Certified Peer Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

Hillview Mental Health Center, Inc. is a nonprofit community mental health organization serving the Northeast San Fernando Valley. Since 1966, Hillview has supported individuals and families affected by mental illness by coordinating person-centered, culturally responsive services that promote recovery, wellness, and community integration. The Certified Peer Specialist uses relevant lived experience and recovery-oriented peer support practices to encourage hope, engagement, self-advocacy, and progress toward each client’s wellness and recovery goals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Facilitate psychoeducation and peer-support groups that promote recovery, wellness, coping strategies, self-advocacy, social connection, and independent living skills, within the approved scope of peer services.

• Provide individual case management and peer support services, including field-based contacts, outreach, engagement, and community-based support as authorized by the program.

• Support clients in identifying personal strengths, recovery goals, natural supports, and practical strategies for managing daily living challenges.

• Assist clients with linkage to community resources, including housing, food, healthcare, benefits, employment, transportation, substance use services, and other supports based on individual needs.

• Encourage client participation in treatment and reinforce client-defined wellness, recovery, and service plans in collaboration with the treatment team.

• Use lived experience appropriately and purposefully to model hope, resilience, self-advocacy, and recovery while maintaining professional boundaries.

• Provide supportive engagement and de-escalation within training and role expectations; promptly communicate crisis concerns and follow Hillview’s emergency and safety procedures.

• Collaborate with clinicians, case managers, nurses, program staff, and community partners to support continuity of care and client engagement.

• Complete timely, accurate, objective, and legible documentation in accordance with Hillview policies, program requirements, confidentiality rules, and applicable county/state documentation standards.

• Maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, applicable privacy laws, the California Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Code of Ethics, and Hillview policies.

• Participate in supervision, team meetings, training, case consultations, and quality improvement activities as assigned.

• Perform other duties consistent with the position’s scope, training, and program needs.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATION ELIGIBILITY

Candidates must meet the requirements applicable to the position and the services to be provided. For a position designated as a Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist, the employee must hold the required California certification and maintain it in good standing.

• At least 18 years of age.

• High school diploma or GED/equivalent educational credential.

• Self-identification of lived experience with recovery from mental illness, substance use disorder, or both, either personally as a service consumer or as a parent, caregiver, or family member of a person who has received these services, consistent with state certification criteria.

• Willingness to share relevant lived experience appropriately in support of client recovery, while maintaining professional boundaries.

• Strong commitment to recovery-oriented, person-centered, culturally responsive, and strengths-based services.

• Completion of the state-approved Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist training requirement, currently 80 hours through a CalMHSA-approved training entity, and successful completion of the required certification examination.

• Agreement in writing to comply with the California Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Code of Ethics.

• Current, valid Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification when required for assigned duties and billable peer support services.

• Ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary treatment team and to provide services in office and community settings.

• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries, protect confidential information, accept supervision, and respond professionally to feedback.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Understanding of recovery principles, peer support, self-help, empowerment, and client self-determination.

• Ability to facilitate supportive psychoeducation and peer groups using clear, respectful, accessible communication.

• Ability to build rapport with individuals from diverse cultural, racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender backgrounds.

• Knowledge of community resources and ability to assist clients with referrals and service navigation.

• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to recognize personal limits, seek guidance, and escalate clinical or safety concerns to qualified staff.

• Basic computer skills and ability to complete required electronic or written documentation.

• Bilingual Spanish/English is preferred but not required.

FIELD WORK, TRAVEL, AND SAFETY

This position may require work in client homes, community locations, clinics, shelters, and other approved service settings. The employee must follow agency field-safety procedures, maintain professional boundaries, and communicate location and safety concerns as directed. A valid California driver’s license, current automobile insurance, and acceptable driving record may be required when driving is an essential function of the assigned role.

SUPERVISION AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

The Certified Peer Specialist works under the supervision and direction designated by Hillview and applicable program requirements. The position does not independently provide clinical diagnosis, psychotherapy, or services outside the scope of peer support practice. The employee is expected to attend supervision, seek consultation when needed, maintain ethical conduct, and document services in accordance with applicable requirements.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment includes office, clinic, and community settings and may involve interaction with individuals experiencing behavioral health symptoms, emotional distress, housing instability, or crisis situations. The role may require sitting, standing, walking, driving, and moving between service locations. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Hillview Mental Health Center, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Overview
Group meeting at HillviewServing more than 2,000 clients, Hillview Mental Health Center empowers individuals affected by mental illness to flourish and live productive, fulfilling lives. Our staff of psychiatrists, nurses, clinicians, recreational therapists and case managers work collaboratively to provide individually tailored services for our clients. These services can include medication evaluation and treatment, individual or group therapy, case management, substance abuse treatment and crisis management.

In all of our interactions, we treat our clients with dignity and compassion, helping them to identify their needs and goals and maximize their strengths.

We understand that our clients have practical needs that affect their ability to recover and thrive. We work closely with government and nonprofit agencies to help our clients obtain housing, transportation, schooling, employment and other supportive services. Hillview Village, our permanent housing complex, provides a welcoming home to 85 low income, chronically homeless clients.

Mental illness impacts all facets of life. Without treatment, individuals may cope by engaging in unsafe and unhealthy behaviors such as substance abuse and crime. We have expertise in helping clients who suffer from drug or alcohol abuse, as well as in assisting those newly released from jail or prison to successfully re-enter society.

Company Description

Overview\r\nGroup meeting at HillviewServing more than 2,000 clients, Hillview Mental Health Center empowers individuals affected by mental illness to flourish and live productive, fulfilling lives. Our staff of psychiatrists, nurses, clinicians, recreational therapists and case managers work collaboratively to provide individually tailored services for our clients. These services can include medication evaluation and treatment, individual or group therapy, case management, substance abuse treatment and crisis management.\r\n\r\nIn all of our interactions, we treat our clients with dignity and compassion, helping them to identify their needs and goals and maximize their strengths.\r\n\r\nWe understand that our clients have practical needs that affect their ability to recover and thrive. We work closely with government and nonprofit agencies to help our clients obtain housing, transportation, schooling, employment and other supportive services. Hillview Village, our permanent housing complex, provides a welcoming home to 85 low income, chronically homeless clients.\r\n\r\nMental illness impacts all facets of life. Without treatment, individuals may cope by engaging in unsafe and unhealthy behaviors such as substance abuse and crime. We have expertise in helping clients who suffer from drug or alcohol abuse, as well as in assisting those newly released from jail or prison to successfully re-enter society.