Peer Support Specialist

THE CURRENT VACANCY IS IN THE SHASTA COUNTYBEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH OFTHE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY ORAL EXAM IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 2025 SEE “SPECIAL REQUIREMENT†SECTION REGARDINGPOSSESSION OF A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE RESPONSES TO SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS REQUIRED FINAL FILING DATE: AUGUST 19, 2025 AT 12:00 PM SALARY INFORMATION

$3,015 - $3,849 APPROXIMATE MONTHLY

/ $17.40 - $22.20 APPROXIMATE HOURLY Please refer to the appropriate Bargaining Unit Memorandum of Understanding for potential future salary increases Please visit https://www.shastacounty.gov/personnel/page/labor-agreements-mous.

ABOUT SHASTA COUNTY

Shasta County offers all the amenities of the big city while retaining a comfortable small-town atmosphere. With its natural beauty, affordable housing, excellent educational system, abundance of recreational opportunities, and excellent quality of life, Shasta County is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The

Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) partners with the community to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of Shasta County residents. HHSA is organized into four branches: Behavioral Health & Social Services, Public Health, Economic Mobility, and a centralized Administration Services. HHSA promotes optimal health for all. The frail, the abused, the mentally ill, and those without resources look to HHSA for services and resources to meet their basic needs, and to protect their health and safety.

The

Behavioral Health & Social Services Branch is dedicated to improving the well-being of our community through comprehensive mental health services and essential social services to adults, children, and families. By integrating both behavioral health and social support services, we strive to build a healthier community by ensuring individuals have the resources they need to achieve stability and wholeness. Children’s Services encompass the services that help ensure children’s mental and physical well-being are protected and safe. The Child Welfare division of the branch investigates alleged abuse and neglect of children, and it licenses foster and adoptive homes for children who are experiencing traumatic events in their lives such as the removal from their caregiver due to alleged abuse and neglect. This division also works within the confines of the Dependency Court to reunify families when and where they can demonstrate appropriate change to meet the safety needs of their children. The branch also encompasses children’s mental health teams which work in conjunction with the Child Welfare division along with community providers to ensure that the youth that are being served are having their mental health and substance use challenges addressed. This branch also works with juvenile justice and education to coordinate services for clients. Adult Services focuses on issues that affect people eighteen and older. Adult mental health services include outpatient mental health care, 24-hour crisis stabilization services for people at risk of hospitalization, 24-hour crisis residential services, long-term placement services and referrals to local non-profit organizations that provide additional services. This branch also provides Adult Protective Services to follow-up on elder abuse reports. In-Home Supportive Services help those who need assistance with daily activities in order to remain safely in their own homes, and the Public Authority keeps a registry that helps In-Home Supportive Services recipients find a screened caregiver to provide those services. The Public Guardian helps citizens who are unable to manage their personal and financial affairs and may require guardianship or conservatorship. Mental Health Services Act administration is also housed in the Adult Services Branch. ABOUT THE POSITION

Under general supervision and in cooperation with professionals and paraprofessionals, learn to perform a variety of paraprofessional services in the community or clinic setting; act as a resource and support system for participants; provide liaison functions between participants and service providers; support self-empowerment of participants to act on their own behalf regarding their needs; provide services to participants and their family members/caregivers, both individually and in group settings, and perform related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Peer Support Specialist is a paraprofessional class and is distinguished from licensed and case management personnel in that the Peer Support Specialist does not assume primary responsibility for participants. The Peer Support Specialist performs a variety of less complex functions in the Health and Human Services Agency.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will have strong team building skills with a collaboration mindset. They will have strong boundaries and the ability to interact professionally with community partners. They will have lived experience with mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or lived experience with child welfare foster care system personally or within a family system. They will have strong verbal and written skills. The ideal candidate will have in-depth, personal understanding and experience with successful and ongoing recovery. They will be familiar with community resources. They will have a passion for helping others access the services and support they need. This applicant will be excited to connect and engage with diverse Shasta residents with the services that are available to support recovery. They will also serve as a constant reminder that recovery is possible by sharing their recovery experience with Shasta County clients and community members.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

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Act as a resource and provide direct assistance and guidance to participants of the related programs; coordinate services for participants; supports and engages participants in productive activities which promote growth toward a successful outcome; provide support and advocacy to help participants stabilize and benefit from treatment and services; support participants in combating negative self-talk, overcoming fears, and solving problems; provide assistance and mentoring on a one-on-one basis with participants; act as a resource for participants/family members/caregivers regarding services, referral information, and guidance in understanding agency policies and procedures; support participants in articulating, setting, and accomplishing goals; participate as a team member in the collaboration of assessment and treatment of participants; facilitate connections for participants/family members/caregivers to other community resources or providers; follow agency protocol when delivering programmatic guidance, as well as making referrals to health care providers and relevant programs within the community when the participants’ issues are not within the Peer Support Specialist’s scope of work; participate in reciprocal education with other providers to support integration of peer support within provider teams; facilitate educational and support groups for participants/family members/caregivers; communicate with community based organizations on behalf of participants, family members, and other related parties as part of connecting and engaging them in services within the community; provide case management services; assist with related paperwork and tasks; provide support during legal hearings; provide transportation for appointments, interviews, court hearings, etc.; collect relevant data during assessments and interventions within the scope of work; maintain accurate and current documentation; and attend regularly scheduled meetings and trainings.

Support the work of professional staff; assist with trainings in accordance with local and state policies; assist in quality control assurance activities, evaluation of documentation, inventory of equipment and supplies, and team meeting facilitation; facilitate the provision of programmatic services to participants and corresponding education as necessary; assist with the facilitation of participant classes and peer support groups; accompany licensed staff into the community to participate in support of participants, family members, and caregivers during crisis responses; provide evidence based resources for the safety of participants; collaborate with staff and community partners; promote positive relationships and open communication between participants, family members, caregivers and other staff; and may promote programmatic services through public speaking engagements in the community, as well as personal contacts with prospective participants, family members, and caregivers.

QUALIFICATIONS

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It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to directly demonstrate possession and application of the following:

Knowledge of: Basic knowledge of programmatic issues faced by participants; counseling techniques; the principles of wellness, resiliency, and recovery; the power of beliefs/values and how they support or work against recovery; the steps necessary to establish healing relationships; the importance of self-care; may acquire knowledge of federal, state, and local program policies, and procedures; knowledge of local community resources available to participants, family members, and caregivers which may require referral; cultural issues and factors in service delivery; confidentiality and ethical standards; and working knowledge of computers, social media platforms, texting, and telephone communication skills. Ability to: Understand and interact sensitively, effectively, and professionally with persons and participants from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, including supervisors, managers, co-workers, professionals, other agencies, and members of the public; communicate effectively; articulate the difference in treatment goals vs. recovery goals; co-facilitate a variety of group activities that support and strengthen recovery; deal with conflict and difficult interpersonal relations in the workplace; disseminate information on the benefits of services within the various programs; support participants with excellent customer service; provide transportation; effectively work with people in crisis situations; provide support and coaching to participants; communicate rules and objectives; handle multiple tasks; organize and prioritize; follow written and oral instruction; use computers and related software, databases, and social media platforms; work effectively as part of a team; and maintain confidentiality standards for all participants. Minimum Qualifications

• Having been a participant of the related program and/or having personal experience of a consumer (e.g. family member and/or care giver) of the services provided by the related program.
  
• Assignments may require participation in Peer Support Specialist training.
  
• Successful completion of a Peer Support Specialist training program (either through Shasta County or another program) is preferred.
  

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Possession of a valid California driver license.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

Responses to the following must be submitted with a completed application.

• Please explain your personal and/or family experience with mental illness, substance use disorder, child welfare and/or foster care as required for this position. If none, please type N/A.
  
• Have you ever received services from a Peer Support Specialist and/or related program? If �Yes,†please indicate when you were a participant and what type of training and program. If �No,†please type NA.
  
• Please explain your knowledge of the recovery community in Shasta County. If none, please type N/A.
  
• Please describe your knowledge and/or experience of peer mentoring/support. If none, please type N/A.
  
• Please describe how you maintain your own personal and ongoing recovery goals. If none, please type N/A.
  
• I acknowledge this position requires an appropriate California driver's license. Yes/No
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk or hear, and taste or smell. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• All new employees are required to have their paycheck directly deposited to a bank account.
  
• Some positions may require a valid California driver's license and acceptable driving record according to County policy.
  
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for those persons who are disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of the position.
  
• As part of the selection process, all individuals provided with a preliminary offer of employment with Shasta County will be subject to a background investigation, including a criminal history check (primarily completed through the taking of fingerprints). An image of your fingerprints will be captured and sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history, (if any), will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature of the offense, the date of the offense, the surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered.
  
• Based on the results of the background investigation and criminal history check, applicants may then be provided with an offer of employment conditioned on the results of a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol testing.
  

• Shasta County participates in E-Verify. For more information visit https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPoster.pdf (Download PDF reader). If you do not have internet access, contact Personnel at (530) 225-5515 to request a flyer.
  
• In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, County employees, in the event of a disaster are considered disaster workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.
  
• Positions in this classification are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the County and the United Public Employees of California - General Unit.
  

• Employees in this classification are covered under the CalPERS retirement program. Depending on the provisions of the California Public Employees� Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) and other applicable laws, an employee in this classification will be covered under one of the following CalPERS retirement formulas: (1) 2% at 55, (2) 2% at 60, or (3) 2% at 62. An employee in this classification will also contribute up to 9.5% his/her pay to this plan or will contribute such other amount to the plan as authorized by PEPRA and other applicable laws. Please visit our employees benefit page at https://www.shastacounty.gov/personnel/page/employee-benefitsfor additional information regarding benefits and CalPERS coverage information. The provisions in this flyer and on the County website are for information purposes only. To the extent the provisions of the flyer or the County website are inconsistent with PEPRA and other applicable laws, PEPRA and other applicable laws shall govern.
  

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURES

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Shasta County Personnel will accept applications and responses to the supplemental questions until 12:00 p.m., on August 19, 2025. A Resume and/or Cover Letter will be accepted in addition to the application form but will not serve as a substitute for a completed application. It is not acceptable to complete the application with statements such as, “Refer to Resume and/or Cover Letter,†or “See Attached Resume and/or Cover Letter†the employment application must be completed in its entirety prior to submission. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Closing date postmarks or faxes will NOT be accepted. This recruitment will establish a list that may or may not be used by other departments. Prior applicants must reapply to be considered. Applicants will be screened and those considered best qualified will be invited to appear for an oral and/or written examination. Meeting the announced requirements does not guarantee inclusion into the selection process. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of additional application screening, written and/or practical exam(s), oral interview, or any combination thereof. Veterans' Credit: Veterans (as defined by California Government Code section 18973) who have been discharged from military service under conditions other than dishonorable and who receive a passing score on all components of the employment examinations (up to and including oral examinations) shall receive credit for an additional five points to be added to their final examination score. To be considered for this credit, a veteran MUST provide a copy of his or her discharge document (DD-214 or equivalent) and information as to the type of discharge (honorable, dishonorable, etc.) WITH THE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION ON OR BEFORE THE FINAL FILING DATE. Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line at www.ShastaCountyCareers.com or submit an application to the Shasta County Personnel Office.

Arrangements may be made to accommodate applicants with disabilities. Requests for accommodations may be made to the Shasta County Personnel Office by the filing deadline posted on this bulletin. Shasta County does not discriminate on the basis of disability. If you feel you are being denied service based on a disability, our ADA Coordinator may be reached at (530) 225-5515; relay service (800) 735-2922; fax (530) 225-5345.

Shasta County will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Shasta County is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.

SHASTA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Shasta County Personnel

1450 Court Street, Suite 348; Redding, CA 96001; (530) 225-5515