Peer Counselor - Mobile Team

Lives Change Here! We are GROWING…Columbia River Mental Health Services provides comprehensive behavioral health and recovery services that transform the lives of children, adults and families in the communities of SW Washington. We are the largest and oldest not-for-profit provider of mental/chemical dependency treatment in southwest Washington with 200 employees and a history dating back to 1942.

Our Mission: Providing behavioral health and recovery services that transform the lives of children, adults, and families in the communities of SW Washington.

Why Work Here?

CRMHS offers amazing benefits aside from health and wellness (medical/dental/vision etc.) Work life balance benefits: 11 total paid holidays per year, including 3 paid floating holidays available upon hire, 24 days of PTO days in the first year and only increases from there! Career development: $325 annual allowance for career development and education with an additional 40 hours of paid time off for career development/education! And so many More!

Starting Pay Range - $21.64 - $23.85 /hr

Summary:

The Peer Counselor is a part of the Mobile Health team providing behavioral health services to consumers in a mobile, community-based setting. The Peer Counselor is responsible for a wide range of activities to assist consumers in achieving their recovery related goals. The Peer Counselor will model competency in recovery and ongoing coping skills for other consumers. Peer support services may include but are not limited to self-help support groups, assisting in securing safe/stable housing, direct case management, navigating community resources, and sharing of the peer counselor’s own life experiences. Services will be provided in community-based settings. Transporting and assisting clients to navigate and access community services and agencies is required.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Assist consumers in articulating personal goals for recovery.
• Assist consumers in determining the objectives the consumer needs to take in order to reach his or her recovery goals.
• Assist consumers in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups.
• Assist consumers in completing recovery environment related goals.
• Assisting consumers in reducing barriers to starting/remaining in treatment.
• Utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups.
• Teach consumers how to identify and combat negative self-talk based on their experience.
• Support the vocational choices consumers make and assist them in overcoming job-related anxiety.
• Assist consumers in building social skills in the community by accessing community resources and services.
• Assist team members in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery; lend their unique insight into substance use disorders and what makes recovery possible
• Attend treatment team meetings to promote consumer’s use of self-directed recovery tools.
• Provide group and individual services to individuals based on the “lived experience”.
• Participate in outreach and engagement efforts to reduce barriers to accessing care.
• Coordinate individual social and health services for program participants with the goal of housing and employment.
• Lead peer support groups.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with participants
• Ability to empathize and to encourage client participation in the treatment process
• Engage consumers through their own recovery journey.
• Assist individuals to navigate services and systems based on their own experiences.
• Use that navigation as a vehicle to discuss recovery. 
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation in accordance with agency policy, community contracts, and regulation standards.
• Ensure confidentiality in compliance with 42 CFR Part 2, HIPAA, and agency policies.
• Work closely with nurses, counselors, medical providers, and support staff to support integrated care delivery.
• Attend and contribute to treatment team meetings, case consultations, and supervision.
• Ensures own professional development.  Maintains licensure requirements. 
• Contributes to the overall professional development and functioning of the agency as a training institution
• Respectfully collaborates with co-workers and personnel from other agencies.

Non-Essential Job Functions:

• Attend staff meetings, in-services, and professional development trainings.
• Support agency mission, goals, and objectives. 
• Maintain communication and cooperative working relationships both within the agency and community at large.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Navigate other systems based on their experiences to utilize this as a means to engage and share their lived experience.

Education, Licensing and Experience:

• Peer Certification in the State of Washington
• Experience with community outreach and engagement preferred. 
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and current auto insurance required.
• Must have good oral and written communication skills.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong commitment to recovery principles and client-centered care.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team in the field.
• High level of autonomy, flexibility, and problem-solving in dynamic environments.
• Proficient computer skills (EHR systems, outlook, word, excel, etc.)
• Ability to engage peers from diverse backgrounds, including individuals with co-occurring disorders and those experiencing homelessness.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Staff must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.