SUD Peer Support Specialist

About Glide
GLIDE is a nationally recognized center for social justice, dedicated to fighting systemic injustices, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, and transforming lives. Through its integrated comprehensive services, advocacy initiatives, and inclusive community, GLIDE empowers individuals, families, and children to achieve stability and to thrive. GLIDE is on the forefront of addressing some of society’s most pressing issues, including poverty, housing and homelessness, and racial and social justice. GLIDE’s mission is to create a radically inclusive, just, and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization

Position Summary:
The SUD Peer Support Specialist for The Shop is a vital member of an innovative team within a barbershop setting. They will utilize their lived experience of recovery to engage, support, and empower individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorders, emphasizing service connection, case management, and recovery coaching that will support overall wellness. As part of a multi-disciplinary team that includes Barber Health Advocates and a Behavioral Health Counselor, the Peer Specialist will ensure participants understand the services and opportunities available at GLIDE in an effort to support, promote, and enhance our participants wellness, growth mindset, stability, and self-sufficiency. This role emphasizes building trust, reducing stigma, and facilitating successful linkages to care within GLIDE’s continuum of care and our community partners. The principal duties are performed in The Shop, in the field for outreach, and at community pop-up events. This position requires a flexible schedule to meet community needs, including evening and weekend hours. Regular and predictable attendance is essential.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Other duties can be assigned, and the duties and responsibilities of the job are subject to change without notice.
• Provide peer support services and manage a caseload of clients from The Shop within a trauma-informed, client-centered, and equitable framework to help participants achieve their wellness goals; complete initial intake screenings, service plans, and progress notes for all assigned participants.
• Conduct and complete participant client documentation, entering information into database systems (ONE System and Salesforce) within two (2) business days.
• Identify participants' strengths and barriers to assist in reducing challenges and connect them to internal GLIDE resources (e.g., MOUD navigation, Health Access, meals, housing) and external community services.
• Co-facilitate 2 groups or workshops per day alongside the Behavioral Health Counselor and Barber Health Advocates. Groups will be inclusive, reflective of client needs, and focus on health education, recovery support, and skill-building pertinent to the target population (e.g., harm reduction, overdose prevention, wellness). Ensure proof of engagement and assist with quarterly satisfaction surveys.
• Cultivate and maintain supportive, peer-based relationships to provide continuous recovery support; assist participants with life skills, leveraging resources, and establishing healthy boundaries.
• Continuously assess participants’ barriers to support stabilization and provide interventions and service navigation; document all services in Salesforce and ONE System within two (2) business days.
• Proactively engage in service integration within The Shop, assisting the multidisciplinary team with client triage, warm hand-offs from barbers, information and referral, crisis intervention, and conflict resolution support.
• Participate in The Shop’s mobile outreach events, providing pop-up behavioral health support and engagement in community settings across the City.
• Adhere to professional boundaries, ethics, and all laws regarding HIPAA, confidentiality, and contractual agreements.
• Meet professional obligations through efficient work habits, collaboration, meeting deadlines, and active participation in staff meetings, supervision, case conferences, and trainings.
• In collaboration with your direct Supervisor, complete a minimum of 20 assigned hours of professional or skill development each year; First Aid/CPR is required, but not included in the minimum hours required.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Lived experience with substance use recovery and/or mental health challenges is required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in peer support, case management, or outreach with high-risk, socially and/or economically marginalized populations; ; or a bachelor's degree in social work/psychology or other related field one (1) year of experience working with socially and/or economically excluded populations.
• Must have strong verbal and written skills; must be able to draft detailed service plans, progress notes, and other required documentation.
• Must have group facilitation skills and the ability to perform low-threshold, harm reduction-based support services.
• Strong knowledge of SF resources, services, and benefits programs that support substance use treatment and recovery.
• Knowledge of principles of trauma-informed care, healing-centered care, harm reduction, and motivational interviewing.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, prioritize work, and meet specific timelines.
• Strong attention to detail, particularly regarding client documentation.
• Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective, trusting relationships and to de-escalate conflict.
• Ability to demonstrate proficiency with basic computer programs including Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel. Knowledge of ONE System and Salesforce preferred.

Preferred Certifications and Skills:
• Peer Support Specialist, Registered substance use disorder counselor or BBS registered AMFT or ASW.
• Experience entering and accessing information from databases; Salesforce and ONE System experience preferred.
• Direct experience working within Black/African American communities is highly desired.

Mathematical Skills:
• Proficiency and accuracy in math required for reporting data collected, eligibility screening and application assistance for entitled benefits, emergency rental assistance and housing programs

Physical Requirements:
• Ability to work on a computer and see details of objects at close range. 
• Ability to hear within normal range, and communicate effectively (in person, telephone or Zoom). 
• Finger dexterity and the ability to use all standard office equipment. 
• Sit or stand comfortably; and the ability to navigate throughout office spaces (via elevator or stairs).

Work Environment
GLIDE’s buildings are located in the Tenderloin neighborhood.  GLIDE maintains an "open door" policy to the community and its clients, who frequently enter and leave the building.

This role is covered by the collective bargaining agreement.