Certified Peer Support Specialist

Position Title: Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS)

Program: Alternatives to Incarceration (Recovery Bridge Center) 

Classification: Non-exempt, Full time

Salary: $25-$29 per hour, depending on experience

Summary and Range of Authority: Under the direction of the Lead Case Manager, the CPSS is 

responsible for providing support, advocacy, instilling hope and related services to the target population.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Inspire clients towards recovery and resiliency by being a compassionate and effective role model 

utilizing motivational interviewing, coaching, trauma informed model and housing first language

within a short-term modality. 

• Provide direct services including advocacy, transportation support, accompaniment to 

appointments and support expanding social interactions and networks. 

• Uses own peer recovery story for messages of hope for clients.

• Help connect clients to community services such as healthcare, mental health services, substance 

use treatment, vocational training and housing support.

• Document all the services rendered in compliance with County and other applicable requirements 

and standards.

• Provide documentation compliant to agency, state and county requirements in timely 

manner. Provides case management for linkage to resources, services and supports.

• May need to transport clients to other services and activities.

• Functions as a member of an interdisciplinary team in its effort to carry out the program mission

through effective and timely communication.

• Working in partnership with McAlister and other service provides within the RBC.

• Provide culturally competent services. Work well with persons experiencing homelessness,

immigrants, refugees, criminal justice involved, and other culturally diverse clients.

• Complete special projects in a timely manner, and able to maintain strict confidentiality, with 

regard to, sensitive or proprietary information or materials.

• Assist in clerical and administrative duties as assigned.

• Provide all other related services required by master contract SOW. 

• Other duties as assigned

Required Education, Certifications/Licenses and Language/Cultural Skills:

• High School diploma, GED or equivalent,

• Completion of a 75-hour peer support training program approved by the County of San Diego

Minimum Experience and Qualifications Required:

• Ability to establish and maintain supportive relationships with clients from diverse cultural 

backgrounds.

• Familiarity with harm reduction, trauma informed care, housing-first and COACH principles. 

• Abide by UPAC Code of Conduct and professional code of conduct. 

• Must be able to drive (when needed) for business purposes to other program locations in San 

Diego County. If employee drives his/her personal automobile for UPAC business, employee 

must have valid California driver’s license and comprehensive automobile insurance coverage, as 

required by law.

Additional Preferred Education or Qualifications:

• Have understanding and experience with participants experiencing homelessness, criminal justice 

interactions, substance use and mental health symptoms.

• Bilingual, bicultural experience preferred in one of the County of San Diego threshold languages (Spanish, 

Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, Persian, Somali, Filipino (Tagalog), Vietnamese. 

Benefits:

Health & Wellness

• Employer paid health, vision, dental, life, AD&D, long-term disability, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Low-cost Aetna HMO plan ($20 monthly employee premium)
• Pet Insurance, voluntary life, critical illness, and accident insurance

Paid Time Off

• Up to160 hours of PTO accrued per year during the first 5 years of employment
• 40 hours of sick leave available per fiscal year
• 12 paid holidays (including two days for New Year’s and Christmas)
• 1 floating holiday per fiscal year
• Bereavement Leave: 5 days off (3 paid)

Workplace Flexibility

• Hybrid work schedule (available for select programs/positions)

Financial Benefits

• 403 (b) retirement plan 
• Free access to a financial advisor 
• Bilingual pay differential (available for select programs) 
• Eligibility for student loan reimbursement (varies by program/position)

Professional Development

• Clinical supervision for registered associates, counselors, and peer support staff 
• Partnerships with numerous universities/schools for internship placements