Residential Peer Support Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Peer Support Specialist

Status: Non-Exempt

Compensation Grade: $22.00-$26

Location: 1095 E Tabor Avenue Fairfield CA 94533

Reports to: Clinical Supervisor, and/or Clinical Director

Job Summary

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) provides Medi-Cal reimbursable peer support services to individuals with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. The PSS uses lived experience to support engagement, reinforce recovery-oriented behaviors, and assist clients in applying treatment goals in real-world settings. Services are delivered under the supervision of a designated Peer Support Specialist Supervisor and within the clinical direction of the Program Clinical Director. The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) delivers services that align with Medi-Cal Peer Support service components by promoting client engagement through relationship-building, encouragement, and addressing ambivalence toward recovery; reinforcing educational skill development through the practice of coping strategies, emotional regulation, and recovery planning introduced in treatment; and supporting therapeutic activities that help clients apply recovery behaviors in real-life settings, including transitions between levels of care and successful integration into the community. All documentation must meet Medi-Cal standards for medical necessity, timeliness, and service component alignment.Services must remain within the defined scope of peer support and not drift into clinical counseling or case management functions outside allowable activities.

Essential Functions

• Provides one-on-one and group-based peer support services consistent with the client’s treatment plan.
• Documents all services in the EHR on the same day of service, including start and end times, duration, and service component alignment.
• Supports clients in identifying recovery goals and reinforcing progress using structured frameworks (e.g., PBS domains such as emotional regulation, boundaries, and recovery community).
• Assists clients during transitions (e.g., admission, discharge, step-down to IOP) to maintain continuity of care.
• Participates in multidisciplinary team meetings and coordinates with counselors, therapists, and care coordinators.
• Maintains appropriate professional boundaries while using lived experience as a therapeutic tool.
• Adheres to all confidentiality requirements, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
• Engages in ongoing supervision and training as required by DHCS and CalMHSA standards.

Knowledge, Skills, & Experience

• Certification as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist through a CalMHSA-approved program.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Demonstrated lived experience with substance use and/or mental health recovery.
• Ability to work within a structured treatment environment and follow clinical direction.
• Experience in a residential or outpatient behavioral health setting is preferred.
• Familiarity with Medi-Cal documentation requirements and service components is preferred.
• Bilingual capability where applicable is preferred.