Peer Support Specialist - Extra-Help Peer Support Specialist

  • Merced County, CA
  • Merced, California
  • May 21, 2024
Full Time Clerical and Administrative Support Human and Social Services
  • Salary: $35,734.40 - $43,451.20 Annually USD

Job Description

Examples of Duties

Please Note: This recruitment is being established to obtain a current eligible list for both Full-Time and Extra-Help vacancies. Extra-Help are not entitled to county benefits and are limited to a maximum of 25 hours per week. Extra-Help pay is up to $17.18 per hour.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Learns to interview and participate in educational and clinical settings; assist consumers to complete forms.
  • Learns to assist outreach Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Social Services, or Probation staff in linking consumers with resources and in appropriate level of care.
  • Learns to lead activity groups and prevocational groups in a program setting.
  • Learns to identify and utilize appropriate community agencies for referral of consumers.
  • May work in non-traditional settings such as community shelters, outreach programs, etc.
  • Prepare routine reports and correspondence and maintain consumer records.
  • Participates in in-service or other training courses and staff meetings.
  • May assist consumers in various skills needed for craft activities and transport to various activities.
  • May assist therapists, social workers, or probation officers with communication with non-English speaking consumers.
  • Helps provide a therapeutic climate for patients by listening and socializing with them.
  • Other duties as assigned.


Minimum Qualifications

Experience:
Background with Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Child Welfare, or Criminal Justice System as a consumer, family member, or significant other of a consumer.

Education:
Must be able to read and write at the level required by the specific job assignment.

Special Requirement:
Possess a valid California Driver License at the time of appointment and maintain, for some positions in this classification.

Desirable:
Background in assisting persons with histories of alcohol and drug abuse.

Six (6) months experience with direct contact in a behavioral health and recovery service, medical, probation, or human service setting.

Six (6) months experience in a health related field providing services to consumer and/or continuous consumer contact.

High school diploma or equivalent.

Bilingual is preferred.

SOME POSITIONS IN THIS CLASSIFICATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECKS PURSUANT TO THE HUMAN RESOURCES RULES AND REGULATIONS, SECTION 2, B

Essential Functions

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
  • Communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.

  • Meet deadlines under stressful conditions; complete multiple projects with conflicting deadlines.

  • Ability to identify potential conflicts and refer appropriately.

  • Effectively work with culturally diverse populations.

  • Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.

  • Understand and ensure compliance with policies, procedures and regulations.

  • Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.

  • Frequently lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.

  • Kneel, bend, twist, squat, balance and crawl; occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds.

  • Frequent use of hand-eye coordination; normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.

  • Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.

  • Regular attendance is an essential function.

Knowledge of:
  • Basic knowledge of principles, procedures, techniques, and trends of providing rehabilitation services for Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Social Services, or Probation consumers and/or those with alcohol and drug addictions.

  • Basic knowledge of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services characteristics, Social Service Agencies, and the Criminal Justice system.

  • Have knowledge of scope, availability, and activities of community resources, including other Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Social Service Agencies, and/or Probation.

  • Knowledge of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Social Services, and/or Probation Services from a consumer's perspective.

Ability to:
  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships with consumers and families, co-workers and those contacted during the course of work.

  • Organize and coordinate basic living skills activities.

  • Assist with development and implementation of consumer plan of care.

  • Maintain the confidentiality of consumer information.

  • Prepare reports and notes within timelines; understand and follow oral and written instructions.

  • Document consumer progress on stated goals and objectives.

  • Empathize with consumers; understand and accept differences in human behavior.

  • Communicate effectively, orally and in writing; benefit from training.


HOLIDAYS & LEAVES

VACATION

10 days the first 5 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 160 hours), 15 days in the second 5 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 240 hours), and 20 days after 10 years of continuous employment (limited to a maximum of 320 hours).

SICK LEAVE

.0462 hours sick leave for each paid regularly scheduled work hour. 12 days (96 hours per year) with unlimited accumulation. Optional annual buy back of a portion of accumulated sick leave hours upon meeting certain criteria.

HOLIDAYS

Twelve paid holidays annually plus one optional holiday.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE

Three (3) regularly scheduled work days or five (5) days if distance traveled over 500 miles one-way.

INSURANCE

HEALTH INSURANCE


Medical Insurance - Merced County offers five Medical Plans and contributes towards employee and dependent premiums. Medical plan availability varies based on bargaining units.
  • Anthem 200 EPO
  • Anthem 500 EPO
  • Anthem 1500 EPO
  • Anthem HDHP (High Deductible Medical Plan) with Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Anthem HDHP (High Deductible Medical Plan) without Health Savings Account (HSA)
Dental Insurance -Delta Dental
  • Calendar Year Maximums
  • County pays 100% of the premium for employees and 50% for dependent(s)
Vision Insurance - VSP
  • County pays 100% of the premium for employees and 50% for dependent(s)
DISABILITY INSURANCE

State Disability Insurance - Benefit based on highest quarter during previous calendar year. Employee pays premium.

LIFE INSURANCE

$10,000 County-paid coverage (Accidental Death and Dismemberment included). Voluntary Term Life and Universal Life Insurance available - premium paid by employee.

RETIREMENT

DEFERRED COMPENSATION


The County offers a 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. Employees choose their investment funds and can make pretax contributions to the plan up to the maximum allowable.

MERCED COUNTY EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION


The retirement plan is a defined benefit plan administered pursuant to the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 and other provisions of the California Government Code. MCERA members also pay into Social Security.The applicable benefit formula is dependent upon your hire date with an MCERA employer; yourpension amount will be determined by your age, years of service and final compensation amount.

EXTRA HELP EMPLOYEES DO NOT QUALIFY FOR COUNTY BENEFITS.

EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)


Anthem EAP services provides up to five face-to-face counseling sessions per incident and provides a toll-free "800" hotline available 24/7 for emergencies and crisis intervention. EAP services include counseling services, legal services, financial services and work-life resource services.

EMPLOYEE TICKETS, COUPONS, and DISCOUNTS

The County of Merced has partnered with Employee Savings Tickets to provide discounted coupons and tickets for all county employees to attractions throughout the state and out-of-state. The discounts and coupons are available for shopping, movies, sporting events, theme parks, zoos and aquariums and much more.

THIS BULLETIN IS NOT A CONTRACT AND DOES NOT CREATE CONTRACTUAL OR LEGAL RIGHTS ON BEHALF OF ANY EMPLOYEE. THIS BULLETIN IS SUBJECT OF BEING SUPPLEMENTED, MODIFIED, WITHDRAWN OR OTHERWISE CHANGED PENDING LABOR AGREEMENTS AND/OR AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR AS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DEEM NECESSARY.

For answers to specific questions regarding employee benefits, please call Human Resources at 209.385.7682.


Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Job Address

Merced, California United States View Map