Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS)

Position Title: Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS)

Program : Alternatives to Incarceration (Harm Reduction Team)

Classification : Non-exempt, Full time

Salary : $20-$24 per hour, based on experience

Hours : Sunday through Thursday 9-5:30pm, or Thursday through Monday 9-5:30pm

Summary and Range of Authority : Under the direction of the Vice President, the CPSS is responsible for providing support, advocacy, instilling hope and related services to the target population.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Inspire clients towards recovery and resiliency by being a compassionate and effective role model utilizing motivational interviewing, coaching, trauma informed model and housing first language within a short-term modality.

• Uses own peer recovery story for messages of hope for clients.

• Help connect clients to community services such as healthcare, transportation supports, mental health services, substance use treatment, vocational training and housing support.

• Document all the services rendered in compliance with County and other applicable requirements and standards.

• Provide documentation compliant to agency, state and county requirements in timely manner. Provides case management for linkage to resources, services and supports.

• May need to transport clients to other services and activities.

• Functions as a member of an interdisciplinary team in its effort to carry out the program mission through effective and timely communication.

• Working in partnership with County of San Diego Harm Reduction Team and other service providers.

• Provide culturally competent services. Work well with persons experiencing homelessness, immigrants, refugees, criminal justice involved, and other culturally diverse clients.

• Complete special projects in a timely manner, and able to maintain strict confidentiality, with regard to, sensitive or proprietary information or materials.

• Assist in clerical and administrative duties as assigned.

• Provide all other related services required by master contract SOW.

• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Education, Certifications/Licenses and Language/Cultural Skills:

• Active and current Peer Support Specialist Certification.

• Fluent Spanish speaker

Minimum Experience and Qualifications Required:

• Ability to establish and maintain supportive relationships with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

• Familiarity with harm reduction, trauma informed care, housing-first and COACH principles.

• Abide by UPAC Code of Conduct and professional code of conduct.

• Must be able to drive (when needed) for business purposes to other program locations in San Diego County. If employee drives his/her personal automobile for UPAC business, employee must have valid California driver's license and comprehensive automobile insurance coverage, as required by law.

Additional Preferred Education or Qualifications:

• Have understanding and experience with participants experiencing homelessness, criminal justice interactions, substance use and mental health symptoms

Bilingual, bicultural experience preferred in one of the County of San Diego threshold languages (Spanish), Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, Persian, Somali, Filipino (Tagalog), Vietnamese.


Benefits:

Health & Wellness

• Employer paid vision, dental, life, AD&D, long-term disability, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Low-cost Aetna HMO plan ($50 monthly employee premium)
• Pet Insurance, voluntary life, critical illness, and accident insurance

Paid Time Off

• Up to160 hours of PTO accrued per year during the first 5 years of employment
• 80 hours of sick leave available per fiscal year
• 13 paid holidays (including two days for New Year's and Christmas)
• 1 floating holiday per fiscal year
• Bereavement Leave: 5 days off (3 paid)

Workplace Flexibility

• Hybrid work schedule (available for select programs/positions)

Financial Benefits

• 403 (b) retirement plan
• Free access to a financial advisor
• Bilingual pay differential (available for select programs)
• Eligibility for student loan reimbursement (varies by program/position)

Professional Development

• Clinical supervision for registered associates, counselors, and peer support staff
• Partnerships with numerous universities/schools for internship placements