Peer Counselor - Street Crisis Response Team

The Peer Counselor position on the Street Crisis Response Team (SCRT) is part of an innovative model responding to triaged 911 calls for non-violent, behavioral health issues on the streets of San Francisco as an alternative to law enforcement intervention. The SCRT team—a vital part of the Mental Health SF system of care reform—consists of a SFFD Community Paramedic, a SFFD EMT, and a RAMS Peer Counselor. The team assists individuals who present with acute mental health symptoms or substance use intoxication in public outdoor and private residential, commercial, or community-based indoor settings.

In addition to behavioral health assessment and de-escalation, the Street Crisis Response Team is qualified to provide basic medical treatment (such as wound care, prevention of infection) to reduce the need for hospitalization care and improve health outcomes. Depending on the level of care needed, individuals may be escorted to a shelter, detox, mental health or medical urgent care center, or other community-based resources, or to a safer location as applicable to their health needs. The Peer Counselor’s role is critical in establishing person-centered support and compassionate care to the individual as part of the crisis response, utilizing one’s own lived experience, as applicable, in establishing safety, trust and reducing trauma for the individual in crisis.

Salary: $30.00 per hour and onward depending on prior professional experience; $2 per hour pay differential for hours worked between 10:30pm-6:30am

Status: Part-time, Full Time positions available. 8 hour shifts plus overtime as required by program. Overnight and Swing Shifts currently available . Shift times may vary as SCRT is operational 24 hours per day, 7 days per week

Benefits: health insurance coverage/contributions + leave benefits as per City/County ordinance as applicable

Job Duties

Essential Job Duties may include, but are not limited to, any combination of these duties as required by the assigned department/unit:

• Provide culturally competent peer counseling services as part of the Street Crisis Response Team, specifically for individuals experiencing non-violent, behavioral health crisis in public and private settings in San Francisco.
• Work collaboratively as part of a co-responder model team to address non-violent, behavioral health crisis calls triaged by the city’s 911 system, as an alternative to police response.
• Must be able to physically walk/stand in San Francisco neighborhoods up to 75% of any assigned shift, as applicable. The team will be transported via assigned vans to crisis call locations
• Must be able to physically lift or carry items up to 25 lbs at a time, approximately 25% of the assigned shift
• Work with other team members in quickly assessing the needs of individuals experiencing mental health crisis in public settings; and to create a response plan in collaboration with the SCRT members. The peer counselor’s role is primarily to establish a peer support component, utilizing their own training and lived experiences as applicable to help assist in the de-escalation of the crisis. The peer counselor will rely heavily on the Wellness & Trauma Informed principles, harm-reduction and de-escalation techniques as part of their intervention, as appropriate.
• Utilize safety training protocols while working in the community.
• The peer counselor will be competent in harm reduction principles, crisis-de-escalation techniques, Seeking Safety skills, CPR & First Aid and Electronic Health Records (AVATAR, Epic) documentation and other trainings as required.
• Work in coordination with DPH street-based teams, primary care clinics, psychiatric care services and shelters across the city to provide linkage and care as follow up for the individuals in crisis.
• In situations that escalate or warrant a 5150 code response when the SCRT is on-site, the peer counselor in collaboration with the other team members will follow the team protocol in supporting the client while calling and awaiting emergency responders.
• Must be able to demonstrate a high level of resilience and self-care as part of maintaining wellness in a high crisis and first responder position.
• 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. SFDPH, etc.)
• Develop and maintain clear, open, timely, cooperative, and collaborative communication and working relations with all staff, clients, and partner agencies
• Represent RAMS at various stakeholder meetings to provide feedback about best practices of street-based peer services and experiences of the roving team in their work under this project
• Participate in supervision meetings, case conferences, staff meetings, in-service training and other staff development activities
• Perform other duties as assigned
  
  

Minimum Required Qualifications

• At least a High School Diploma (or GED) required. Associate of Arts (AA) degree or higher from an accredited institution, highly preferred
• At least 2-3 years of direct personal experience with the community behavioral health system, preferably in San Francisco
• Completion of a mental health certificate program or equivalent education AND/OR at least two years of peer counseling or related experience, particularly working with diverse constituencies. Familiarity with homeless populations is highly preferred
• Personal lived experience and prior employment working with people struggling with mental health conditions and alcohol or other drug misuse, homelessness
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Wellness and Recovery Model, Harm Reduction, and other evidenced based practices such as crisis intervention and de-escalation training, Wellness-Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), Seeking Safety, self-help, addiction counseling, understanding of substance use issues. CPR & First Aid Certification highly preferred
• Must be able to travel to and from worksite and other locations within San Francisco
  
  

Other Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in outreach/engagement to targeted at-risk populations, very strongly preferred
• Previous professional experience in crisis response or crisis intervention roles
• Excellent communication and organization with the ability to present feedback in a positive and empowering manner
• Ability to organize, manage, and/or work effectively with diverse program staff, community partners, and behavioral health consumers
• Strong knowledge and experience with service delivery documentation (including counseling planning), HIPAA standards, utilization review, and data management
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times
• 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
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively, function independently, and interact professionally with a diverse, multi-cultural, and interdisciplinary staff of all levels