Peer Recovery Specialist

Peer Recovery Specialist

Salary: $28 per hour

The Community Safety Crisis and Incident Response Through Community-Led Engagement (C.I.R.C.L.E.) program is a 24/7 unarmed response program that deploys a team of mental health professionals and individuals with lived experience to address non-violent LAPD calls related to unhoused individuals experiencing crisis. Through this public health approach, the City is able to improve community safety and outcomes for Angelenos in need of social services and support. The goals of the program are to: (1) disrupt the reciprocal relationship between homelessness and the criminal justice system by promptly responding to diverted non-violent incidents related to persons experiencing homelessness (PEH); (2) de-escalate and stabilize incidents involving unhoused individuals; and (3) create enduring positive outcomes for those individuals through trauma informed rapport building, connections to services and resources, and case management.

The Peer Recovery Specialist functions as part of a two-person Response Team (RT) consisting of an Behavioral Health Specialist and an Peer Recovery Specialist. RTs will rapidly respond to diverted incidents from the City, including, but not limited to, LAPD, designated City agencies, and City-designated partners. The diverted incidents will pertain to PEH and will include, but will not be limited to, welfare checks, loitering or trespassing, inadequate clothing, noise disturbances, mental health-related disturbances, a person under the influence of a substance, requests for assistance, syringe disposal, verbal disputes, and transport to shelter/resources. Under the supervision of the C.I.R.C.L.E. Program Manager and the Chief Program Officer, the Behavioral Health Specialist provides leadership in responding to diverted incidents and will also work to coordinate with local stakeholders to connect PEH to applicable services, programs and benefits.

This is a temporary, contract-funded, full-time, benefited position.

Essential Functions

• Deploys with team to respond to diverted incidents from the City.
• Takes direction from Behavioral Health Specialist to provide support to PEH.
• Collaborate across the Program and the homeless service system to achieve the objectives of the program;
• Provide de-escalation and stabilization interventions;
• Conduct outreach and engagement;
• Minimize possible interactions with law enforcement by providing information regarding City ordinances and other restrictions, such as ADA accessibility, and promoting "good neighbor" practices.
• Establish rapport and build trusting and collaborative relationships with street-based homeless individuals.
• Enroll unhoused individuals in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and update client information in HMIS.
• Conduct a Coordinated Entry System (CES) assessment whenever possible in order to link to permanent housing opportunities.
• Complete the appropriate CES triage and assessment tool and enter it into HMIS. The CES triage and assessment tool shall be conducted face-to-face (or, in special circumstances, telephonically) and shall include an evaluation of medical, psychosocial, environmental, legal, financial, and educational needs, as well as individuals' strengths and available resources.
• Ensure clients are assessed for income and public benefits. Clients who do not have SSI, SSDI, CAPI and/or Veteran's benefits shall be linked to the Countywide Benefits Entitlement Services Team (CBEST) for further assessment and provide advocacy services as appropriate.
• Conduct intake and assessment activities with homeless individuals, including assisting with gathering housing eligibility documentation such as birth certificates and other forms of identification.
• Provide referrals and connections to resources and supportive services.
• Provide transportation assistance when feasible and appropriate.
• Ensure that high-acuity clients are connected with the appropriate resources, including the Department of Mental Health, Department of Health Services, and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Assist in the transportation of unhoused individuals during adverse weather events or city-declared emergencies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

At a minimum, each Peer Recovery Specialist shall:

• Complete all required CIRCLE pre-deployment training and any applicable annual or refresher training;
• Possess a current California Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification or another peer support certification approved by the Mayor's Office of Community Safety (MOCS) that demonstrates competency in structured peer support, recovery-oriented practices, trauma-informed engagement, and behavioral health recovery. Staff hired without an approved certification shall obtain an approved certification within twelve (12) months of hire;
• Demonstrate lived experience with behavioral health recovery, substance use recovery, homelessness, justice system involvement, or other experiences that enable the Peer Recovery Specialist to establish credibility and trust with the populations served by CIRCLE;
• Have at least two (2) years of experience providing peer support, outreach, recovery coaching, community engagement, homeless outreach, care coordination, or comparable human services; and
• Demonstrate competency in:
  • Trauma-informed care;
  • Motivational interviewing;
  • Crisis de-escalation;
  • Recovery-oriented practices;
  • Cultural responsiveness;
  • Participant engagement;
  • Community resource navigation;
  • Service linkage and care coordination; and
  • Field-based participant follow-up.

Preferred Qualifications

• Residence within the Zones, zip codes, or Council Districts of the Pacific C.I.R.C.L.E. Zone: El Segundo, Westchester, Playa Del Rey, Playa Vista, Mar Vista, Venice, Palms.
• Knowledge of the client population and their complex needs including homelessness, financial instability, medical and mental health, and substance abuse.
• Experience in a community-based setting serving ethnically diverse, low-income clients. Knowledge of community resources and experience in community settings.
• Ability to use computers/internet to look up information and enter relevant notes.
• Conflict resolution skills.
• Customer service orientation.
• Analytical ability and skills to handle and solve complex issues and problems.
• Computer knowledge/skills or ability to learn.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Language capability: Spanish

Other Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Must possess a valid California Divers License.
• Driver must be 21+ with none of the following in the past 3 years: any 2-point convictions; or more than (2) moving violations; or more than (1) moving violation and (1) at-fault or a passenger handling accident.
• Successfully pass the background check

Physical Demands

1. Must be in good physical condition and capable of performing job duties requiring frequent use of the entire body including ability to stand, walk, climb stairs, sit, drive for extended periods of time, exit and enter vehicles throughout your work shift.
2. Ability to use a computer, phone or office equipment for extended periods of time.
3. Ability to successfully and efficiently complete tasks in an environment where background noise is present and interruptions may be constant.
4. Must be able to lift a minimum of 35 lbs.
5. With instruction, the ability to assist persons with disabilities and to help transfer a 180 lb person and lift wheel chair in and out of a car or van.

Work Environment

Travel outside to various locations and on occasion, general office setting, indoors temperature controlled

EEOC Statement

It is the policy of Heluna Health to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, without regard to age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, reproductive health decision making, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or a record or history of cancer), AIDS or HIV, genetic information or characteristics, veteran status or military service.

Heluna Health is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer that encourages minorities, women, veterans, and disabled to apply. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.