San Mateo County Health

Description

Make a Difference in Someone’s Life — and in Your Community!

San Mateo County Health’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Division (BHRS) is seeking a passionate and dedicated Peer Support Specialist I/II to join our Service Connect Criminal Justice Realignment Program in San Carlos. This is a rewarding opportunity to use your lived experience and skills to support individuals on their path to recovery and reintegration. Travel throughout the County may be required.

About the Role

As a Realignment Peer Support Specialist, you will:

• Support individuals transitioning from custody by facilitating groups, providing short-term case management, and helping them connect with education, employment, and positive social opportunities.
• Engage and motivate clients with forensic or gang-involved backgrounds, guiding them toward healthier and more independent lives.
• Coordinate and lead support groups, family/community events, and restorative justice activities.
• Connect clients with resources, provide referrals, advocate for their needs, and collaborate with partner agencies.
• Assist with practical supports such as transportation and, when cleared, provide in-custody visits to help bridge clients into the Realignment Program.

This role offers the chance to work alongside a compassionate, diverse team while directly impacting individuals, families, and the broader community.

The Ideal Candidate Will:

• Bring lived experience as a formerly incarcerated individual.
• Use personal insights and experiences to provide meaningful peer support to others navigating reentry.
• Have training or experience as a peer mentor.
• Know how to connect clients with community resources and effectively advocate for their needs.
• Communicate and build rapport with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Inspire and motivate others on their journey toward recovery and independence.
• Understand gang dynamics and demonstrate the ability to guide individuals toward safe, sustainable lifestyles free from gang involvement.
• Bring experience working with diverse communities; bilingual skills (Spanish preferred) are a plus.

Why This Role is Rewarding

This position offers the chance to make a meaningful impact while also providing valuable opportunities to expand your skills and experience.

• Make a real difference in the lives of justice-involved individuals living with severe mental illness, many accessing support for the first time.
• Assess client needs and create personalized plans that foster growth, recovery, and successful reintegration into the community.
• Celebrate client milestones, from completing probation or parole to achieving greater health, education, and independence.
• Positively impact not just clients, but also their families and the wider community.
• Work with a compassionate, diverse team committed to helping people rebuild their lives after incarceration.

Opportunities for Growth in This Role

• Strengthen organizational and time-management skills by balancing immediate client needs with the administrative tasks that support long-term success.
• Expand collaboration skills by working across multiple systems and partners, building strong professional relationships and navigating complex processes.
• Enhance problem-solving and adaptability as you find creative solutions to connect clients with timely resources and support.
• Develop leadership and communication skills while advocating for clients, coordinating with stakeholders, and ensuring fairness and consistency in service delivery.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Peer Support Specialist I ($30.27- $37.83 hourly) is the entry level class in the series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents learn the duties associated with the position and the client population served. Incumbents receive on-the-job training and perform specific assignments of a well-defined and limited nature. As experience is gained, there is greater independence of action within established guidelines. This class is flexibly staffed with Peer Support Specialist II and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency which meets the qualifications of the higher-level class.

Peer Support Specialist II ($33.42 - $41.76 hourly) is the experienced level class in the series. Employees are able to perform the full range of duties required of the classification and have significant latitude for independent judgment. Employees exercise considerable discretion in determining work priorities as well as methods of completing their assignments.

Peer Support Specialist series is distinguished from the Peer Support Worker series in that incumbents in the Peer Support Specialist series are required to maintain a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification issued by CalMHSA. Positions in this series are further distinguished by the ability to meet the lived-experience requirements required by the funding source of assigned unit or program.

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

Examples Of Duties

The Realignment Peer Support Specialist will be responsible for, but not limited to:

• Engagement & Advocacy: Build rapport with clients, act as a peer advocate and role model, provide outreach, mentor clients, and model effective coping and self-help strategies.
• Support & Education: Facilitate one-on-one and group sessions, organize educational programs and outreach activities, and create/distribute informational materials to support health, recovery, and self-sufficiency.
• Case Management Collaboration: Work with case managers or multidisciplinary teams to develop and monitor client plans; assist clients and families in setting and achieving recovery goals; connect clients with housing, education, employment, transportation, and other resources.
• Practical Client Support: Help clients with daily living tasks, such as completing forms, coordinating appointments, providing transportation, and offering interpretation/translation when needed.
• Administrative & Collaborative Duties: Maintain accurate client records and reports, perform clerical tasks, coordinate materials and schedules, participate in meetings and community events, and manage office/program supplies.
• Other Responsibilities: Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

NOTE: The level and scope of the knowledge and skills listed below are related to job duties as defined under Distinguishing Characteristics.

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 your 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.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way of gaining the knowledge and skills is:

• 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.

Application/Examination

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

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 questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and/or supplemental questionnaire. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT TIMELINE

Final Filing Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025, by 11:59 PM PST

Application Screening: Week of October 20, 2025

Panel Interviews: Thursday, November 6 and/or Friday, November 7, 2025

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

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. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. 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. We seek to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community.

We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Talent Acquisition Analyst: Priscilla Bermudez (100125) - Peer Support Specialist (G191)

We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance (Download PDF reader) page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you’ll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.

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