Peer Support Specialist

Join McAlister Institute, a 48-year beacon in San Diego's Recovery Community.

We are seeking a Peer Support Specialist who will play a crucial role in providing support and advocacy for individuals navigating their recovery journey. This position involves delivering prevention services, strength-based coaching, facilitation, and educational resources aimed at empowering beneficiaries and their families.

Benefits for YOU:

• 13 paid annual holidays, including your birthday; 12 paid vacation days, paid sick leave
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility
• 403(b) Retirement Plan up to 6% Employer Match
• Health Insurance available the first of the month following 30 days of employment (Sharp)
• EAP

Key Responsibilities:

• Uphold and promote the mission, philosophy, values, and direction of McAlister Institute.
• Conduct educational skill-building groups to teach coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills to beneficiaries and their families.
• Lead activities and coaching sessions to motivate beneficiaries to engage in behavioral health treatment.
• Support beneficiaries during transitions between levels of care and assist them in developing personalized recovery goals and processes.
• Provide care coordination services, including planning, accessing community resources, coaching, mentoring, facilitation, and psychoeducation.
• Foster a communication style that promotes wellness, recovery, and resilience, while respecting the rights, dignity, and confidentiality of all clients.
• Maintain documentation in compliance with agency, HIPAA, 42 CFR, and funding standards, ensuring accurate and timely progress notes.
• Perform other assigned duties as needed.

Requirements:

• Valid state-approved Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification.
• Self-identified experience with the recovery process from mental illness and/or substance use disorder, either as a consumer of these services or as a family member of a consumer.
• Actively model high ethical standards, maintaining confidentiality and appropriate boundaries.
• Excellent rapport-building skills, attentive listening, and empathetic communication.
• Strong paperwork and computer skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a team, with excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Compliance with all agency and contract requirements related to training, public health, certifications, and reporting.
• Exudes a calm and competent manner, able to converse with medical professionals, lay persons, as well as persons or families and defuse crisis or high intensity situations.
• Proficiency with software and/or equipment (Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
• Proficient with EHR Systems (e.g., Electronic Health Records such as Welligent or SmartCare).
• Maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; effectively regulates emotions, especially under stress; remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English strongly preferred.
• Must possess a valid and unrestricted California Driver's License, with a good driving record, free of any major infractions.
• On-site position.
• Ability to pass all pre-employment screening, including references, education verification, a criminal background check with at least one year clear of probation or parole, a drug test, and a negative TB test.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

McAlister Institute is committed to creating a diverse environment and we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, any other non-job-related factors, and other characteristics protected by local, state, or federal anti-discrimination law covering employment.

Reasonable Accommodations:

McAlister Institute is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the , for more information. Please include your name and position you are applying for.

Work Authorization Requirement:

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. McAlister Institute does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

Pre-Employment:

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from McAlister Institute employment as we are subject to County of San Diego contractual hiring requirements). A pre-employment physical examination, and post-offer background check is required. Candidates must have at least one year clear of probation or parole, a drug test, and a negative TB test.

General Information & Considerations:

Placement on the pay range is based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, relevant years of experience and qualifications.

Current McAlister Institute employees may receive priority consideration for positions when they meet essential qualifications.