Description

Shift: Tuesday- Thursday 9:30am-8pm and Friday 8am-6:30pm

WHAT YOU WILL DO: This position provides field-based outreach, short term crisis intervention, and case management to individuals experiencing homelessness with Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Serious Mental Illness (SMI). The Certified Peer Support Specialist will provide outreach and short-term case management to the North County region to connect individuals experiencing homelessness to housing, health, and other supportive services. The position will attend and support case conferencing and ensure that clients with ongoing treatment needs are successfully connected with appropriate community-based treatment programs. The position will interact closely with the interdepartmental treatment team of behavioral health clinicians, clients, associate clinicians, interns, community partners, program leadership and staff. Conducts outreach and engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness

• Conducts outreach and engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness
• Identifies, engages and links underserved populations with SUD and behavioral health services
• Provides direct services to homeless clients and families, which include: intake, assessment, referrals and case management as well as client advocacy with the goal of supporting self-sufficiency
• Facilitates acceptance of placement or other services that support and stabilize individuals moving from street to service
• Outreach teams will employ a regionalized, neighborhood-based model to build collaborative relationships with unhoused individuals as well as community stakeholders
• Participates in outreach events for the purpose of engagement and client linkage
• Provides direct services to clients including case management, short term counseling, crisis intervention, and linkage with longer term services
• Participates, when appropriate, in case conferences for clients receiving services
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with mental health providers and SUD treatment providers to ensure that clients with ongoing treatment needs are successfully transferred to longer term services
• Maintains accurate records and files and prepare reports as required by funders and agency administration
• Enters data into the regional Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) client database, the Coordinated Entry System (CES) and/or other electronic data systems as required by funders and Interfaith
• Monitors compliance with grant and contract requirements
• Ensures the confidentiality of client information and health records
• Meets regularly with Supervisor and participate in agency meetings and staff trainings
• Must complete County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services (BHS) approved peer specialist training course within 60 days of hire
• Provides trauma informed and culturally competent client services 
• Performs additional duties as assigned

Requirements

EXPERIENCE / EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s Degree in social services or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience required
• Certified through a MediCAL approved program required
• 1 years of relevant work experience required
• Lived experience of mental health, substance use disorder or homelessness preferred 
• Experience working with severely mentally ill, medically fragile, and homeless populations preferred
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred