strong communication, and the ability to document services accurately. A background check and CPR/First Aid certification are required or must be obtained.

Qualifications

• Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification or completion within 90 days of employment.
• High School Diploma or Equivalent required.
• Minimum: 1 year of recovery from lived experience with justice involvement, homelessness, or behavioral health diagnosis.
• Ability to establish supportive relationships across diverse cultures.
• Must be able to share experiences navigating justice system, behavioral health services or homelessness.
• Demonstrated success in accurate, timely documentation.
• First Aid and CPR certification (including infant CPR) or willingness to obtain.
• Satisfactory driving record and clear TB test.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office and web navigation.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and reliable attendance.
• Preferred: bilingual in County threshold languages (Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach and engagement, deliver direct services, and promote recovery for PEH and justice-involved individuals.
• Provide housing navigation, transportation support, and accompany to appointments.
• Connect clients to supportive services addressing safety, health, social and material needs.
• Conduct street outreach to promote program services as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with agency, state, and county requirements.
• Complete documentation timely and accurately for contracted performance goals.
• Collaborate with UPAC staff and report to UPAC's Program Manager for Alternatives to Incarceration.

Skills

Empathy & active listening

Trauma-informed approach

Motivational interviewing

Cultural competency

Strong communication

Documentation

Education

Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification

High School Diploma or Equivalent

CalMHSA training completion within 90 days

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)

Job description

Company Description:

NAMI San Diego & Imperial Counties (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a nonprofit organization that provides free education, support services, and advocacy to improve the quality of life of everyone affected by mental health conditions.

Primary Responsibilities/Function:

NAMI is in partnership with UPAC (The Union of Pan Asian Communities) with UPAC as the lead agency and NAMI as the subcontracted for the Alternatives to Incarceration program, a program that provides "comprehensive care coordination, service navigation, peer support, and housing-related assistance to individuals who have interacted with the legal system or are at risk of justice involvement, and are at risk of/experiencing homelessness." Our multi-disciplinary team includes: Peer Support Specialists, Housing Navigator, Case Managers, Admin Support, and a Program Manager. This position will work at a UPAC office, work collaboratively with UPAC Staff, and report to UPAC's Program Manager for Alternatives to Incarceration. Given that this program provides support 24/7, this position includes rotating evening and weekend shifts.

Under the supervision of the Program Manager, the Peer Support Specialist (PSS) will provide outreach and engagement, deliver direct services, and promote recovery and resiliency for persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) and involvement within the criminal justice system.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Inspire clients towards recovery and resiliency by being a compassionate and effective role model utilizing motivational interviewing, coaching, trauma-informed model, and housing first language.
• Provides a message of hope, empowerment, self-efficacy by being a supportive person for the PEH.
• Provide direct services in the community including advocacy, transportation support, accompaniment to appointments and support expanding social interactions and networks.
• Connect clients to supportive services for participants to address safety, health, social and material needs.
• Conduct effective street outreach to promote program services as assigned.
• Provide culturally competent services, work well with people involved with the criminal justice system, TAY, PEH, immigrants, refugees, and other culturally diverse participants.
• Complete special projects in a timely manner.
• Maintain strict confidentiality, with regard to, sensitive or proprietary information or materials.
• Provide documentation compliant to agency, state and county requirements in timely manner.
• Complete assigned work timely and effectively for the program to meet contracted annual performance goal and objectives.
• Provide all other related services required by county contract's Statement of Work.
• All the duties and responsibilities shall be delivered in compliance with County of San Diego and other relevant regulations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Accountability:

Reports to UPAC's Program Manager for Alternatives to Incarceration.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.

Minimum Requirements:

• Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification from CalMHSA; or completion of CalMHSA-approved Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist training and certification obtained within 90 days of employment.
• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Have a minimum of one year of recovery from lived experience with justice system involvement, homelessness, and/or behavioral health diagnosis.
• Ability to establish and maintain supportive relationships with persons of diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Must be open and able to appropriately share their own experiences navigating the justice system, behavioral health services or homelessness personally.
• Demonstrated success completing accurate and timely documentation.
• Must have certified First Aid and CPR training (including infant CPR) or be willing to obtain certification.
• Must have a satisfactory driving record.
• Clear TB test.
• Able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Intermediate knowledge of computer software (Microsoft Office: Outlook, Word, Excel) and web navigation.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Reliable and consistent attendance.
• Preferred: Bilingual, bicultural in one of the County of San Diego threshold languages including: Spanish, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Farsi, Korean, Persian, Somali, Filipino (Tagalog), Vietnamese.

Due to our work with vulnerable populations and county contractor requirements, applicants will be required to undergo a background check following a contingent offer of employment and must receive satisfactory results prior to a final offer of employment. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please feel free to reach out to [e-mail].