About Interfaith Community Services:

At Interfaith, we empower individuals and families in need by providing essential resources and services with compassion and integrity. Together, we foster a community of hope, accountability, and dignity.

Founded in 1979 in direct response to rising rates of hunger and homelessness in North San Diego County, Interfaith Community Services works to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness by Helping People Help Themselves. Interfaith is the most comprehensive nonprofit social services agency in North County, providing both immediate safety net services and long-term, life-changing programs designed to meet the holistic needs of people in crisis. Together, in partnership with 250+ diverse faith communities, more than 650 recurrent volunteers, and a growing staff of over 200, Interfaith provides a safe haven and pathway towards self-sufficiency for more than 17,000 community members annually.

If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a service-driven environment, we invite you to be part of our mission!

What You'll Do:

In the Peer Support Specialist role, you'll support clients at Interfaith’s Oceanside Navigation Center by fostering rapport, building trust, and assisting with program intake and enrollment. This role provides resident education, facilitates access to services, and performs duties similar to those of Resident Coordinators to ensure a safe and secure living environment. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the PSS collaborates closely with case managers and other shelter staff to help residents work toward stability, self-sufficiency, and long-term success.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Draws on personal experiences and professional skills to build rapport and trust with individuals, fostering a supportive and understanding environment.
• Provides direct services to individuals including assessment of needs, intake, enrollments and discharges.
• Acclimates new clients to their living arrangements and orient them to program policies, procedures, and shelter rules.
• Maintain ongoing engagement with individuals, particularly those in the pre-contemplation stage of change.
• Provide advocacy, navigation, and timely linkage to services such as mental health care, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, housing programs, and community resources.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with providers of SUD, mental health, and medical services.
• Provide education and support related to harm reduction and facilitate access to harm reduction programs or SUD services.
• Assist with enrollment in detox and residential treatment services, including coordination for medical clearance and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).
• Support clients in attending appointments, arranging transportation, and engaging in therapeutic or skill-building activities.
• Accompany clients to appointments under the guidance of qualified personnel when needed.
• Monitors resident behavior, interactions, and overall well-being, addressing concerns promptly and professionally.
• Responds appropriately to crisis situations, including de-escalation and safety/risk assessments, following established protocols.
• Maintain a drug-, alcohol-, and violence-free environment in accordance with program policies, report any concerns immediately.
• Administer First Aid/CPR and contact emergency services when necessary, providing accurate and timely information.
• Maintain accurate records, files, and required reports for agency and funder compliance.
• Safeguard confidentiality of all client information and health records in accordance with legal and ethical standards.
• Participate in case conferences, interdisciplinary care meetings, quality improvement initiatives, and all required staff meetings and trainings.
• Maintain hallways and common areas free of debris, wheelchairs, and other hazards; perform cleaning and sanitizing tasks in absence of janitorial services.
• Prepare rooms and beds for new admissions or upon client exit.
• Review and update daily logbooks; brief incoming shift staff on relevant issues.
• Escalate operational concerns and client needs to supervisory staff in a timely manner.
• Conduct facility safety checks, wellness checks, fire drills, and utility inspections to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Collaborate with other Resident Coordinators to promote a positive and cohesive community.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by supervisors.

Requirements:

Who You Are:

You're passionate about making a lasting impact, whether supporting individuals directly or enhancing our organizational effectiveness. To thrive in this role, you'll:

• Bachelor’s degree in social services or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required
• 1+ years of relevant work experience, required
• Must complete County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services (BHS) approved peer specialist training within 60 days of hire.
• Lived experience of mental health, substance use disorder or homelessness, preferred
• Experience working with severely mentally ill, medically fragile, and homeless populations, preferred
• Bilingual (English/Spanish), preferred

Skill Sets/ Additional Requirements:

• Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries with clients
• Working knowledge and skills in mental health, co-occurring disorders, substance abuse treatment models, and crisis intervention
• Ability to react calmly and professionally to emergency situations
• Ability to identify problems, and research and recommend resolutions
• Knowledge of community and social service agencies
• Knowledge of adult development
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be highly organized and demonstrate attention to detail
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple deadlines and working effectively under pressure, using independent judgment to produce quality work under time constraints
• Demonstrated experience working with a collaborative team
• Working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
• Ability to communicate effectively among a diverse workforce population and maintain sound working relations with all levels within the organization
• Work with spirit of teamwork, cooperation and a sense of urgency
• Maintain a high degree of confidentiality over all matters in the course of business operations including client and employee information
• Ability to work on tasks in an efficient, thorough, and prioritized manner
• Ability to work quickly, accurately and independently

Working Conditions/ Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• Must be able to perform work in an office setting
• May be subjected to adverse conditions, including contact with hostile people
• Potential exposure to contagious diseases, hazardous chemicals, and other hazardous fluids
• Must have the physical ability to sit for long periods of time, stand, walk, bend, and kneel on a frequent basis
• Occasionally lifts, carries and balances objects weighing up to 30 pounds
• Pulls and pushes such objects as file drawers, computers and similar office equipment and supplies
• Prioritizes and multi-tasks work and projects requiring good memory, concentration and analytical thinking
• Occasionally is required to perform the safe operation of office equipment and machines, and recognize and abate safety hazards within the workplace
• The noise level in the work environment is usually low.

Location: Onsite/Oceanside

Hourly Rate: $19.63-$23.99

Hours:

• Sunday-Thursday: 6am-2:30pm
• Tuesday-Saturday: 8am-5pm

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays – 13 scheduled
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• AD&D / Group Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts – Medical and Dependent Care
• Matched 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Early Release Days!
• Work Anniversary Bonuses
• Tuition Reimbursement and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
• Home Ownership Assistance Program
• Casual Work Environment
• Professional Growth and Career Development Opportunities

Interfaith is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, pregnancy, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, nationality, sex, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Interfaith will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.