Mental Health Peer Specialist/Trainee - Family Advocate - TAY Mid County Drop In at County of Riverside in Perris, California

Job Description:

ABOUT THE POSITION

The County of Riverside's Behavioral Health department is seeking a Mental Health Peer Specialist/Trainee - Family Advocate to work in the Transitional Aged Youth Mid-County Drop In located in Perris, CA.

This recruitment is searching for a Mental Health Peer Specialists/Trainee - Family Advocate who is or was a Mother/Father/Legal Guardian of a teen or a young adult who had received behavioral health services for a severe and/or behavioral health diagnosis (lived experience.) The incumbent for the position will also be required to share their story in a meaningful way with other participants of the program in a meaningful way.

The Peer Specialist/Trainee - Family Advocate engages with Parents, Legal Guardians and family members of the individual receiving services on a one-on-one or in a group setting. The family and consumer receiving services has the opportunity to experience what it is like to walk side-by-side with a person who has been there; while learning new tools and practicing new skills in moving through challenges.

The primary function of the Family Advocate Program is to assist family members in coping with the illness of their loved one through information, education, and support. Additionally, they also provide information and assistance to family members in their interaction with service providers and the mental health system. Family Advocate staff are they themselves family members of mental health consumers and are sensitive to the concerns of other family members and/or caregivers

The most competitive incumbent will have experience working with a teens/young adults receiving mental health services or persons with severe mental illness, who are homeless and/or needing intensive case management to achieve recovery and/or working with adults/children with in-patient mental health services or at risk of inpatient mental health services.

The goal of the Riverside University Health System (RUHS) Department of Behavioral Health is to provide culturally sensitive community-based services for people experiencing a mental illness or addiction to substance(s); for children with serious emotional problems; and for people needing the protection of public guardianship. The Department exists to help consumers achieve and maintain an optimal level of personal and social functioning.

Meet the Behavioral Health Team!

http://www.ruhealth.org/en-us/behavioral-health

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Informs, trains, supports and empowers consumers and families/caregivers who directly or indirectly receive mental health services.

• Communicates, represents and promotes the consumer and families/caregivers' perspective within the mental health system.

• Facilitates self-help groups for clients, youth, family members and caregivers.

• Attends and participates in special events, conferences, workshops and trainings within the mental health system and in the community.

• Develops activities, programs and resources which support consumers and family/caregivers in achieving their goals.

• Supports the appropriate recognition, acceptance and understanding of social and cultural factors in the provision of mental health services.

• Develops effective working relationships with agencies and organizations to advocate for consumer and family/caregiver empowerment.

• Helps prepare and support clients and families/caregivers at case staffings and at a variety of formal and informal hearings.

• Helps consumers and those who support them to articulate their needs.

• Focuses on and is sensitive to consumer and family/caregiver satisfaction with the services received and general satisfaction with mental health services.

• Assists and promotes consumers and those who support them in support networks and activities.

• Documents all activities as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
MENTAL HEALTH PEER SPECIALIST/TRAINEE:
(Salary range: $14.95- $22.88)

Experience: Depending on assignment, current or previous experience as a who is or was a Mother/Father/Legal Guardian of a teen or a young adult who had received behavioral health services for a severe and/or behavioral health diagnosis (lived experience.)

Knowledge of: The basic needs and difficulties faced by ethnically diverse consumers, caregivers and 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.

Ability to: Learn the basic principles of the mental health system and effectively work within the system; represent and advocate for the consumer perspective within the community and mental health system; understand 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 working relationships with a wide range of community agencies and organizations; obtain and record accurate information for case documentation and other reports.

MENTAL HEALTH PEER SPECIALIST:
(Salary range: $17.60- $26.95)

Experience: Depending on assignment, current or previous experience as a who is or was a Mother/Father/Legal Guardian of a teen or a young adult who had received behavioral health services for a severe and/or behavioral health diagnosis (lived experience.)

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.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
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.

What's Next?
This recruitment is open to all applicants.

Applicants who are current County of Riverside employees and/or current employees of theRiverside University Health System (RUHS)- Behavioral Health Department may be considered before other applicants depending on the volume of applications received.

Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County.

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 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 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 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 retirement@rivco.org 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 employee 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.

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