King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community.

The Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) of DCHS has an exciting opening for a Term-Limited Temporary (TLT)/Special Duty Assignment (SDA) Certified Peer Support Specialist (Peer Pathfinder). This position functions as a member of the King County Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization's (BH-ASO) Hospital and Mental Health Residential Unit. The incumbent will provide direct support for people who are currently incarcerated and are being transitioned to the community. The Peer Pathfinder will develop supportive relationships with the program participants prior to jail release and support them up to 120 days post discharge, with the primary goal of connecting them with outpatient services and successfully helping them to reintegrate back into their community. As a Certified Peer Support Specialist, the Peer Pathfinder functions as a role model through sharing their own lived experience with behavioral health or criminal legal issues in a way that will inspire hope, encouragement and help to foster recovery and resiliency for the people they serve. The incumbent will provide trauma-informed, strengths-based services and supports.

WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around June 13, 2023.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the requested and relevant information in the online application and supplemental questionnaire. Applications and/or supplemental questionnaires that state, “see my resume” are considered incomplete and will not be considered to be competitive.

WORK SCHEDULE/CONDITIONS: This is a Special Duty Assignment (SDA) or Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) position anticipated to end 12/31/24, but subject to change dependent on operational need. This position meets the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible with supervisory pre-approval.

MISSION CRITICAL POSITION STATUS: This position has been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency.

TELEWORKING INFORMATION: The work associated with this position will be performed or conducted through a combination of teleworking and onsite work and meetings throughout King County. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

RECRUITER: Annette Coleman, ancoleman@kingcounty.gov

• Participate as a member of the King County Hospital and Mental Health Residential team in addressing the needs of King County individuals being served in jails and developing and implementing individualized care plans to promote successful transition to the community. Activities will include:
  • Providing assistance in identifying and linking to community-based services and supports (primary care, mental health and or substance abuse treatment, housing, financial benefits, etc).
  • Providing assistance with transportation/transportation resources to appointments.
  • Helping to facilitate a "warm hand-off" to a community behavioral health provider, including sitting in on intake appointments (if requested by the participant), helping the participant to connect to peer support and other ancillary support services offered by the agency such as housing, employment, etc.
  • Helping the participants to identify and/or re-engage with family, friends and other natural supports and other community resources such as recovery or spiritual communities, etc.
  • Assisting the participant with their adjustment to living in the community.
• Build supportive relationships with program participants, emphasizing the development of trust, mutual respect, encouragement and emotional support through sharing lived experience as a person in recovery from behavioral health conditions.
• Regularly meet with program participants while incarcerated for initial engagement, relationship building, goal setting and to provide support around jail release.
• Work collaboratively with jail teams and release planners to support the program participant and the release planning process by carrying the participant and recovery perspective to the team and helping the participant process and understand the team's recommendations.
• Provide group support during incarceration (Recovery Group, WRAP, etc.)
• Provide education and resources that support illness self-management, self-determination, self-advocacy, WRAP and shared health care decision making.
• Participate in monthly, state-sponsored conference calls and all meetings as required (KCBH-ASO and WSH).
• Participate in the existing King County Peer Bridger Operations Team meeting, comprised of the peer staff and supervisors from all King County peer bridger programs.
• Collaborate with other King County BH-ASO staff regarding specific participant needs.
• Complete all documentation requirements, including data logs, progress notes, etc., in a timely manner.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Have a personal history of recovery from mental health, substance use or co-occurring disorders.
• Valid Washington State Driver's License and the ability to travel to and from King County Jail and throughout the county multiple times per week.
• Credentialed by Washington State as a Certified Peer Specialist.
• At least 4 years of experience working as a peer support specialist, preferably with 2 or more years providing peer bridging and outreach services.
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to plan/perform work independently and as part of a team while managing a caseload of 6 to 12 participants.
• Knowledge of and experience providing services for persons from diverse cultural backgrounds (including experience with participants who have a range in socioeconomic status, age, ability, religion and racial/ethnic backgrounds).
• Expert knowledge of behavioral health recovery, peer support principles, practices and a proven enthusiasm for peer support and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services, preferably in Washington State.
• Knowledge of and/or experience working with the criminal justice system.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to work in a cooperative and collaborative manner as a team member and develop working relationships with King County providers and other stakeholders.
• Outstanding communication skills, ability to listen with compassion and to address sensitive issues in a caring, supportive manner.
• Ability to help set mutually beneficial boundaries with program participants.
• Ability to write clear and concise documentation including notes and correspondence. Preferable demonstrated proficiency in 2010 Microsoft Office Suite and the internet.
• Ability to work flexible hours as needed.

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Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.

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No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.