Peer Support Specialist I - Bilingual Preferred (3201)

Turning Point of Central California; Fresno (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Pension Fund

Mileage reimbursement

Career development

Job summary

Turning Point of Central California, Inc. seeks a Peer Support Specialist to advocate for clients, provide information and peer support in office outpatient settings, and assist clients in reclaiming control over their lives and recovery process.

Responsibilities include facilitating groups, coordinating self-help activities, and ensuring confidentiality. The role requires bilingual Spanish-English communication, driving on agency business, and compliance with agency policies.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Emergency first aid certification.
• Current or former recipient of client services.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and spoken.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with diverse groups.

Responsibilities

• Assist program staff and clients in delivering quality services to NAMI/SMI clients.
• Maintain confidentiality of verbal and written information.
• Assist consumers in organizing self-help groups.
• Greet clients on arrival and explain program rules.
• Attend weekly program meetings.
• Answer phones and assist with filing and general office duties.
• Provide client transportation.
• Supervise and monitor clients at the office.
• Conduct individual life skills training and group facilitation.
• Plan socialization groups and events for clients.
• Communicate with agencies involved in client rehabilitation.
• Provide timely reports on unusual occurrences impacting the program.
• Think/act quickly in emergencies and drive on agency business.
• Maintain requirement to be physically present at the program.

Skills

English language

Spanish language

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

The Peer Support Specialist reports to the PSC Supervisor and Program Director and is responsible for serving as a client advocate, providing information and peer support to clients in office outpatient settings, performing a wide range of tasks to assist clients in regaining control over their own lives and over their own recovery process.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Assist with needs of program treatment staff and clients to provide quality services to Severely Mental Ill (SMI) clients of the program.
2. Remain in full compliance with regulatory and agency policies and procedures, including ensuring confidentiality of verbal and written consumer information.
3. Assist consumers in setting up and sustaining self-help groups.
4. Be present to meet and greet consumers upon arrival to the Program
5. Assure clients understand program rules and procedures.
6. Attend weekly program meetings.
7. Answer phones and assist with some filing and general office duties
8. Provide client transportation
9. Provide supervision and monitoring of clients while at office.
10. Provide individual life skills training and facilitation of groups at program.
11. Plan and organize special socialization groups and events for the clients.
12. Communicate closely, in a systematic fashion, with agencies and significant others involved in the rehabilitation of clients.
13. Provide timely reports on any unusual occurrences that might impact the overall program operation or the health and safety of clients or employees.
14. Will think and act quickly and efficiently in emergencies.
15. Will drive on Agency business.
16. Physical presence at the program is required.
17. Ensure direct report staff follow the agency's timecard, PTO (Paid Time Off), and California's rest and meal period policies. Will monitor staff timesheets to ensure they are completed accurately.
18. Employees are expected to manage their cell phone use so that the Agency cell phone stipend covers all business usage. Any calls not covered by the stipend are to be made on a company landline phone.

ESSENTIAL JOB REQUIREMENTS

1. High school diploma or GED.
2. Current certified training in emergency first aid procedures.
3. Current or former recipient of client services required.
4. Ability to communicate effectively and proficiently in written and spoken English.
5. Ability to establish trusting relationships with peers.
6. Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
7. Must have strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
8. Work effectively with diverse ethnic, cultural, religious, socioeconomic, and professional groups of people.
9. Must be available to work all shifts as needed.
10. Basic, Intermediate or Advanced computer skills in Office 365, Teams, Zoom and other communication/meeting platforms.
11. Possess a valid driver's license and have access to a dependable means of transportation that is properly insured and operated in accordance with all laws. Agency insurer authorization is required.
12. Ability to pass a pre-employment criminal background check.
13. Ability to pass a pre-employment physical, drug screen, and TB test.

ESSENTIAL JOB REQUIREMENTS FOR BILINGUAL SKILL

1. Communicate effectively in written and spoken Spanish.
2. Ability to communicate effectively with monolingual Spanish speaking clients and families for all clinical purposes, including therapy and assessments.
3. Assist with phone calls for Spanish speaking clients.
4. Required to provide language translations for case managers and Physicians on a periodic basis.
5. Minimal adequate competency in the Spanish language as evidenced by successful passage of the TPOCC Spanish Competency Test.
6. Other translation tasks as required.

COMPANY BENEFITS

• Pay Range:
  • Monolingual: Class 111 ($23.02/hour)
  • Bilingual: Class 116 ($23.26 - $24.19/hour)
• Company paid benefits package including medical, dental, vision, Employee Assistance Program, Pension Fund and many other voluntary benefits
• Qualified non-profit for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
• On the job training including paid professional development and career development
• Rewarding work environment with excellent opportunities for career growth
• Meaningful relationships with your co-workers and the individuals we serve
• Family-oriented environment
• Mileage reimbursement for travel

We are a diverse, inclusive and equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age (40+), disability status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Turning Point of Central California, Inc. will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Turning Point of Central California, Inc. is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the Civil Rights Department Fair Chance Act webpage.