Department: Community Support Services
Schedule: M-F 8-5
Pay Range: $20 to $25 per hour (DOE/DOQ)
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Vacation, Sick Leave, Float Days & Paid Holidays
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• Wellness Program
• Employee Assistant Program
• LifeFlight Membership
• Education Allowance

JOB PURPOSE: The Foundations of Community Support (FCS) Peer Support Specialist provides recovery-oriented peer support services to individuals experiencing housing instability, homelessness, or barriers to employment and community participation. Using their lived experience and training as a peer specialist, the FCS Peer Support Specialist offers encouragement, mentorship, and practical support to help participants pursue stable housing, employment or educational opportunities, and greater independence in the community.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support participants in pursuing goals related to employment, education, housing stability, and independent living.
• Provide peer coaching to help participants build skills related to job readiness, workplace success, financial stability, and daily living.
• Assist participants in developing practical skills such as job search strategies, communication, budgeting, meal planning, and household management.
• Provide encouragement and peer support to help participants obtain and maintain employment and stable housing.
• Support participants in building positive relationships with employers, landlords, neighbors, and community members.
• Deliver services in community-based settings, including participant homes, workplaces, and community locations as appropriate.
• Complete timely and accurate documentation of services provided in accordance with agency policies and Medicaid documentation standards.
• Maintain participant records in compliance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC), Revised Code of Washington (RCW), and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Protect the confidentiality and security of participant information in accordance with HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
• Participate in required training, supervision, team meetings, and quality improvement activities.
• Maintain professional and ethical conduct in interactions with participants, staff, and community partners.

SECONDARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs relevant clinical and administrative tasks according to agency policies.
• Demonstrates proficiency in utilization of the Agency's electronic medical records system.
• Participates in team meetings and program development.
• Provides information and education to community members.

• Maintains professional competence through a program of professional development and in-service training.
• Demonstrates flexibility in adapting to changing work demands.
• Performs other duties as assigned or requested.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

• Meets attendance and punctuality standards necessary for effective client care.
• Maintains accurate, timely chart information in compliance with State, funding source, and agency quality assurance guidelines.
• Coordinates and prioritizes work assignments so that tasks are completed on time

REQUIRED EDUCATION, LICENSE(S), CERTIFICATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: Associate Degree

Licensure: Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration (with agency assistance)

Certified Peer Support Specialist credential within 6 months of hire (with agency assistance)

Experience: Must be a person who has their very own personal experience receiving services for a mental health condition OR is in recovery from a substance use disorder for at least the last two consecutive years.

Other: Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and a satisfactory and insurable driving record to be able to drive company vehicles. Must be comfortable driving clients to out-of-town appointments, as needed.

Additional requirements:

• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test and background check
• Must be able to provide vaccination records for MMR, Hep B, Tdap and recent flu shot

PREFERRED ADDITIONAL CREDENTIALS/EXPERIENCE:

Experience: Experience as a Peer Support Specialist 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

Essential:

• Able to identify client capabilities regarding education, work, and leisure activities.
• Able to identify individual coping strategies and supports.
• Able to elicit client choices.
• Able to use sound judgments in intervention, support services and problem solving.
• Able to manage crisis effectively to ensure safety.
• Able to use sound judgment in intervention, support services, and problem solving.
• Able and willing to work independently and as a team member.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

Physical Demands:

• Able to help clients transition from clinical services to natural support.
• Able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of work in recovery.
• Able to advocate effectively with community partners.
• Basic knowledge of psychotropic medications and their possible side effects.
• Able to assist clients with the development of recovery values and principles.

Cognitive Skills:

• Able to elicit the client's history of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with services, including medications.
• Able to assist clients with improving family communication and involvement in treatment when possible and appropriate.
• Ability to assess the client's understanding of his or her illness, medications, and other treatment.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.

Working Environment:

• May be exposed to infections and contagious diseases.
• Occasionally exposed to patients exhibiting assaultive behaviors.
• Works in both office and community-based settings including client homes.

Working Demands:

• Frequent pressure due to schedule demands.
• Contact with patients under a wide variety of circumstances.
• Subject to varying and unpredictable situations.
• Handles emergency or crisis situations.
• Subject to irregular work hours.

Principal Challenges:

• Adopts an approach guided by service recipients' needs and desires.
• Able to foster and support self-advocacy.
• Manages personal stress so that on-the-job activities are not negatively impacted.

*Peninsula Behavioral Health does not discriminate because of a person's presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity including transgender status, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions, age (40), honorably discharged veteran or military status, or use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, state employee or health care whistleblower status.