Mental Health Peer Specialist/Trainee

About The Position

This county-wide recruitment will establish a Mental Health Peer Specialist Trainee Candidate Pool of qualified applicants for Consumer, Parent Partner, and Family Advocate openings. This candidate pool will be used to fill current and future vacancies throughout the county.

How It Works

• Applicants will answer questions about location preferences, work experience, and

Qualifications.

• The most competitive applicants (based on specialized skills) will be referred

for interviews.

• Applicants will receive email notification once their application is no longer being

considered due to Candidate Pool expiration.

Some positions may require a law enforcement background investigation which requires completion of an extensive questionnaire, meeting with a background investigator, and submitting several references.

Competitive candidates will possess current or previous experience as a consumer of mental health services or as a family member/caregiver of a former or current mental health consumer.

Mental Health Peer Specialist/Trainee Position

Under direction, provide information, support and assistance and advocacy for recipients, and/or caregivers/family members of consumers of mental health services and to provide feedback and perspective to the mental health system relative to the impact and effectiveness of the services provided and to do other work as required.

Incumbents in this class perform the full journey level scope of assignments in the Mental Health Peer Specialist series and report to either a program supervisor or a regional manager; team with mental health professionals in the provision of consumer treatment, directly assist consumers and families/caregivers in the utilization of appropriate community resources, provide education and information to consumers and the community; and provide a unique consumer perspective to the mental health team.

Incumbents in this class provide a full range of information, training, support, encouragement, advocacy, service effectiveness assessment and related services in order to assist the consumer and family/caregiver in coping with immediate situations. The consumer and family/caregiver perspective is provided in the development of programs and services and in formulation of treatment strategies. Incumbents of this class do not attempt to modify or change the consumer's personality structure. Classes in this series differ from those in the Clinical Therapist series in that the latter, due to advanced education and experience, use independent judgment in making diagnoses, developing treatment plans, and providing a wide range and variety of mental health services including psychotherapy. This series differs from the Behavioral Health Specialist series in that the latter provides general counseling, initial assessment and case management. In contrast, this series provides information and assistance based on the unique perspective of being a recipient of or having been closely associated with the direct receipt of mental health services.

Must Be Able To Share Personal Experiences With Others

Amazing Benefits with the County!

https://issuu.com/rivcohr/docs/hr_flipbook_1-24-23_r3

Examples Of Essential Duties

• Facilitates self-help groups for clients, youth, family members and caregivers.
• Assists and promotes consumers and those who support them in support networks and activities.
• Communicates, represents and promotes the consumer and families/caregivers' perspective within the mental health system.
• Develops effective working relationships with agencies and organizations to advocate for consumer and family/caregiver empowerment.
• Informs, trains, supports and empowers consumers and families/caregivers who directly or indirectly receive mental health services.
• Supports the appropriate recognition, acceptance and understanding of social and cultural factors in the provision of mental health services.
• Helps consumers and those who support them to articulate their needs.
• Helps prepare and support clients and families/caregivers at case staffings and at a variety of formal and informal hearings.
• Develops activities, programs and resources which support consumers and family/caregivers in achieving their goals.
• Attends and participates in special events, conferences, workshops and trainings within the mental health system and in the community.
• Documents all activities as required.
• Focuses on and is sensitive to consumer and family/caregiver satisfaction with the services received and general satisfaction with mental health services.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Depending on the assignment, current or previous experience as a consumer of mental health services or as a family member/caregiver of a former or current mental health consumer.

AND

One year as a Mental Health Peer Specialist Trainee or one year of experience equivalent to the Mental Health Peer Specialist Trainee.

Knowledge of: The needs and difficulties faced by ethnically diverse consumers , caregivers/ families of mental health consumers; the public and/or private agency services available for families, children and adults with serious mental health needs, such as schools, social services and other systems; the self-help and consumer oriented treatment models; and methods to effectively communicate with consumers, family/caregivers, the community and the mental health treatment team.

Ability to: Understand the principles of the mental health system and effectively work within the system; effectively represent and advocate for the consumer perspective within the community and mental health system; understand and articulate the cultural and social factors affecting behavior patterns; effectively communicate the workings of the mental health system to service consumers, parents, family members and caregivers; establish and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of community agencies and organizations; obtain and record accurate information for case documentation and other reports.

A valid California Driver's License will be required for this position.

Bilingual Spanish Speaking Candidates are highly desirable and highly encourage to apply!

Must Be Able To Share Personal Experiences With Others.

Mental Health Peer Specialist Trainee : $16.45 - $23.80
Mental Health Peer Specialist : $19.31 - $28.03
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Condition of Employment
In accordance with the California Department of Public Health Order dated August 5, 2021, and amended December 22, 2021, health care facility workers who work in indoor settings where care is provided to patients or where patients have access for any purpose must be vaccinated against COVID-19 as follows: first dose of a one-dose regimen or second dose of a two-dose regimen, by September 30, 2021. Effective March 1, 2022, all healthcare facility workers must have their booster, obtain the booster within 15 days of becoming eligible for one, or a declination form on file for the booster. Consideration may be given to candidates who are in the process of completing their vaccination regimen.
The Order allows for workers to be exempt from the vaccination requirements by providing the facility with a declination form signed by the individual stating either of the following: (1) the worker is declining vaccination based on Religious Beliefs; or (2) the worker is excused from receiving any COVID-19 vaccine due to Qualifying Medical Reaso ns. Workers who are exempted from the vaccination requirements must observe all other infection control requirements, including face coverings and regular COVID testing at the frequency required by their work site.
A requirement of employment is to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or a completed COVID-19 Vaccination Declination form (filled out by the candidate and their medical provider as appropriate), during the pre-employment process. Failure to submit the required documentation may render a candidate ineligible to move forward in the process.
Veterans' Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy. Upload a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 (or NGB-22) indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouse's letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. See the policy here: https://www.rivcocob.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/C-3-Veterans-Preference-Program.pdf
Other Requirements
License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License will be required.
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: http://dao.rc-hr.com/.
Application Period
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, THIS POSTING MAY CLOSE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Applications received prior to the closing date will be considered based on the information submitted. Changes or alterations cannot be accepted. All applicants must submit a complete application by the deadline. No late applications will be permitted.
Include relevant work experience details on resume and/or application.
Applicants who fail to provide information demonstrating they possess the position requirements may not be considered further in the application process. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
Upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).
What's Next?
This recruitment is open to all applicants.
Applicants who are current County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of the Riverside University Health System (RUHS) may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received.
These applicants will be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received.
Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County.
For specific questions regarding this position, please contact Edgar Manzo by e-mail at [email protected]
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable LIUNA Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.
Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here .
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

• Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
• Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
• Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. As of July 1, 2020, the employee contribution is 7.25% and subject to change annually.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

• A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
• A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
• A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".
Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.
Note
This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to [email protected] or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.
If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.
VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual)
0< 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)
4< 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)
10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)
Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.
SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.
HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance)
BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for em ployee purchase.
DISABILITY: Short-term Disability benefit pays up to a maximum of $461.54 weekly, payable up to a maximum of 52 weeks.
POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable Memorandum of Understanding.
OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.