Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS, Spanish Speaking)

Position Title: Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS), Spanish speaker

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.

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

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