Peer Support Specialist I/II - Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (Adult Programs) (Open & Promo)

San Mateo County Health’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services is seeking compassionate, recovery-oriented Peer Support Specialists to support adults navigating mental health and/or substance use recovery.

This is a rewarding opportunity to use lived experience, peer mentorship, and recovery-focused support to help individuals build stability, independence, wellness, and connection within their communities.

Peer Support Specialists provide field-based, clinic-based, and community-based support services for adults navigating complex behavioral health and recovery needs, co-occurring substance use challenges, housing instability, social isolation, and other complex life circumstances.

Current vacancies include the following assignments: 

Older Adult System of Integrated Services (OASIS) – 1 Part Time, Regular

Supports homebound older adults navigating complex mental health needs and/or co-occurring disorders. Services may include peer coaching, wellness and recovery support, transportation support, benefits navigation, housing support, and reducing social isolation among older adults.

SB43 Specialty Program – 1 Full Time, Regular 

Supports individuals navigating complex mental health needs, severe substance use disorders, housing instability, and complex system involvement. Services may include field-based outreach, hospital collaboration, intensive systems navigation, linkage to behavioral health and community resources, participation in multidisciplinary case conferences, and travel within and outside of San Mateo County to support client engagement and continuity of care. Experience or knowledge related to substance use disorders, recovery services, and community-based behavioral health resources is highly desirable.

South County Adult Outpatient Services – 1 Full Time, Regular

Provides recovery-oriented services within an interdisciplinary outpatient behavioral health setting, including field-based engagement, recovery support, group facilitation, peer counseling and case management in collaboration with psychiatrists, social workers/marriage and family therapists and community mental health nurses. 

Travel throughout the County and surrounding Bay Area may be required depending on assignment.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Depending on assignment, duties may include:

• Provide peer-based recovery support, encouragement, and mentorship using lived experience 
• Build supportive relationships with clients and promote hope, self-advocacy, and wellness 
• Assist clients in accessing behavioral health, substance use, medical, housing, benefits, vocational, educational, and community resources 
• Support individuals in developing independent living, recovery, and wellness skills 
• Assist clients with navigating County systems, appointments, transportation, and telehealth services 
• Provide field-based outreach and engagement services 
• Facilitate or co-facilitate support groups and recovery-focused activities 
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, hospitals, clinics, community providers, and other partners 
• Participate in case conferences, treatment planning, and team meetings 
• Assist with documentation, data tracking, and reporting activities 
• Support clients experiencing social isolation, housing instability, hospitalization, or other complex barriers to care 

The ideal candidate will:

• Possess lived experience as a consumer of mental health services and be able to draw upon their recovery journey, growth, and learned experiences to support others in their recovery
• Understand recovery-oriented and trauma-informed approaches to care
• Build trust and effectively engage individuals from diverse communities and backgrounds
• Connect clients to behavioral health, housing, medical, and community resources
• Work effectively both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
• Adapt to a variety of program settings, including clinic-based, field-based, and community-based work
• Demonstrate strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Have experience supporting individuals experiencing complex behavioral health and social service needs
• Experience working with adults and older adults, co-occurring disorders,
• Experience in field-based outreach, working with adults experiencing housing instability, and/or working in a multidisciplinary behavioral health setting is highly desirable depending on assignment
• Bilingual skills are highly desirable for some assignments

Rewarding Aspects of the Job

• Make a meaningful impact supporting individuals on their recovery journey
• Build experience supporting diverse Adult System of Care programs and populations
• Strengthen skills in advocacy, engagement, communication, case management and peer counseling
• Expand collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, hospitals, and community partners
• Develop expertise navigating behavioral health, housing, and social service systems
• Help individuals build greater stability, independence, wellness, and community connection

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

• Peer Support Specialist I ($31.78 - $39.72 hourly) is the entry-level class in the series. Incumbents work under close supervision while learning program operations, client populations, and peer support practices. Assignments are generally structured and performed within established guidelines. This class is flexibly staffed with Peer Support Specialist II and incumbents may advance after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency required for the higher-level class.
• Peer Support Specialist II ($35.09 - $43.85 hourly) is the experienced-level class in the series. Incumbents independently perform the full range of peer support duties and exercise greater judgment, discretion, and responsibility in carrying out assignments and establishing work priorities.

Peer Support Specialist positions require maintenance of a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification issued by CalMHSA and the ability to meet any lived-experience requirements associated with the assigned program or funding source.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develop rapport and maintain effective working relationships with clients, families, community members, and service providers
• Provide educational and recovery-oriented support services that promote client wellness, self-sufficiency, and recovery goals
• Assist with outreach, engagement, and linkage to behavioral health, housing, transportation, education, employment, and other community resources
• Support clients with daily activities, appointments, applications, forms, and service navigation
• Conduct individual or group peer support activities and assist with screenings, assessments, and recovery planning
• Maintain accurate records, reports, correspondence, and documentation related to assigned activities
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams and participate in meetings, case conferences, and program activities
• Develop and organize outreach, educational, or informational materials
• Provide advocacy and support to reduce barriers to participation in services
• May assist with clerical, scheduling, front desk, or program support activities depending on assignment
• May provide interpretation support for non-English speaking clients
• Perform related duties as assigned

Education and Experience:  
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.

• Peer Support Specialist II: At least one year of experience providing peer support services within the assigned program.

Additional Qualifications:

Must meet the experience requirements established by the funding source of assignment.

License/Certification:

• Peer Support Specialist I: Proof of completion of Peer Support Specialist training AND within eighteen (18) months from date of hire, obtain Certification as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist.
• Peer Support Specialist II: Certification as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist issued by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CMHSA). 
• Some positions may require possession of a valid California driver license or equivalent.

 Knowledge of:

• Problems, needs, attitudes and behavior patterns of the client population and of the total community served.
• Basic needs and difficulties faced by ethnically diverse consumers, caregivers and families.
• Identification of social and community resources and how to connect individuals to these resources.
• Techniques for group and individual counseling.
• Basic case management processes. 
• Perform clerical support work with accuracy, speed, and minimal supervision.
• Techniques for effectively representing the County in contacts with the general public, other agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, and regulatory organizations.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, clientele, and staff.
• Basic recordkeeping principles and practices.
• Modern office practices, methods, computer equipment and applications related to the work.

 Skill/Ability to:

• Address the client population’s unique needs in a culturally sensitive manner.
• Relate and communicate effectively with the community served.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective relationships with clients, their families and/or caregivers and others contacted in the course of work.
• Learn and understand the organization and operation of the assigned department and program. 
• Respond to and effectively prioritize multiple phone calls and requests for service.
• File materials alphabetically, chronologically, and numerically. 
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Interpret and apply administrative and departmental policies and procedures; interpret agency programs and policies to members of the community served.
• Organize, maintain, and update office database and records systems. 
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform assigned work.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Write clear and comprehensive reports.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Stand and walk for extended periods of time and lift and carry equipment and supplies used in the course of the work.
• Complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain certification.

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the “Apply” button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT TIMELINE
Final Filing Date: June 25, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: Week of June 29, 2026
Panel Interviews: Week of July 13, 2026

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. We seek to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community, and we encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer.

Talent Acquisition Contact: Priscilla Bermudez (061126) (Peer Support Specialist I/II – G191/G192)