Peer Support Specialist

Except in the case of an undue hardship, La Familia provides reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities when the accommodations are necessary to enable the persons to perform the essential functions of the job. The Agency also provides reasonable accommodations when necessary based on religious needs. Individuals requiring workplace accommodations must discuss their needs with La Familia Human Resources. Individuals seeking accommodations for disabilities are typically required to provide medical documentation supporting the existence of a disability, the need for the accommodation, and what workplace modifications will enable the employee to perform the essential functions of the job.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The In-Home Outreach Team (IHOT) specializes in field-based and in-home outreach and engagement to adult individuals who suffer from severe mental illness (SMI) and who are currently disengaged from mental health treatment and/or reluctant to engage with mental health treatment. The goal of IHOT is to refer and link clients to specialty mental health services, such as psychiatry, psychotherapy, and case management services.

La Familia was also awarded funding to establish and maintain an In-Home Outreach Team (IHOT) for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) in Alameda's Central and North County. We believe that IHOT operated by La Familia is of great benefit to the priority populations and communities that we serve and that this allows us to substantively augment and enhance the county's system of mental health services by engaging the hardest-to-serve and most resource-intensive SMI populations. We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Peer Support Specialist I or II to join our IHOT Program. This role will uphold and champion the agency's mission, vision, and values and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive work culture.

This position is covered under the SEIU 1021 Collective Bargaining Agreement. In addition to the established base pay, members will receive negotiated annual increases as follows:

• January 2026: 3% base pay increase
• January 2027: 3% base pay increase

Future increases will be subject to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Provide direct services, including outreach, engagement, referral, linkage, and follow-up services to consumers and their families/supports at their preferred locations.
• Conducts community outreach to homeless clientele and clientele residing at various institutional settings throughout the East Bay area who are enrolled in the IHOT program in an effort to establish contact, build rapport, and provide linkage services.
• Provide services in the field and at various institutional settings and locations in the community, as necessary, as well as transport clientele to necessary appointments and community resources and supports.
• Meets with clients and caregivers/family members on a consistent basis or as needed in the field for the purposes of establishing and maintaining contact, gradually build rapport and therapeutic alliance with clients and caregivers/family members, facilitate client interests in resources, develop and implement client care plans, support and accompany clients through interpersonal and institutional transitions, teach and enhance coping skills, facilitate healthy dialogue between clients and respective family members/caregivers or relevant parties, leverage the interests of family members/caregivers and clients towards common goals, and provide referral and linkage services for clients to specialty mental health services in the community.
• Provide case management duties for clients and connect them to various resources as necessary, including, but not limited to, assisting clients to apply for General Assistance and Social Security Income; initiate and follow-up with referrals to temporary shelters and long-term housing; referral and linkage to services available within Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services (ACBHCS) as well as other necessary community resources and supports.
• Provide culturally responsive, strengths-based, and client-centered supports and advocacy to consumers and their families/supports.
• Serve as role model and to inspire, engage, and advocate for consumers and their family member/caregivers' legal status and rights.
• Consistently collaborate with mental health and other social service professionals in various institutional capacities and settings to initiate, refer, and follow-up with services in conjunction with or on behalf of clients.
• Consistently write case notes regarding services rendered in a timely manner and in compliance with standards of care of La Familia IHOT.
• Consistently meet productivity and client contact hours requirements in compliance with programming and standards of care of La Familia IHOT.
• Consistently attend weekly meetings of IHOT Staff Meetings/Group Supervision; weekly meetings of individual supervision with the Program Supervisor; monthly ACBHCS meetings; and other meetings or training relevant for community or professional stakeholder purposes or professional development, and presentations as needed.
• Serve as a liaison with staff of ACBHCS in coordinating services with ACBHCS and our IHOT program.
• Assist Program Supervisor in periodically reviewing ACBHCS webpage for up to date information regarding Alameda County policies, procedures, training, and announcements.
• Maintain client confidentiality and charts in compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), submit billings on a daily basis/submit client logs on a daily basis, and complete progress notes, service tracking, and other documentation as appropriate.
• Support agency-wide Quality Improvement efforts, comply with all agency's policies and procedures.
• Provide culturally - competent support to consumers and their family members/caregivers.
• Demonstrate a capacity and commitment to provide services to diverse clientele, families, and populations in regards to race; class; gender; sexuality; disability; age; immigration/citizenship status; religion/spirituality; and other social statuses.
• Report consumer progress to supervisors and maintain complete records.

Other

• Attend trainings and participate in events relevant to key responsibilities
• Track and regularly report on key metrics for responsible function areas
• Leads and collaborate on special projects related to agency objectives as appropriate

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or GED required
• 2-4 years plus years of experience working as a Peer Support Specialist
• Bilingual in Spanish and English required
• Possess lived experiences similar to that of IHOT clientele, including, but not limited to, experiences of homelessness, consumer of mental health care services, recovery from substance abuse, and stigmatization in regards to various cultural and social statuses or identities.
• Demonstrate a capacity and commitment to work in cooperation with a diverse team of professionals in regards to race; class; gender; sexuality; disability; age; immigration/citizenship status; religion/spirituality; and other social statuses.
• Ability to organize and prioritize duties as well as multi-task in short periods in regards to shifting the aforementioned roles throughout the day (i.e. community outreach, client appointments, writing case notes, IHOT meetings, clinical case consultation.)
• Demonstrate a competency of writing skills effective enough to communicate client services rendered as well as coordinate casework with IHOT staff.
• Demonstrate a capacity to collaborate in the context of teamwork, share casework, and communicate effectively so that program operations are executed with minimal challenges.
• Demonstrate a commitment to be teachable as well as receive and integrate feedback into work performance within an effective manner of time.
• Experience in non-profit and community-based organizations preferred.
• Demonstrates and models excellent "customer service" orientation and ability to work with diverse populations.
• Exercises extreme discretion with the ability to hold, balance, and transmit public and confidential information needed by various parties.
• Proficient in MS Office and Google Workspace products.
• Valid CA Driver's license required.
  • Auto insurance: If your vehicle is used for business-related purposes, it is recommended that you inform your auto insurance carrier.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Demonstrates cultural awareness and provides respectful, client-centered care.
• Maintains knowledge of community resources for client referrals
• Attend work regularly, adhering to policies on absences and tardiness.
• Understands and applies legal requirements, including confidentiality and risk management.

Timekeeping & Attendance Responsibilities

• Accurately record work hours each day by clocking in/out at scheduled start, break, lunch, and end times.
• Take all required meal and rest breaks in compliance with state, federal, and agency policies.
• Review and submit timesheets by established deadlines to ensure timely payroll processing.
• Notify supervisor promptly of any scheduling conflicts, absences, tardiness, or timekeeping issues.
• Maintain consistent and reliable attendance to support team and program operations.
• Follow organizational policies and procedures related to overtime, schedule changes, and paid/unpaid leave.
• Correct and/or report any timekeeping discrepancies immediately to the supervisor for resolution.

TEAM COMMITMENT:

• Viewed by others as an effective team member who is flexible, cooperative, and willing to assist others, and acts as a resource to team members and clients, where appropriate.
• Handles difficult or conflict situations constructively and seeks appropriate assistance.
• Accepts accountability and constructive feedback.
• Attends all mandatory meetings and staff meetings as required, and actively participates in other departmental professional development, including providing training and consultation.
• Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with fellow employees, supervisors, managers in other departments, senior management, executive staff, and community stakeholders.
• Handles requests, suggestions, and complaints from other departments and individuals in a tactful and effective manner to maintain goodwill within the agency.

WORKING CONDITIONS and JOB SETTING:

• Ability to occasionally or frequently stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms above the shoulders
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit, walk, talk, and hear, use hands to keyboard, fingers, handle, and feel, stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, crawl, reach, and stretch.
• The employee is occasionally required to move around the office
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
• May require travel, dependent on agency needs
• Can work under deadlines
• Performing general physical activities such as picking up, moving, and using objects, tools, or controls
• The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle
• Ability to push, pull, and lift up to 50 pounds frequently.
• Ability to stand and move from one location to another daily.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time
• Ability to visually focus on near and far items, and to be able to switch between them.
• Ability to reliably report to work on time and perform the position's required tasks as scheduled
• Ability to grasp and carry items
• Ability to hear and effectively communicate with co-workers, clients, and the public
• Ability to identify potential issues within the workplace, determine an appropriate means of avoiding and/or resolving the issues, work with others to address the issues, and carry out organized strategies for resolving and preventing similar issues in the future
• Ability to process information and data for use within the organization

BENEFITS:

• Excellent Health benefits package for you and your family, including:
  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits with 95% employee and 80% dependent employer premium contributions, and employer-paid life insurance.
• Vacation, 15 paid holidays, 12 paid sick days upon accrual
• Employee Assistance Plan to support you and your family's well-being and finances
• Pet Plan Benefit:
  • PetPlus Product and Prescription Discounts, Pet Assure Veterinary Discounts, AskVet 24/7 Pet Telehealth, and ThePetTag Lost Pet Recovery Service
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Work-life wellbeing & excellent work hours
  • La Familia understands the importance of work-life balance Our therapists enjoy flexible scheduling options, including hybrid work arrangements, to ensure high-quality client care while maintaining their well-being.
• License and Certification renewals reimbursed.
• Supportive/Collaborative work environment
• Opportunities for Growth and Professional Development
  • We believe in growing together. As a team member, you'll have access to structured mentorship and ongoing training. Whether you're pursuing licensure or looking to specialize in clinical psychology, we support your growth every step of the way.
• This position is covered under the SEIU 1021 Collective Bargaining Agreement. In addition to the established base pay, members will receive negotiated annual increases as follows:
  • January 2026: 3% base pay increase
  • January 2027: 3% base pay increase
  • Future increases will be subject to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

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