Peer Specialist I

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under the direction of the allcove Clinical Manager, this position engages with allcove participants, provides peer-based support, resource navigation, youth-centered assistance, and supports outreach efforts to youth and the community, promoting visibility, access, and participation in allcove.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the job.

 

1. Conducts initial orientation for allcove participants, including but not limited to: assisting with the completion of forms, intake questionnaires, and initial screenings or assessments, as needed; ensuring a welcoming, inclusive, and youth-centered experience.
2. Provides peer support to allcove participants, serving as a coach and mentor. participating in goal-setting activities; identifying opportunities for participants to learn, grow, build confidence, and improve self-esteem; providing encouragement and support in accessing resources; sharing and discussing common experiences to build trust and rapport and maintain a positive outlook; communicating, representing, and promoting the peer perspective throughout allcove.
3. Works collaboratively with volunteer Peer Assistants to provide a youth-centered experience for all center participants.
4. Actively engages with Youth Advisory Group members by supporting the planning of meetings, events, and outreach efforts.
5. Co-facilitates peer workshops and group activities.
6. Completes and maintains related records and documentation through data collection.
7. Rotates through on-site support shifts to assist with participant services and basic facility operations.
8. Builds effective working relationships with agencies and organizations to support peer empowerment and wellness and to collaborate on future outreach events and activities. Conducts outreach to inform community partners and peers about center services and resources, including center tours, public presentations, and guest speaking engagements. Works with Communications and Marketing to reach peers in the community through school presentations, outreach, and tabling events. Collaborates with youth advisors and center staff to develop communication and outreach materials for program activities and helps ensure that youth and center resources are readily available to participants.

9. Serves as MOD in the allcove center and designated community-based access points, overseeing facility operations and staff, as needed.
10. Exhibits clear understanding of the history, mission, and vision and serves as an ambassador of Beach Cities Health District.
11. Exemplifies BCHD’s core values of compassion, integrity, accountability, and excellence in every interaction with staff, volunteers and members and the public.

12. Fulfills assigned Disaster Service Worker training, duties, and work schedule as required on behalf of BCHD.
13. Performs special projects and other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES

This position requires the following competencies (e.g., knowledge, skills and abilities) in order to perform all functions of the job.

 

 

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

 

Adaptability/Flexibility. Responds positively to change, embracing and using new practices or values to accomplish goals and solve problems. Recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternative ways to reach goals or targets. Copes well and helps others deal with the ongoing demands of change; sees and shows others the benefits of change. Manages change in a way that reduces the concern experienced by others. Clarifies priorities when leading change.

Attention to Detail. Performs tasks with care; is thorough. Makes few if any errors. Checks work to ensure accuracy and completeness. Compares observations or finished work to what is expected to find inconsistencies. Remains aware and takes care of details that are easy to overlook or dismiss as insignificant.

Customer Focus. Exhibits a polished and professional demeanor at all times. Describes customers’ business and expectations. Shows interest in, anticipates, and responds timely to customer needs. Goes beyond basic service expectations. Seeks ways to improve service delivery. Recognizes adverse customer reactions and develops better alternatives.

Teamwork. Knows and supports teammates’ work and deliverables. Encourages team unity through sharing information or expertise, working together to solve problems, and putting team success first. Helps remove barriers to team productivity and success. Involves everyone on the team. Helps those in need of assistance, regardless of rank.

JOB COMPETENCIES:

 

Advocacy. Advocate effectively with others so that clients receive needed care in a timely fashion, while understanding reasonable limits. Provide information and support for individuals and communities to advocate for their own needs. Build and maintain networks of community resources and referrals. Build and maintain networks with relevant community and issue advocacy groups.

Relationship Building. Maintains an open, approachable manner and treats others fairly and respectfully. Preserves others’ dignity and shows regard for their opinions. Anticipates and recognizes the concerns of others, even if not openly expressed. Seeks to resolve confrontations and disagreements constructively. Builds rapport with external partners for mutual benefit to fulfill needs. Demonstrates a balance between building rapport and getting the work done.

Self-Management. Prioritizes tasks by importance and deadline. Adjusts priorities as situations change. Focuses time and effort on key tasks. Easily transitions between tasks and picks up where left off when interrupted. Makes reasonable estimates of resource needs to achieve goals or complete projects. Uses sound methods to plan and track work, appointments, and commitments. Completes high volumes of work, keeping a rapid pace without sacrificing accuracy. Meets and exceeds deadlines efficiently.

Valuing Diversity/Cultural Awareness. Sees the value of cultural, ethnic, gender, and other individual differences in people. Creates an environment of learning about, valuing, encouraging, and supporting differences. Supports fair treatment and equal opportunity for all. Listens to and objectively considers the ideas/input of others. Strives to eliminate barriers to diversity; ensures that new barriers to diversity are not built.

 

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES

Any combination equivalent to experience, education, and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:

EDUCATION/TRAINING:

Postsecondary education in health promotion, public health, community development, social or behavioral sciences, social work, planning, or a related discipline.

EXPERIENCE:

At least one year of experience providing peer-based support, engagement, resource navigation, and youth-centered assistance to young people, in collaboration with community partners and parents/guardians in community- or school-based settings.

KNOWLEDGE:

Knowledge of school-based privacy requirements, including FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and parental rights to access education records for students under 18, in settings serving both minors and young adults.

Knowledge of laws on mandated reporting, consumer protection (California Board of Behavioral sciences policies) and duty to warn and protect. Knowledge of ethical practice, scope-of-practice limits, and allcove guidelines, policies, and procedures. Broad knowledge of local services and resources for young people across health, education, employment, and youth sectors.

Knowledge of appropriate safety precautions and procedures for working with youth in center and community settings.

 

ABILITIES/SKILLS:

Maintains a youth-centered focus.

Excellent organizational, basic project coordination, and written and oral communication skills are required. Demonstrated community outreach experience, or success in actively engaging organizations in a program or project, is required.

Excellent computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the ability to learn software platforms and databases. Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English is highly desirable.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification or ability to obtain upon hire.

Must successfully pass a background check, tuberculosis test, and drug screen. Must hold a valid California Class C driver's license and maintain insurability under the City’s vehicle use policy. Must hold Mental Health First Aid certification or be willing to complete training upon hire.

Evening and weekend hours may be required.

PHYSICAL STANDARDS

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY ELEMENTS:

This position requires hearing, talking, and seeing. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee uses finger dexterity in order to operate computer hardware for extended periods of time. The employee is required to sit constantly and to occasionally walk and stand to access counters, work areas, and files; stoop, kneel, or crouch to access or place records or files; and lift and carry records and documents, typically weighing less than 20 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS:

Employees work in an integrated youth health center serving young people ages 12-25, as well as at community locations within the service area.