Peer Specialist

Responsible for: Under the supervision of the Program Director performs peer mentoring and Case Management functions.

Position Competencies:

• Ability to relate to individuals who have severe impairments in their ability to function in the community.


• Ability to respond quickly, effectively and with equanimity to member crises and life situations.


• Ability to work as a team member and to work with other agencies, community resources and member’s families.


• Ability to demonstrate adequate literacy skills to perform work duties will be considered.


• Must have valid California Driver's license and the availability of a car with adequate insurance.

Position Requirements:

• Must have experience with and managing a psychiatric disorder, and have knowledge about 12-step programs and all aspects of recovery from substance abuse.


• Must have lived experience with either mental health, justice involvement and or homelessness.


• Must be able to pass California State Department of Justice criminal background investigation, Live Scan and/or fingerprinting.


• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.


• Must have valid California Driver's license and the availability of a car with adequate insurance.

Primary Duties:

• Takes direction from experienced staff members in methodology for carrying out peer counselor interventions identified on the recovery/service plans.


• Provides case management services, especially in terms of escorting consumers to indicated resources and ensuring that the linkage is made.


• Escorts consumers on field trips of a recreational nature, emphasizing that recovering alcoholics and drug addicts can have fun in sobriety and can enjoy the constructive use of drug-free leisure time.


• Visits consumers while they are in detox units, recovery homes, and sober living homes.


• Share his/her experience with mental illness and substance abuse in a manner which communicates hope ---- this individual will be a “program of attraction” as he/she relates their own experience--- what it was like, what happened, and what it is like now.


• Is involved in presentations to drug treatment programs, which are reluctant to accept consumers who are psychiatrically impaired.


• Participates in selective in-service training, sharing his/her experience in living with a mental illness, and/or homelessness and achieving and/or maintaining sobriety.


• Attends DMH trainings related and meetings other meetings as assigned.


• Comply with all protected health information about any member o other party in accordance with South Central Health & Rehabilitation Program policies related to state or federal laws such as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).


• Use appropriate safeguards to protect the confidentiality of such information.


• Report to South Central Health & Rehabilitation Program management any use or disclosure of protected health information not permitted by South Central Health & Rehabilitation Program policies related to state or federal laws such as HIPAA.


• Participate in South Central Health & Rehabilitation Program training or briefings on HIPAA information as scheduled.


• Consult with supervisor on any issue or questions about compliance under South Central Health & Rehabilitation Program policies related to state or federal laws such as HIPAA.


• Maintain a close working relationship with county, state, and federal financial funders, as well as major third-party payers.