SALARY

$26.52 - $31.57 Hourly

$55,169.92 - $65,655.20 Annually

Bilingual allowance when applicable

 We are accepting applications to fill full-time Peer Support Specialist Trainee vacancies in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria for the Behavioral Wellness Department (BWELL). 

We are also accepting applications to establish one employment list for current and future full-time, part-time, extra help (temporary) and 1414* Peer Support Specialist Trainee vacancies in multiple locations which include Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc for the Behavioral Wellness Department. Therefore, you must check the Individual Location(s) on the application and work types where you would be willing to accept an assignment for current and future employment. If you qualify for this position and pass the required selection steps, your name may be sent to the hiring managers of the programs where you have expressed interest in working.

The selected candidate may need to travel between different sites within Santa Barbara County.   

*1414 vacancies may occur as a result of a leave of absence (Civil Service Rule 1414) and the duration of the appointment shall be subject to the return of the individual who is on leave. A person who is appointed to a position under Civil Service Rule 1414 may be able to transition into a regular position in the classification without re-application or re-testing, depending on the performance of the appointee and the needs of the department. The 1414 position is eligible for Full-Time benefits.
  
 THE POSITION:

Under direct supervision, provide information, support, assistance and advocacy for clients and/or caregivers/family members of clients of behavioral health services (mental health and co-occurring substance use disorder). Incumbents in this class provide training, support, encouragement, and related duties to assist clients and family/caregivers in coping with immediate situations. Incumbents in these classes work within a system of interdisciplinary departmental teams and will provide feedback and perspective to the behavioral health system relative to the impact and effectiveness of the services provided. 

This is the entry-level class in the Behavioral Wellness Peer Specialist series. Incumbents in this class may promote to the Peer Certified Support Specialist with satisfactory work performance and upon meeting the minimum qualifications of the latter class.

   
 The Ideal Candidate will have when working with the Behavioral Wellness Department:

• Individuals with lived experience, OR who are the parents, guardians, caregivers and/or family members living with individuals with a behavioral health, alcohol and/or substance use disorders
• Willingness and ability to effectively disclose that experience to consumers in order to establish credibility and empathy and provide examples of recovery and real-life strategies for dealing with mental illness
• Develop and maintain sound working relationships with diverse people and personalities 
• Successfully work with and interact with all levels of staff and contract service agencies 
• Work independently, organize and prioritize work, and meet critical deadlines 
• Handle multiple tasks with competing priorities 
• Be open to change and new information, and adapt behavior and work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, and unexpected obstacles
• Have the ability to prepare and write clear and concise documents (e.g., memoranda, and correspondence)
• Exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyzing and projecting consequences of decisions and/or recommendations 
• Contribute to and document initial and ongoing biopsychosocial client evaluations and assessments 
• Contribute to development and revision of written plan of care
• Demonstrate computer literacy for electronic health record documentation 
• Recognize and communicate observations related to effects and side effects of medications and signs of substance intoxication or withdrawal 
• Provide client/family education regarding client's disposition
• Assist with incorporating discharge planning into client's care 
• Have experience providing services to persons with severe and persistent mental illness
• Have Bilingual skills in English & Spanish and/or Mixteco; desired, but not required

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT: 
 Founded in 1962, it is the mission of the Department of Behavioral Wellness to promote the prevention of and recovery from mental illness and addiction among individuals, families and communities, by providing effective leadership and delivering state-of-the-art, culturally competent services. The Department provides treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to 10,000 clients with mental illness and substance use disorders annually through its professional staff of over 400, in addition to its many contracted Community-Based Organization (CBO) providers. 

For more information, please visit:  www.countyofsb.org/behavioral-wellness

Depending on the area of assignment, duties may include, but not limited to, the following:

1. Provides personal lived experience of behavioral health related to recovery and resiliency to the people served in the behavioral health system of care.  
2. Supports the work of PEER Certified Support Specialists in informing, training, and empowering clients and families/caregivers of clients who directly or indirectly receive behavioral health services.
3. Attends and participates in special events, conferences, workshops and trainings within the mental health system and in the community.
4. Helps clients and those who support them to articulate their needs.
5. Serves as a role model for clients.
6. Supports the appropriate acceptance and understanding of social and cultural factors in the provision of behavioral health services.
7. Provides mutual support to clients while providing transportation services. 
8. Observes and reports the behavioral, emotional and physical state of clients verbally and in writing to supervisor(s) and/or treatment team. Assists clients in completing online forms and applications.
9. Provide the client and family/caregiver perspective in the development of programs and services and in the formulation of treatment strategies.

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must provide detailed information on their application to demonstrate how they meet the employment standards (minimum qualifications) listed below:

A high school diploma or GED equivalent; AND,

1. Experience interacting with behavioral health services or its systems of care; or
2. A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to the employment standard listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Additional Qualifications: Incumbents must complete CalMHSA Peer Support Specialist training within the first year of hire. 

Driver's License: A valid California Class C Driver's License may be required at the time of appointment depending on programmatic needs.

Knowledge of: basic English grammar and usage; characteristics of human behavior; and safe driving practices.

Ability to: learn the basic principles of the behavioral health system and effectively work within the system; represent, model, and advocate for the client perspective within the behavioral health system; understand cultural and social factors affecting behavioral patterns; effectively communicate the workings of the mental health system to clients, parents, family members and caregivers; establish and maintain working relationships with a wide range of community agencies and organizations; obtain and record accurate information for documentation and other reports; understand the basic needs and difficulties faced by ethnically diverse clients, caregivers and families of behavioral health clients; and understand the community resources of public and/or private agency services available for families, children and adults with serious behavioral health needs, such as schools, social services and other systems.

Working Conditions:  Incumbents will have occasional contact with clients who may become hostile and/or violent. Incumbents may be required to drive long distances under varied weather conditions.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards. 
• Supplemental Questionnaire Ranking:  Candidates' response to the required supplemental questionnaire will be evaluated and scored.  Candidates' final score and rank on the employment list will be determined by their responses to the supplemental questionnaire.  This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates. 

Applicants must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive written notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.

VETERAN'S PREFERENCE POINTS: Veteran's preference credit is applicable for this recruitment (5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans). To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of:  (1) honorable discharge from active military service; or, (2) discharge from a military or veterans' hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, (3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act.  No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability.
 
To receive veteran's preference points, you must: (1) check the Veteran's Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) submit a copy of your Form DD-214 to the Human Resources Department on or before the closing date, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process.  The preference points will be added to your final test score.

Recruiters will communicate with applicant by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process.  Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.
  
CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER:   

• Live Scan and Background Check: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the selected candidate's appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a Live Scan and background check which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. A Live Scan is electronic fingerprint scanning that is certified by the State Department of Justice. Further instructions about when and how to complete the Live Scan will be included in the offer letter. Appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination.  
• The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

Additional information:

• Fingerprinting for the purpose of a criminal record check as authorized by Section 16501 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code and Section 11105.3 of the California Penal Code may be required for some positions. 
• Finalists for positions in this class will be required to pass a pre-offer, job-related background investigation.

  
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS:   The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

BENEFITS: For more information on County of Santa Barbara benefits click on the Benefits Tab above or visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/3085/SEIU-Local-620

Additionally, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for retirement reciprocity and time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate.

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.      

Statement of Commitment:  The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.
  
APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 4:59 PST. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.
  
 Gabriela Huerta, Recruitment Analyst - ghuerta@sbcbwell.org