Peer Support Specialist, Sr. - Native American

General Recruitment Information

Minimum Qualifications

Licensing and Certifications:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California driver's license.

Possession of a Peer Support Specialist certificate by an approved California Department of Health Care Services certifying organization within one (1) year of appointment. After initial certification, Peer Support Specialist certification must be renewed every two (2) years.

Education and Experience:
Education equivalent to a two (2) year college degree in business or public administration, project management, behavioral or social service area, including, but not limited to: Addiction, Psychology, Sociology, Recreation, Child Care, Social Work, Counseling or a related field.

And Either:

Two (2) years of responsible experience providing case management services comparable to that of a Mental Health Case Manager or Peer Support Specialist with the County of Lake.

OR

Two (2) years of responsible work experience providing administrative, behavioral health, or social services experience with at least one (1) year either in mental health or related social services and/or working directly with the Native American population.

Experience with Federal, State and locally legislated/funded programs is desirable.

Knowledge of public or tribal resources that can assist clients with their needs is strongly preferred.

Incumbent must possess a clear understanding of the Native American culture and community. Current involvement with the Native American culture and local community is strongly preferred.

Additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted.

Full

PEER SUPPORT SPECLIALIST, SR. – NATIVE AMERICAN

DEFINITION

Under general supervision, to perform work related to developing, implementing, promoting, maintaining and overseeing a variety of activities, programs and functions related to assigned wellness center; to perform outreach and engagement activities within the Native American community in Lake County; to promote individual, family, and community-level wellness; to serve as a liaison to the Native American community to assist in providing support to underserved and/or un-served members of the Native American community; to provide lead direction, work coordination, and training to staff and volunteers of assigned wellness center; and to do related work as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is a unique, specialized Peer Support Specialist, Sr. Native American classification. This classification is one of several Peer Support Cultural Specialist classifications designed to support and develop connections with groups identified as underserved and/or unserved by the existing behavioral health system. The Peer Support Cultural Specialist positions are responsible for the development, implementation, and day-to-day operations of their assigned wellness center. Incumbents are responsible for establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with community members, community partners, as well as encouraging stakeholder involvement in the development and implementation of programs, activities, volunteer opportunities, and a variety of other tools used to connect community members with needed services. Incumbents work with other staff within the Behavioral Health Department to ensure the needs of clients are met, as well as providing support and guidance to family members, as appropriate. This is a discrete classification.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general supervision from supervisory and/or management staff, depending on areas of work assignments. Exercises no supervision over staff. May provide lead direction, work coordination, and training, as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the scope of duties performed by employees in this class and are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

• Provides lead direction, work coordination, and training for staff, as assigned.
• Generates and distributes appropriate reports and other materials to partner agencies.
• Assists in connecting members of the Native American community with direct services through the Behavioral Health Department, and provides cultural prevention and recovery support activities, including support groups, parenting education, life experience activities, and supported independent living, recreation and work experience.
• Maintains a variety of records as required by state regulations, federal regulations, and/or County or Department policy and procedures.
• Provides day-to-day direction and oversight to the wellness center, ensuring a safe and customer-service oriented approach to engaging community members.
• May assist other staff with support, office, transportation, and other program-related activities.
• Engages with a variety of stakeholders to develop and implement systematic and planned approaches to address the needs of unserved and underserved populations.
• Participates in public speaking activities geared towards the target population; produces and/or participates in community events geared towards providing mental health support to the Native American community;
• Develops and maintains relationships with a variety of partner agencies and other community support entities to promote a Systems of Care approach to meet the needs of clients.
• Prepares public service announcements.
• Educates the public on programs, functions and activities of the wellness center and other available support services.
• Develops, implements, promotes, maintains and oversees a variety of activities, programs and functions related to assigned wellness center.
• Has responsibility for recruiting, training, retaining, and scheduling wellness center volunteers.
• May develop treatment plans and provide services in collaborative team efforts.
• Performs crisis intervention, as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Computerized methods used by the department for maintaining and updating records.
• Biological, behavioral, and environmental aspects of mental health and behavioral problems.
• Legislative and administrative rules and regulations pertaining to Lanterman-Petris-Short and Short-Doyle services.
• Modern office practices, procedures and equipment.
• Maintenance of files and information retrieval systems.
• Effective principles, practices, and techniques to develop and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
• State, federal and local laws, regulations, and requirements for the provision of counseling services.
• Scope and activities of public and private health and welfare agencies and other community resources as well as tribal resources.
• Leadership principles, practices, and techniques.
• Principles, procedures, techniques, and trends related to counseling, therapy and guidance of individuals, groups, and families in mental health programs and/or alcohol and drug treatment and prevention programs.

Ability to:

• Effectively represent the Behavioral Health Department with the public, community organizations, other County staff, and other government agencies.
• Regularly work well under pressure, meeting multiple and sometimes conflicting deadlines.
• Apply and explain federal and state laws, rules, and regulations governing mental health programs and services.
• Perform a variety of mental health support services with individual clients and groups, as assigned.
• Recognize a potential crisis and refer to crisis intervention services.
• Develop and maintain cooperative, constructive relationships with families of clients, members of professional disciplines, social agencies, and staff.
• Provide lead direction, work coordination, and training, as assigned.
• Interview clients for mental health and/or substance abuse services, including developing initial assessments regarding program eligibility and client needs.
• Engage community resources on behalf of clients at a systems level.
• Constantly demonstrate cooperative behavior with colleagues, supervisors, and customers/clients.
• Refer clients for case management services.
• Handle stress and unusual client behavior.
• Effectively work with clients, groups, and families.
• Maintain confidentiality of case information and use discretion in sensitive situations.

Licensing and Certifications:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California driver's license.

Possession of a Peer Support Specialist certificate by an approved California Department of Health Care Services certifying organization within one (1) year of appointment. After initial certification, Peer Support Specialist certification must be renewed every two (2) years.

Education and Experience:

Education equivalent to a two (2) year college degree in business or public administration, project management, behavioral or social service area, including, but not limited to: Addiction, Psychology, Sociology, Recreation, Child Care, Social Work, Counseling or a related field.

And Either:

Two (2) years of responsible experience providing case management services comparable to that of a Mental Health Case Manager or Peer Support Specialist with the County of Lake.

OR

Two (2) years of responsible work experience providing administrative, behavioral health, or social services experience with at least one (1) year either in mental health or related social services and/or working directly with the Native American population.

Experience with Federal, State and locally legislated/funded programs is desirable.

Knowledge of public or tribal resources that can assist clients with their needs is strongly preferred.

Incumbent must possess a clear understanding of the Native American culture and community. Current involvement with the Native American culture and local community is strongly preferred.

Additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted.

WORKING CONDITIONS, ADA, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
The County of Lake is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with its obligations under the law to provide equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Incumbents generally work in a typical office environment with adequate light and temperature. There may be occasional exposure?to?extreme temperatures, loud noise, fumes, noxious odors, dust, mist, gases, and poor ventilation; underground, confined, or restricted?workspaces; and heights more than five stories above ground level.?Incumbents may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. Incumbents may also be subject to clients or members of the public afflicted with behavioral disorders or who are under emotionally stressful conditions.

Positions in this class typically require: sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Positions in this class may require local and statewide travel as necessary.

A successful candidate will be required to submit to and pass a background check prior to the appointment. Depending upon the position and/or assigned department, the background check may include but is not limited to civil and criminal history check, reference check, Live Scan, and/or credit check (as allowed under state law).

Disaster Service Workers: As members of the County of Lake Emergency Services Organization, all Lake County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to perform certain emergency services at the direction of the department and / or County.

The contents of this class specification shall not be construed to constitute any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee, nor shall it constitute a contract of employment. The County of Lake assumes no responsibility beyond the general accuracy of the document, nor does it assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information contained herein. The contents of this specification may be modified or revoked without notice. Terms and conditions of employment are determined through a “meet and confer” process and are subject to the Memorandum of Understanding currently in effect.

RETIREMENT - County employees are members of the California Public Employee Retirement system (CalPERS). CalPERS provides a defined benefit pension at retirement for County employees. The pension formulas and employee contribution amounts may vary by bargaining unit, date of hire, prior qualifying service, and classification. Please contact Human Resources for more information.

HEALTH AND INSURANCE BENEFITS - Medical, dental, hospital, vision, life and disability coverage is available to employees and their dependents. The County contributes $1,500 of the monthly premiums for the insurance plan options.

VACATION ACCRUAL may be adjusted for current city or county government employees.

VACATION – 80 hours per year during the first five years of service, 120 hours per year after five years, and additional accruals based on years of service beyond fifteen years. Pro-rated for part-time employees.

SICK LEAVE - Accrues at a rate of 96 hours per year. Pro-rated for part-time employees.

HOLIDAYS- An average of twelve paid 8-hour holidays per year. Pro-rated for part-time employees.

SALARY - Lake County has an adopted salary schedule. The salary range for most classifications is in five increments with a provision for longevity increases. Appointments are normally made at the first step of the salary range.

SOCIAL SECURITY - County employees participate in Social Security.

CALIFORNIA STATE DISABILITY INSURANCE – SDI is available to some County employees.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS and CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIPS are available to County employees.