Forensic Peer Support Specialist Outpatient Competency Restoration Program

Outpatient Competency Restoration Program Certified Peer Counselor

Full-Time/ On-Site (includes community outreach)

Hiring Range: $20.07 – $24.58 per hour

Non-Exempt

Benefits At a Glance

• Comprehensive Coverage: Health, Dental & Vision
• Generous PTO: Up to 19 days 2 mental health days 10 holidays (pro-rated for part-time)
• Fully Paid YMCA Membership for you and eligible family members
• Company-Paid Life & Disability Insurance
• Student Loan Assistance & Professional Development
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with Company Contributions
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Pet Insurance
• Free Wellness App (2MorrowHealth)
• Collaborative, Supportive Team Environment
  
  

The Outpatient Competency Restoration Program Certified Peer Counselor (CPC) provides peer support services; serves as an individual advocate; provides person’s enrolled in the Outpatient Competency Restoration Program (OCRP) information and peer support for people determined by the court as not competent to stand trial and assist in their own defense and are appropriate for community-based services. This program works closely with the Health Care Authority as well as DSHS Forensic Navigators in regaining control over their own lives and over their own recovery process. The CPC will role model competency in recovery and ongoing coping skills.

Primary Responsibilities:

• The CPC manages a caseload of individuals participating in the OCRP program.
• Draw on common experiences as a peer to validate clients' experience and to provide guidance and encouragement for clients to take responsibility and participate in their recovery. Promote hope and empowerment designed to help clients attain recovery goals and maintain the highest possible independence level, even during periods of instability.
• Housing: Assists clients find and maintain a safe and affordable place to live, apartment hunting, finding a roommate, landlord negotiations, cleaning, furnishing and decorating, and procuring necessities. Identify type and location of housing with an exploration of access to natural supports and avoidance of triggers. Provides practical help and supports, mentoring, advocacy, coordination, side-by-side individualized support, problem-solving, direct assistance, and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living, including medical and dental health care; legal and advocacy services; financial support such as entitlements, housing subsidies; money management services: transportation, and reasonable accommodation requests as needed.
• Employment: Assists with referrals to job training and DVR. Performs mentoring, problem solving, encouragement, and support on and off the job site. Provides work-related supportive services, such as assistance securing necessary clothing and grooming supplies, wake-up calls, reasonable accommodation requests as needed, and transportation.
• Activities of Daily Living Services: Provides ongoing assessment, problem-solving, side-by-side services, skill teaching, support, and environmental adaptations to assist clients with daily living activities. Assists and supports clients in organizing and perform household activities, including house cleaning and laundry. Assists and supports clients with personal hygiene and grooming tasks. Provide nutrition education and assistance with meal planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation. Ensures clients have adequate financial support teaches money-management skills, and assist clients in accessing financial services. Help clients’ access reliable transportation. Assists and supports clients to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician, dentist, and other medical specialists as required.
• Social and Interpersonal Relationships and Leisure Time: Provides side-by-side support, coaching, and encouragement to help clients socialize, going with a client to community activities, including activities offered by consumer-run peer support organizations. Assists clients to plan and carry out leisure time activities. Organizes and leads individual and group social and recreational activities to help clients structure their time, increase social experiences, and provide opportunities to practice social skills.
• Other coaching, guidance, and transition support: Provides transition services from hospital to community, including medication management. Assist in providing ongoing assessment and direct services to clients, responding to such challenges as an increase in suicidality, the need for substance abuse education and treatment, and the clients' readiness for meaningful daily activity, including employment.
• Act as an interpreter to the rest of the team while providing expertise and consultation from a client perspective in areas such as symptoms, effects and side effects of medications, client opinions of treatment, and client recovery experiences.
• Help clients and staff to identify, understand, and combat stigma, discrimination and assist clients in locating self-help and consumer advocacy groups that promote recovery while acting as the liaison between the team and such groups.
• Collaborate with staff and clients on awareness of client rights, including grievance and complaint procedures; support clients with filing, mediating, and resolving complaints.
• Assist in providing ongoing assessment and direct services to clients, responding to such challenges as an increase in suicidality, the need for substance abuse education and treatment, and the clients' readiness for meaningful daily activity, including employment.
• Provide practical help and supports to help clients gain access to health care services. As well as other necessary services such as legal services, housing subsidies, and funding alternatives.
• In addition to the above, any other responsibilities appropriate to the position and not specifically listed in the job description.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications:

EDUCATION: Highs School Diploma or GED

EXPERIENCE: Entry Level (No prior related work experience)

This position requires driving clients in a personal vehicle on behalf of the agency. Therefore, the incumbent must meet all agency driving requirements, including being at least 21 years old, having been licensed for a minimum of three years, successfully completing a motor vehicle history check, possessing and maintaining a current, valid driver’s license in the state of Washington, and having reliable, insured transportation.

• This position may require staff to enter the jail to engage with clients. The incumbent staff must be able to obtain jail access by passing background check annually.
  
  

LICENSURE: Affiliated Counselor Registration. Completion of the Washington State Mental Health Division’s Peer Counselor Training and the subsequent certification as a Peer Counselor within six months of employment.

Must maintain a Washington State Department of Health license in good standing.

Must meet and maintain the definition of a Mental Health Professional as defined in RCW 71.05.020.

Preferred Qualifications:

EXPERIENCE: Relevant experience working with clients with severe and persistent mental illness.

Capacity to work well with children and families.

Our recruitment processes are designed to prevent discrimination against our people regardless of gender identity or orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any aspect which makes someone unique.