Peer Support Specialist

MAJOR DUTIES: The Peer Support Specialist works under the supervision of the Program Director with clinical oversite provided by program MHP or SUDP. This position provides community based mental health services to agency clients. This position provides clinical services to agency patients. In fulfilling these duties, the incumbent performs the following duties independently:

1. Provide peer counseling and support, drawing on common experiences as a peer, to validate clients’ experiences and to provide guidance and encouragement to clients to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
2. Serve as a mentor to clients to promote hope and empowerment.
3. Act as an interpreter to help non-mental health consumer team members better understand and empathize with each client’s unique and subjective experience and perceptions.
4. Provide expertise and consultation from a mental health consumer perspective to the entire team concerning clients’ experiences on symptoms of mental illness, the effects and side-effects of medications, clients’ responses to and opinions of treatment, and clients’ experiences of recovery.
5. Collaborate with the team to promote a team culture in which each client’s point of view, experiences, and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected, and in which client self-determination and decision-making in treatment planning are maximized and supported.
6. Help clients identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma.
7. Help other team members identify and understand culture-wide stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness and develop strategies to eliminate stigma within the team.
8. Collaborate with the team to ensure the protection of clients’ rights in order to help clients to improve their knowledge of client rights and grievance or complaint procedures.
9. Collaborate with the team to help clients learn about pertinent grievance procedures and support clients with filing, mediating, and resolving complaints.
10. Increase awareness of and support client participation in consumer self-help programs and consumer advocacy organizations that promote recovery.
11. Serve as the liaison between the team and consumer-run programs such as self-help groups and drop-in centers.
12. Shared duties in the provision of treatment and substance abuse services.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

1. High school diploma or equivalent required; College degree in a social science preferred;
2. Possess certification as a Certified Peer Support Specialist consistent with WAC 246-341, or ability and willingness to obtain certification within 60 days of employment, and disclose self to be a consumer of mental health services;
3. In successful recovery for 2 or more years and/or a family member of an individual with mental health or substance use disorder.
4. Current Washington State Department of Health counselor credentials required;
5. Familiarity with Washington State regulations related to the provision of mental health services (RCW 71.05) and substance use services (WAC 246-341);
6. Current unencumbered driver license and proof of current car insurance required;
7. Good verbal and written communication skills;
8. Great attendance; and
9. Ability to work well with others.

GUIDELINES

This position requires that the incumbent obtain and maintain Washington State credentials through the Department of Health.

COMPLEXITY

The incumbent provides community based Peer Support services to clients who differ widely in age and socioeconomic status and who may possess a variety of chronic and serious social, behavioral and psychological problems. Strong interpersonal, sound judgment and creativity are required to help implement and deliver treatment services that meet the complex needs of the clients.

PERSONAL CONTACTS

Contacts are with the members of the treatment team, clients, significant others of the clients, representatives of various community agencies specializing in the treatment of chemical abuse and mental illness, and related community representatives including hospital personnel, lawyers, probation officers, and other court officials. All personal contacts are carried out in accordance with federal and state laws dealing with the confidentiality of client records.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the essential functions of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit, speak clearly, hear and use hands and fingers to manipulate writing utensils and keys on a keyboard. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands or arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or lift and/or move maximum of 15 lbs. The employee is regularly required to effectively operate an automobile.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Working hours are spent indoors in offices or other meeting rooms or in the community meeting with clients in their homes or health clinics. Supervision of outdoor activities, visits to community agencies, and participation in staff retreats and staff development activities will be required.

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Program Director