Crisis Peer Specialist - Swing Shifts

Join our Olympic Health and Recovery Services (OHRS) Crisis Services team in a position supporting crisis intervention and follow up services in Thurston and Mason counties. This position provides a Peer perspective to the Crisis Services team by focusing on peer counseling through lived experiences with mental health and substance use disorders, mentoring, advocacy, problem-solving and side-by side support to clients and families. Peer support services include face-to-face crisis mobile outreach to clients in the community, responding to the 24/7 crisis phone line, and providing crisis follow up services.

Salary Range: $24.78 - $32.22 per hour. DOE. This position is eligible for shift differential ($1/HR evenings, $3/HR weekends and nights).

Schedule: Two open positions with alternating weekly shifts available.

• Wed. - Sat, 9PM - 7AM / Thurs. - Sat. 5:40PM - 7AM
• Sun. - Wed. 9PM - 7AM / Sun. - Tues. 5:40PM - 7AM

Join us in our mission to provide access to an effective, reliable safety net of behavioral health crisis and recovery support services throughout our region.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responds to referrals and provides mobile crisis intervention and stabilization services in a variety of environments in the community.
• Maximizes client choice, self-determination, decision making in the planning, delivery, evaluation and treatment, rehabilitation, and support services.
• Provides peer counseling, consultation, practical health and support, mentoring, advocacy, coordination, problem-solving and side-by side support to clients, families, and team staff in support of client’s needs.
• De-escalation as needed for community outreaches.
• Responds to requests for information about available services for individuals who are homeless, individuals with behavioral health disorders, and those with other human and social service needs. Make referrals to appropriate service providers and coordinate service delivery.
• Assist the target population served with obtaining basic resources such as shelter, food, medical services, behavioral health treatment, jobs and other social and human services as needed.
• Provide outreach, engagement and liaison support to those people that are seen on a recurring basis which may require short term intensive case management. Facilitate services for high-need individuals across all involved systems of care.
• Develop a network of working relationships with emergency responders, local law enforcement, courts, jails, behavioral health treatment providers, emergency housing providers, Lacey Veterans Services Hub, and other fire departments and social service providers.
• Promote best practices in treatment approaches, support systems, and interventions. Meet with and interview contacts, families, and other care providers to assess needs and eligibility of services. Advocate needs of contacts within and outside system; liaise between contact, caregivers, and service providers. Provide client-level and system-wide troubleshooting and advocacy.
• Provide telephonic or in-person follow-up services.
• Provide transportation for clients when appropriate.
• Researches and coordinates availability of community resources to provide support and encouragement towards a path of recovery and reduced likelihood of readmission to inpatient treatment or return to crisis.
• Monitor contact behaviors and progress, provide assistance toward attaining pre-determined goals, and schedule appointments.
• Follow-up with identified individuals in an effort to bridge gaps between police and/or emergency medical contacts and social service providers.
• Develop and recommend procedures for identifying and screening people with social services needs.
• Consult with other agency professionals on difficult cases.
• Demonstrates the OHRS mission, purpose, values and beliefs in everyday language and contact with the internal and external stakeholders.
• Responsible for maintaining timely and accurate documentation in Avatar EHR and other required systems.
• Communicate effectively with co-workers in dynamic environment.
• Demonstrates professional customer service and phone etiquette.
• Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted and/or changed at the discretion of management.

BENEFITS:
TMBH-ASO/OHRS provides comprehensive benefits for full-time employees including medical/dental/vision plan options (many with no employee paid monthly premium depending on plan choice, and dependent coverage options), and life insurance and disability insurance options.  Eligible employees participate in WA State PERS retirement plans and employees may elect additional pre and post-tax deferred compensation retirement options.   Employees receive a PTO package earning a minimum of 140 hours annually and 12 paid holidays.  Other tax deferred options include Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA). Find more information at www.tmbhcareers.org. 

QUALIFICATONS:

• Washington State certification as a Certified Peer Counselor is required.
• Washington State Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor or Certified Peer Support Specialist license required.
• Two (2) years working as a peer is preferred.
• Must be able to pass background checks as required by OHRS contractual requirements.
• Experience in the behavioral health crisis system is preferred.
• Lived experience of mental health recovery or substance use recovery and the willingness to share their own experiences.
• Current Washington State Driver’s License, proof of insurance or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation. Satisfactory drivers record is required.
• Satisfactory Washington State Patrol (WSP) criminal background clearances and excluded party sanctions
• May be subject to additional national background check clearances if assigned to a law enforcement-based team and must be approved for access to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS).

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Ability to work in high stress, high demand environment while communicating clearly and effectively.
• Ability to use Electronic Health Record System for clinical documentation.
• Ability to use web based phone system for crisis line response.
• Ability to provide clear documentation of assessments and dispositions.
• Ability to utilize principles of crisis intervention and de-escalation while maintaining strong customer service skills, and empathy.
• Ability to remain calm and professional during escalated situations.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and respectfully manage differences, opposing perspectives, opinions, and interests.
• Ability to remain flexible and adaptable to change.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work is generally performed in an office setting providing telephonic phone support, which may involve sitting and use of computers for up to 13 ½ hours per day.
• Mobile outreach is conducted in the community including residential facilities, individual’s homes, and in an office environment. May respond to community referrals at hospitals, and inpatient facilities.
• This position will expose you to conversations about suicide, mental health issues and staff responding to crisis situations.
• Outreach is performed in outdoor settings and subject to weather conditions.
• Outreach to individuals who may be living in the community, sanctioned and non-sanctioned camps, and in shelters.
• Often performed under physically demanding, stressful, and environmentally diverse conditions, and requires the ability to adjust quickly to changing priorities and demands.
• Regular, on-site, predictable attendance required.
• Service responsibilities require on-call availability at certain times, including availability during normal business hours and after hours/weekends/holidays as needed.
• Regular use of fleet vehicles required for mobile outreach
• Moderate physical exertion is required. May be required to sit, stand, squat, walk short to moderate distances on uneven terrain, walk up and down stairs, lift or move boxes/equipment weighing up to 25 lbs.

Salary : $25 - $32