Crisis Peer Specialist - Mason County Sheriff Co-Responder

Olympic Health & Recovery Services • Full-time • Shelton, Washington, United States • $24.78 - $32.22 / hour • 4h ago

Olympic Health and Recovery Services (OHRS) is seeking a peer counselor to join our Law Enforcement Co-Responder Team. This is a position working in partnership with Mason County Sherriff's Office, serving the behavioral health needs of the most vulnerable populations within Mason County. 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. The Law Enforcement Co-Responder Team are a resource for Law Enforcement (LE) to utilize when responding to calls with a mental health component to it. The incumbent performs crisis intervention to reduce hospitalizations, and effectively link consumers with on-going mental support services. 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.

The Law Enforcement Co-Responder Team will cultivate contacts and establish and maintain positive, effective, collaborative working relationships with Law Enforcement personnel and agencies, emergency medical response agencies, court systems, community leaders, public health departments, state, federal and local agencies, homeless shelters, community services and faith-based groups in an effort to care for and assist individuals with chronic behavioral health disorders in need of social 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: Sunday-Wednesday 4PM - 2AM

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.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responds to referrals and provides mobile crisis intervention and stabilization services in varied environments in the community.
Provides mobile crisis intervention services in varied environments in the community.
Takes and triages referrals for crisis and ITA and provides crisis phone intervention services.
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
When in the community, 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.
Respond 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.
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.
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.
Research and coordinate 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.
Works under the supervision of a mental health professional employed by OHRS to provide clients with peer support including acting as a role model, mentor, and ally.
Maintains familiarity with and handles client information in accordance with Federal Regulations (42 CFR, Part 2 and 45 CFR), and other applicable laws pertaining to confidentiality of client and staff information.
Maintains physical security of confidential materials and assigned Agency property.
Demonstrates proficiency in utilization of electronic medical record system.
Maintains timely and accurate documentation in accordance with Washington State law, and current best practices.
Communicates effectively with co-workers in dynamic environment.
Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted and/or changed at the discretion of management.
Demonstrates professional customer service and phone etiquette.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Co-Responder Team:

Develop a network of working relationships with Thurston County Jail, Mason County Jail, Nisqually Jail, behavioral health treatment providers, emergency housing providers, Lacey Veterans Services Hub, and other social service providers.
Establish and maintain rapport with the population served.
Provide information, consultation, and referral.
Assist with relocations.
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.

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.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

Washington State certification as a Certified Peer Counselor is required.
Washington State Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor 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.

Co-Responder Team:

Co-Responders may be subject to additional national background check clearances and must be approved for access to CJIS.

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.

Co-Responder Team:

Ability to utilize radio and communicate with dispatch and law enforcement officers.
Ability to utilize CAD system.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

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.
Often performed under physically demanding, stressful, and environmentally diverse conditions, and requires the ability to adjust quickly to changing priorities and demands.
This position will expose you to conversations about suicide, behavioral health issues and response to crisis situations.
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 vehicle required for service in a two-county regional area
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.

Co-Responder Team: