Peer Support Specialist – Merced Program

La Familia; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

403(b) retirement plan

Hybrid work options

Job summary

La Familia in Merced, CA is seeking a Peer Support Specialist for the Full Service Partnership (FSP) program. You will provide intensive community-based services to clients referred by BHRS using ACT/FACT models, leveraging lived experience to engage individuals who are often underserved.

Under supervision of Clinical Supervisor, you will meet deliverables, help with case management, housing referrals, and coordination with BHRS and community resources.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Spanish bilingual ability preferred; proficiency in English and Spanish written and verbal is essential.
• Experience as a Peer Support Specialist or similar role is valued; lived experience is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach, engagement, referral, linkage, and follow-up services to clients and families.
• Meet clients in the field and in community settings, transporting to appointments and resources.
• Develop client care plans, build rapport, and facilitate transitions with supportive counseling and advocacy.
• Coordinate case management and connect clients to housing, benefits, and community services.
• Maintain collaboration with BHRS and other professionals to ensure continuity of care.
• Attend trainings and report on key metrics; participate in agency objectives and projects.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Strong communication skills

Ethics and professionalism

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Merced Office - Merced, CA

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: High School

Salary Range: $24.35 - $24.97Hourly

Travel Percentage: Up to 25%

Job Shift: Day

Job Category: Nonprofit - Social Services

Except in the case of an undue hardship, La Familia provides reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities when the accommodations are necessary to enable the persons to perform the essential functions of the job. The Agency also provides reasonable accommodations when necessary based on religious needs. Individuals requiring workplace accommodations must discuss their needs with La Familia Human Resources. Individuals seeking accommodations for disabilities are typically required to provide medical documentation supporting the existence of a disability, the need for the accommodation, and what workplace modifications will enable the employee to perform the essential functions of the job.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Under the supervision of the Clinical Supervisor, the Peer Support Specialist will be assigned to the Full Service Partnership (FSP) program, providing intensive services to the Merced FSP clients referred by BHRS utilizing the ACT and FACT model of service delivery. The Peer Support Specialist will utilize their personal experience to seek out and engage SMI clients who face significant challenges and are often disengaged and/or underserved with mental health services. The FSP program is searching for someone who is eager to work and engage these clients with humility and respect as a Peer Support Specialist. The Peer Support Specialist will meet deliverable expectations and requirements of the program. This role will uphold and champion the agency’s mission, vision, and values and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive work culture.

This position is covered under the SEIU 1021 Collective Bargaining Agreement. In addition to the established base pay, members will receive negotiated annual increases as follows:

• January 2027: 3% base pay increase

Future increases will be subject to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide direct services, including outreach, engagement, referral, linkage, and follow-up services to consumers and their families/supports at their preferred locations.


• Provide services in the field and at various institutional settings and locations in the community, as necessary, and transport clientele to necessary appointments and community resources and supports.


• Meet with clients and caregivers/family members on a consistent basis or as needed in the field for the purposes of establishing and maintaining contact, gradually building rapport and therapeutic alliance with clients and caregivers/family members, facilitating client interests in resources, developing and implementing client care plans, supporting and accompanying clients through interpersonal and institutional transitions, teaching and enhancing coping skills, facilitating healthy dialogue between clients and respective family members/caregivers or relevant parties, leveraging the interests of family members/caregivers and clients towards common goals, and providing referral and linkage services for clients to specialty mental health services in the community.


• Provide case management duties for clients and connect them to various resources as necessary, including, but not limited to, assisting clients to apply for General Assistance and Social Security Income; initiating and following up with referrals to temporary shelters and long-term housing; referral and linkage to services available within Merced County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) as well as other necessary community resources and supports.


• Provide culturally responsive, strengths-based, and client-centered supports and advocacy to consumers and their families/supports.


• Serve as a role model and inspire, engage, and advocate for consumers and their family member/caregivers’ legal status and rights.


• Consistently collaborate with mental health and other social service professionals in various institutional capacities and settings to initiate, refer, and follow up with services in conjunction with or on behalf of clients.

Demonstrate understanding of emergency situations and response plans.

Answer patient questions and refer to Providers as necessary

Other

• Attend trainings and participate in events relevant to key responsibilities.


• Track and regularly report on key metrics for the responsible function areas.


• Lead and collaborate on projects supporting Agency objectives.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Leading the self: Demonstrates ethics and integrity, displays drive and purpose, manages self and adapts to change, exhibits leadership stature, practices self-awareness and continuous learning.

INCLUSION, RESPECT, AND COLLABORATION

• Practices cultural humility and cultural responsiveness when engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, while practicing appropriate boundaries.


• Develop relationships with their teams and across the organization to foster cultural humility and cultural responsiveness, teamwork, and collaboration, ensuring positive outcomes for the organization both internally and externally.


• Utilize effective communication skills to listen and respond with empathy, while adopting a proactive and collaborative approach to drive innovative change. This approach should be sensitive to the organization’s culture and its role within the community.

Qualifications: QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma or GED required.


• 2-4 years plus years of experience working as a Peer Support Specialist preferred.


• Spanish Bilingual Preferred.


• Possess lived experiences including, but not limited to, experiences of homelessness, consumer of mental health care services, recovery from substance abuse, and stigmatization in regards to various cultural and social statuses or identities.


• Demonstrate a capacity and commitment to work in cooperation with a diverse team of professionals in regards to race; class; gender; sexuality; disability; age; immigration/citizenship status; religion/spirituality; and other social statuses.


• Demonstrate a competency of writing skills effective enough to communicate client services rendered as well as coordinate casework with FSP staff.


• Demonstrate a capacity to collaborate in the context of teamwork, share casework, and communicate effectively so that program operations are executed with minimal challenges.


• Demonstrate a commitment to be teachable as well as receive and integrate feedback into work performance within an effective manner of time.


• Able to work independently with good judgment.


• Able to work flexible hours.


• Strong organizational and communication skills.


• Ability to organize, prioritize, multi-task and adapt to changing priorities.


• Knowledge and application of clean technique and sterile technique.


• Proficiency in both verbal and written communication in English and Spanish is essential for this position.


• Relevant years of experience.


• Experience in non-profit and community-based organizations preferred.


• Demonstrates and models excellent "customer service" orientation and ability to work with diverse populations.


• Exercises extreme discretion with the ability to hold, balance, and transmit public and confidential information needed by various parties.


• Proficient in MS Office and Google Workspace products.


• Valid CA Driver’s license required.


• Auto insurance: If your vehicle is used for business-related purposes, it is recommended that you inform your auto insurance carrier.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Demonstrates cultural awareness and provides respectful, client-centered care.


• Maintains knowledge of community resources for client referrals.


• Attend work regularly, adhering to policies on absences and tardiness.


• Understands and applies legal requirements, including confidentiality and risk management.

Timekeeping & Attendance Responsibilities

• Accurately record work hours each day by clocking in/out at scheduled start, break, lunch, and end times.


• Take all required meal and rest breaks in compliance with state, federal, and agency policies.


• Review and submit timesheets by established deadlines to ensure timely payroll processing.


• Notify supervisor promptly of any scheduling conflicts, absences, tardiness, or timekeeping issues.


• Maintain consistent and reliable attendance to support team and program operations.


• Follow organizational policies and procedures related to overtime, schedule changes, and paid/unpaid leave.


• Correct and/or report any timekeeping discrepancies immediately to the supervisor for resolution.

TEAM COMMITMENT

• Viewed by others as an effective team member who is flexible, cooperative, and willing to assist others, and acts as a resource to team members and clients, where appropriate.


• Handles difficult or conflict situations constructively and seeks appropriate assistance.


• Accepts accountability and constructive feedback.


• Attends all mandatory meetings and staff meetings as required, and actively participates in other departmental professional development, including providing training and consultation.


• Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with fellow employees, supervisors, managers in other departments, senior management, executive staff, and community stakeholders.


• Handles requests, suggestions, and complaints from other departments and individuals in a tactful and effective manner to maintain goodwill within the agency.

WORKING CONDITIONS and JOB SETTING

• Ability to occasionally or frequently stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms above the shoulders.


• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit, walk, talk, and hear, use hands to keyboard, fingers, handle, and feel, stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, crawl, reach, and stretch.


• The employee is occasionally required to move around the office.


• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.


• May require travel, dependent on agency needs.


• Can work under deadlines.


• Performing general physical activities such as picking up, moving, and using objects, tools, or controls.


• The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.


• Ability to push, pull, and lift up to 50 pounds frequently.


• Ability to stand and move from one location to another daily.


• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time.


• Ability to visually focus on near and far items, and to be able to switch between them.


• Ability to reliably report to work on time and perform the position's required tasks as scheduled.


• Ability to grasp and carry items.


• Ability to hear and effectively communicate with co-workers, clients, and the public.


• Ability to identify potential issues within the workplace, determine an appropriate means of avoiding and/or resolving the issues, work with others to address the issues, and carry out organized strategies for resolving and preventing similar issues in the future.


• Ability to process information and data for use within the organization.

BENEFITS

• Excellent Health benefits package for you and your family, including: Medical, dental, and vision benefits with 95% employee and 80% dependent employer premium contributions, and employer-paid life insurance.


• Vacation, 15 paid holidays, 12 paid sick days upon accrual.


• Employee Assistance Plan to support you and your family’s well-being and finances.


• Pet Plan Benefit: PetPlus Product and Prescription Discounts, Pet Assure Veterinary Discounts, AskVet 24/7 Pet Telehealth, and ThePetTag Lost Pet Recovery Service.


• 403(b) retirement plan.


• Work-life wellbeing & excellent work hours.


• La Familia understands the importance of work-life balance! Our therapists enjoy flexible scheduling options, including hybrid work arrangements, to ensure high-quality client care while maintaining their well-being.


• License and Certification renewals reimbursed.


• Supportive/Collaborative work environment.


• Opportunities for Growth and Professional Development: We believe in growing together. As a team member, you’ll have access to structured mentorship and ongoing training. Whether you’re pursuing licensure or looking to specialize in clinical psychology, we support your growth every step of the way.


• This position is covered under the SEIU 1021 Collective Bargaining Agreement. In addition to the established base pay, members will receive negotiated annual increases as follows:


• January 2027: 3% base pay increase.


• Future increases will be subject to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.