Job Summary
In this role, the Peer Counselor provides trauma-informed and culturally responsive peer counseling services, with a focus on delivering dual-recovery support groups and other wellness activities throughout San Francisco’s Behavioral Health Services (BHS) system of care, including at, but not limited to: residential treatment centers, supportive living programs, hospitals, and other clinical settings. The Peer Counselor models the principles of wellness & recovery to help participants—many of whom live with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders—reduce isolation, build community, and become empowered to actively and collaboratively participate in their own care and healing.
Essential Job Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To
- As part of the Community-based services team, skillfully facilitate group support services for clients within San Francisco’s Behavioral Health system, including: wellness support groups, dual-recovery support groups, activity groups, skills building workshops, and additionally 1:1 support and resources linkage, as needed.
- Effectively engage participants who are experiencing mental health issues, alcohol and/or drug use, poverty, homelessness, and/or other barriers to stability and employment, utilizing supportive counseling, harm reduction, and self-help strategies
- Specialize in facilitation of Dual-Recovery Support (DRS) groups utilizing personal lived experience and relevant field training.
- Assist Program Coordinator in building healthy working relationships with partner sites within the community, including maintaining positive rapport and communication with site teams to ensure impactful delivery of services.
- Be available to support and guide Peer Interns during their placement rotations in Community-Based Group Services through coordination and collaboration with the RAMS Peer Internship/Workforce Coordinator.
- Work collaboratively with RAMS Peer Wellness Center providing coverage for in-house groups when needed, joining case conference discussions as appropriate, and sharing best practices.
- Maintain timely administrative and service documentation and records related to participant care and program-related monitoring, in accordance to standards specified by RAMS policies and oversight agencies (e.g. DPH, etc.)
- Respond to client needs and grievances in a strengths-based approach and implementing program improvements as needed.
- Develop and maintain clear, open, timely, cooperative, and diplomatic communications and working relations with all staff, consumers, and partner agencies.
- Set and maintain clear boundaries while remaining compassionate and aware of client needs.
- Perform other duties as assigned
Minimum Required Educational Level & Experience
- Associate of Arts (AA) degree or higher from an accredited institution, highly preferred
- Completion of (or current enrollment in) a mental health certificate program or equivalent education.
- At least 2-3 years of direct personal experience with the community behavioral health system, preferably in San Francisco.
- At least 1-2 years of peer counseling or related experience, particularly working with diverse constituencies, preferred
Other Requirements
- Demonstrated knowledge of the Wellness and Recovery Model, the Supportive Employment Model, and other evidenced based practices such as Wellness-Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), Seeking Safety, self-help, and more
- Excellent communication, organization, and group facilitation skills
- Ability to organize, manage, and/or work effectively with diverse community members and behavioral health clients
- Strong knowledge with service delivery documentation (including counseling planning), HIPAA standards, utilization review, and data management
- Familiarity with community behavioral health systems of care in San Francisco, including the philosophy of care, levels of care for clinical services, and the delivery of such services, highly preferred
- Familiarity with the San Francisco community resources/services (may include health, mental health, substance abuse, vocational, housing, etc.), highly preferred
- Strong commitment to the philosophy, goals, & mission of RAMS in providing community-based, culturally competent, and consumer-guided mental health services to the community
- Commitment to engaging in professional development activities such as trainings, continuing education seminars, case conferences, and reviewing up-to-date material, etc., as related to peer counseling strategies
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively, function independently, and interact professionally with a diverse, multi-cultural, and interdisciplinary staff of all levels
- Demonstrated knowledge of MS Office including Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, and Outlook
- Applicants with ability to provide bilingual & culturally competent services in Cantonese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog or Vietnamese, not required, but highly encouraged to apply
About the Company: Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. (RAMS) is a private, non-profit comprehensive mental health agency that is committed to providing community-based, culturally competent, and consumer-driven services that meet the behavioral health, social, vocational, and educational needs of the diverse community of the San Francisco Area. At the forefront of the peer provider profession, RAMS offers culturally congruent peer counseling & support, outreach, resource linkage, and education & training throughout San Francisco. Peer providers are also engaged in workforce & professional development activities and engage in behavioral health wellness promotion & outreach. RAMS programs uphold principles of wellness and recovery with an approach that is strengths-based and promotes a sense of empowerment, self-direction, and hope.
Program Overview
The RAMS Division of Peer-Based Services offers multiple site-based and street-based peer counseling services throughout San Francisco, along with a robust training program for current and aspiring peer specialists. Since 2015, the Division has offered Dual Recovery groups, Peer-to-Peer Socialization & Support groups, Activity groups, and wellness-and-recovery-related groups at community partner sites throughout the city. The Division of Peer-Based Services has capacity to provide 10-15 community-based groups weekly at partner sites, pushing in peer support services to programs such as inpatient psychiatric hospital units; residential treatment centers; residential care homes; and acute diversion/crisis stabilization programs. Peer Counselors in this program use a combination of lived experience and counseling training to offer psychoeducation, community-building, skill development, and hope to individuals accessing behavioral health services.
