Peer Counselor (English/Cantonese) - Sunset Mental Health Clinic

Job Summary: The Peer Counselor at Sunset Mental Health works with clients of the SFDPH Behavioral Health Adult/Older Adult System of Care. The Peer Counselor plans and facilitates activity, socialization, and support groups; collaborates with SFDPH behavioral health clinicians, health workers, and psychiatric staff on supporting client care plans; and offers individual peer support and resource linkage for clients accessing services at Sunset Mental Health.

Primary Responsibilities Include

• Provide culturally responsive peer counseling services, support, resource linkage, case management, outreach, and skills-building trainings to a caseload of diverse clients, in collaboration with multidisciplinary team and community providers
• Engage clients in a clinic-based setting who may be living with mental health challenges, alcohol and/or drug use, poverty, homelessness, and/or other barriers to stability and employment, utilizing best practices in peer counseling, harm reduction, and self-help strategies
• Welcome, engage, and assist clients by facilitating support groups, leading activity groups, conducting one-on-one client meetings, and physically accompanying clients to appointments as needed, all aimed at supporting their collaboratively developed wellness & recovery goals
• Assist in organizing & coordinating client engagement and outreach activities, including cultural events and activity groups both onsite and in the community, as well as consumer advisory councils/committees, as needed
• Support and empower clients in accessing, navigating, and following up on the use of resources in the community including, but not limited to: medical and mental health services, housing, food assistance, transportation, legal assistance, gender-specific services, public benefits, government programs, education programs, vocational and employment services, cultural adjustment, immigration services, payee services, decision-making, technology assistance, and any other services that may support clients in overcoming barriers to well-being and self-sufficiency
• Liaison and facilitate connections with care providers and other related services, such as attending care planning meetings, preparing necessary documentation and reports, and maintaining regular communication with care providers, as appropriate
• Appropriately seek assistance and guidance when developing a plan of action with clients, consulting with multi-disciplinary team as needed to determine best course
• Serve as a resource to therapists/counselors and case managers by identifying and researching community resources and assisting with client referrals to community providers
• Help manage site milieu by creating and maintaining a safe and supportive environment where client care and wellness is a priority
• Maintain timely administrative and service documentation and records related to client care and program-related monitoring, in accordance to standards specified by RAMS policies and oversight agencies (e.g. DPH, etc.)
• Develop and maintain clear, open, timely, cooperative, and diplomatic communications and working relations with all staff, clients, and partner agencies
• Serve as model of professional standards for clients
• Participate in supervision meetings, case conferences, staff meetings, in-service training and other staff development activities
• Perform other duties as assigned
  
  

Required Qualifications

• At least a High School Diploma, required. Associate of Arts (AA) degree or higher from an accredited institution, very strongly preferred
• At least 2-3 years of direct personal “lived” 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 communities, highly preferred
  
  

Other Preferred Qualifications

• Applicants with ability to provide bilingual & culturally competent services in Cantonese HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY, due to the populations served
• Completion of a mental health certificate program or equivalent education, very strongly preferred
• 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
• Working knowledge of San Francisco community resources/services highly preferred
• Familiarity with Wellness and Recovery Model, the Supported Employment Model, and other evidence-based practices such as Wellness-Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), Seeking Safety, self-help, and more.
• Knowledge with service delivery documentation and HIPAA standards
• Must be able to travel to and from clinic worksite and other locations within San Francisco
• Ability to prioritize, multitask, and perform & complete duties with minimal supervision, both independently and as part of a team
• Strong commitment to the philosophy, goals, & mission of RAMS in providing community-based, culturally responsive, and person-centered 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 treatment strategies for the consumer populations served by DPH-BHS
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively, function independently, and interact professionally with diverse, multi-cultural, and interdisciplinary staff of all levels
• Ability to work independently and establish priorities
• Excellent organizational skills; accuracy and attention to detail
• Exceptional reading and writing skills with the ability to understand and interpret written instructions or communications in English, effectively communicate to staff, program partners, vendors, & clients
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds in weight
• Ability to type a minimum of twenty five (25) words per minute using a computer
  
  

About the Company: Richmond Area Multi-Services (RAMS) is a private, non-profit mental health agency that is committed to advocating for and providing community based, consumer-guided services. RAMS offers behavioral health, social, vocational, and educational services that aim to meet the needs of the diverse communities in the City. Our agency is recognized by the local and national social service community as having expertise in providing culturally competent mental health services to the underserved, with expertise in working with the Asian & Pacific Islander and Russian-speaking populations.

Program Overview: The RAMS Division of Peer-Based Services provides innovative programming staffed by skilled peer counselors using their training and lived experience with mental health conditions and/or substance use to build hope and offer connection to ongoing care for clients throughout San Francisco's behavioral health system. Located in the Outer Sunset District, Sunset Mental Health Services is a San Francisco Dept. of Public Health (SFDPH) clinic that helps San Francisco residents of all ages with their mental health by providing: Individual therapy, Group and family therapy, Psychiatric medication, and Adult socialization programs.