Peer Counselor - Housing Program

Olympic Health & Recovery Services • Full-time • Lacey, Washington, United States • $24.78 - $32.22 / hour • 3h ago

Olympic Health and Recovery Services is a dynamic organization serving the most vulnerable in our communities. 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. We take pride in our staff that come to work with us and are seeking two Peer Specialists with a passion for supporting individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use disorders in obtaining and maintaining housing.

The Housing and Recovery Through Peer Services (HARPS) Peer Counselor provides peer counseling and support with an emphasis on enhancing access to and retention of permanent supported housing. The HARPS Peer Counselor advocates for client choice, self- determination, and decision-making in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of treatment, rehabilitation, and support services; supports client participation in consumer self-help and advocacy programs, educates and teaches symptom-management techniques, promotes personal growth and development by assisting clients to cope with internal and external stresses; and coordinates services with other Behavioral Health and allied providers.

Schedule: Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM

Pay Range: $24.78 - $32.22 per hour based on experience, education, and parity within the organization.

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.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide peer counseling and support with an emphasis on enhancing access to and retention in permanent supported housing.
Provide service coordination by incorporating and demonstrating basic recovery values. The participant will have choice of their housing options, will be expected to take the primary role in their personal housing plan development, and will play an active role in finding housing and decision making.
Draws on common experiences as a peer to validate the individual’s experience and to provide guidance and encouragement for individuals to take responsibility and participate in their own recovery.
Serve as a mentor to participants to promote hope and empowerment to help attain recovery goals and maintain the highest possible level of independence.
Provide education and advocacy around understanding culture-wide stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness and develop strategies to eliminate stigma and support participation in consumer advocacy organizations that promote recovery.
Teach symptom-management techniques and promote personal growth and development by assisting participants to cope with internal and external stresses
Coordinates services with behavioral health and other providers.
Provides Supportive Housing Services by incorporating and demonstrating basic recovery values, allowing the participant to have choice of their housing options, taking the primary role in their personal housing plan development, and will play an active role in finding housing and decision making.
Assisting HARPS participants with locating, obtaining, and maintaining suitable housing, with exploration of access to natural support.
Provide Advocacy for the Participant’s tenancy needs, rights and preferences to support housing stability.
Research and coordinates availability of community resources to provide support and encouragement towards a path of recovery.
Provides assessment and planning for participant housing needs, seek out and explain the housing options in the area and provide resources to obtain housing.
Conduct a Participant housing plan with each participant to create an individualized, strengths-based housing plan that includes actions steps for when housing related issues occur.
Assists in housing search and placement which includes; tenant counseling, assisting households to understand leases, securing utilities, making moving arrangements, representative payee services concerning rent and utilities and mediation and outreach to property owners related to locating or retaining housing.
Provides landlord/property manager engagement and education for example; conducting direct contact with landlords/property mangers, ongoing support for the participants and landlords/property manager to resolve any issues, recruit and cultivate relationships with landlords/property managers, and mitigate negative screening factors by working with Participants
Facilitate housing subsidies.
Shares lived experience regarding criminal justice involvement, overcoming barriers, modeling self-help and wellness activities to empower participants on their recovery journey, when appropriate.
Provide supportive navigation, advocacy, information, and coaching during housing/employment application processes.
Provide education and/or training to assist participants in acquiring skills that will maintain community stability and independence.
Provides practical assistance and supports, including obtaining the necessities of daily living, 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.
Maintain accurate and timely clinical records documentation in accordance with Federal, State, and County, and treatment program requirements.
Accurately track and record money spent on behalf of clients.
Responsible for maintaining referral, requisitions, vendor forms, and other additional documentation for HARPS participants and program requirements.
May perform other tasks as assigned to meet the needs of the participant and OHRS.

EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION:

Washington State certification as a Peer Counselor is required.
Washington State Dept of Health (DOH) Agency Affiliated Counselor Registered or Certified Peer Support Specialist license is required.
High School diploma or GED required.
Two (2) years working a peer counselor is preferred.
Lived experience in recovery from substance use disorder is preferred.
Must have satisfactory background checks as required by state and federal contracts.
Must have satisfactory Motor Vehicle Report. Valid Washington State driver's license and proof of insurance or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation.

SKILLS & 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.
It is essential the Certified Peer Counselors/Specialist have the skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons living with severe and persistent mental illnesses and/or SUDs and respect for Participant’s rights and personal preferences in treatment is essential.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds and/or cultures.
Ability to work closely in a culture of teamwork, collaboration, and collegiality with program participants, other OHRS staff, and outside agencies.
Ability to accurately meet documentation requirements, in a timely fashion.
Must have a strong commitment to the right and the ability of each person with a severe mental illness to live in within the community of their choice; work in market jobs; and have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services. It is essential the peer specialist have skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses and respect for individuals’ rights and personal preferences in treatment is essential.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Conducts outreach in community-based and outdoor settings. Community settings will include homes, parks, encampments, local businesses, hospitals/crisis facilities, jails, individual’s homes, and other community places
Outreach activities are conducted in all-weather situations, including extreme heat, rain, and cold.
Conducts outreaches to local jails, hospitals, crisis facilities, and court facilities.
Regular use of fleet vehicles and/or personal vehicles may be required for service provision in the region including transportation of participants in fleet vehicles.
Regular, in person, predictable attendance is necessary for participant support and team engagement.
May require availability to work flexible hours.
Work attire is professional and appropriate for community-based settings
Moderate physical exertion is required. May be required to sit, stand, squat, walk short to moderate distances on uneven terrain, lift or move boxes/equipment weighing up to 25lbs.

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