Olympic Health & Recovery Services (OHRS) is seeking a peer counselor to join our Community Based Crisis Team (CBCT). The CBCT is a partnership between OHRS and Tumwater Fire Department serving the most vulnerable in our communities.
This position provides a Peer perspective to the CBCT, in partnership with a Mental Health Care Provider (MHCP), 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. The CBCT work in coordination with emergency responders to respond to calls with individuals experiencing a crisis. The CBCT performs crisis intervention to reduce hospitalizations, and effectively link individuals with on-going social support services.
MAJOR RESPONSIBIITIES:
- 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.
Salary Range: $24.78-$32.22 Hourly, Based on education and experience as well as parity within the organization.
This position is eligible for $2.50/hr special duty pay as well as shift differential ($1/hr evenings, $3/hr nights and weekends)
Available Schedules: Sunday-Wednesday 3pm-1am or Wednesday-Saturday 3pm-1am
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) .
OHRS is an approved Public Student Loan Forgiveness employer. We pay the fees for required DOH licenses for the position, and we offer annual professional development funds.
Find more information at www.tmbhcareers.org.
QUALIFICATONS:
- Washington State certification as a Certified Peer Counselor or Peer Support Specialist is required.
- Washington State Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor or 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.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Familiarity and knowledge of best practices for alcohol/drug abuse treatment and prevention programs, mental health and developmental disabilities programs as well as with local social service agencies.
- Ability to establish and maintain trusting and supportive relationships as well as provide inspiration and motivation to individuals transitioning towards recovery.
- Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, as well the ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds and/or cultures.
- Ability to work in a cooperative and collaborative manner as a team member with community providers, the client, and the client’s family and support network.
- Ability to work with assigned office and computer programs to include Microsoft Office and Electronic Health Records.
- Ability to work in high stress, high demand environment while communicating clearly and effectively
- Ability to provide clear documentation of assessments and dispositions, and meet documentation requirements in a timely way
- Ability to respectfully manage differences, opposing perspectives, opinions, and interests on a team.
- Ability to remain flexible and adaptable to change.
- Strong critical thinking skills, ability to conceptualize and implement creative solutions.
- Promote and champion the values of partnership, teamwork, compassion and integrity in all dealings within and outside of OHRS.
- Maintains physical security of confidential materials and assigned Agency property.
- Demonstrates proficiency in utilization of electronic medical record system.
- Ability to utilize radio and communicate with dispatch, firefighters, and law enforcement officers.
- Ability to utilize CAD system.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Works in emergency responder setting with fire department personnel.
- Primarily works in the community including residential facilities, individual’s homes, and in an office environment. May respond to community referrals at hospitals, jails, and inpatient facilities.
- 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.
- This position will expose you to conversations about suicide, mental health issues, domestic violence, substance use and crisis situations.
- Often performed under physically demanding, stressful, and environmentally diverse conditions, and requires the ability to adjust quickly to changing priorities and demands.
- This position does not physically interact with clients in the event of assaultive behavior, but works to maintain safety in accordance with the principles of crisis de-escalation and safety training.
- Regular, on site, predictable attendance is 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 and/or personal vehicles may be required for service provision in the region including transportation of clients in fleet vehicles.
- 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, get in and out of vehicles quickly, lift or move up to 25 lbs.
- Regular, daily use of computer is required.
