Lifeline Connections is a not-for-profit agency that is recognized as a leading behavioral health treatment provider in Washington State, offering a full continuum of care for individuals who have a behavioral health condition. Lifeline Connections' patients receive an unprecedented level of care by highly skilled professionals who know how to help people find and sustain long-term recovery. For over sixty years Lifeline Connections has provided hope, help and healing to thousands of individuals in Washington State and within the Portland, Oregon metro area.

Peer Support Specialist 

Salary: $17.25 - $19.75/hr DOE

Major Duties:

The Peer Specialist works under the supervision of the MHP Supervisor and Program Director. This position provides recovery focused services to participants of the Stabilization and Triage Center utilizing the WRAP fidelity with the goal of stabilization within the least restrictive setting. This position provides clinical services to agency patients. In fulfilling these duties, the incumbent performs the following duties independently:

• Provide peer support, drawing on common experiences as a peer, to validate individual experiences and to provide guidance and encouragement to participants to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
• Serve as a mentor to individuals to promote hope and empowerment.
• Partners with each participant to provide information about service options and the process of care.
• Obtains details and educates on advance directives to partner with the participant and to design and plan care.
• Completes a WRAP with participant and educates team
• Assists in completing admission to the Center including:
• Orientation to the program, including an introduction to staff, tour of the facility, individual rights and grievances, program schedule, and community agreements. 
• Reviewing and storing personal property.
• Partners with each participant to maintain a recovery environment by performing tasks including, but not limited to:
• Room Checks.
• Removes any hazardous objects and records findings as designated.
• Helps participants manage any risky behavior and completes required documentation.
• Implements contraband policy.
• Teaches life skills that enhance ability for participants to work on keeping personal space clean, encouraging ADLs, and following family style meal times.
• Example of additional life skill support includes tasks such as supporting patients with shower clean up using proper infection control procedures after each use.
• Act as an interpreter to help team members better understand and empathize with each individual’s unique and subjective experience and perceptions.
• Provide expertise and consultation from a behavioral health consumer perspective to the entire team concerning participant’s experiences on symptoms of mental illness, the effects and side-effects of medications, responses to and opinions of treatment, and experiences of recovery.
• Collaborate with the team to promote a team culture in which each person’s point of view, experiences, and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected, and in which self-determination and decision-making in treatment planning are maximized and supported.
• Help participants and other team members identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination associated with behavioral health and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma and stigma within the team.
• Run daily groups using WRAP material that encourages participants to identify personal recovery tools.
• Collaborate with the team to ensure the protection of individual’s rights in order to help individuals improve their knowledge of rights and grievance procedures.
• Increase awareness of, and support, individual participation in consumer self-help programs and consumer advocacy organizations that promote recovery.
• Serve as the liaison between the team and consumer-run programs such as self-help groups and drop-in centers.
• Participate in verbal de-escalation and interventions in emergent situations and be willing to assist other team members as needed to maintain a safe and secure environment.
• Assists in daily cleanup of the kitchen and service areas, refrigerators, ice machine and dish washing machine
• Assists in room turns for participants discharging and coming into the program
• Facilitates serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with clean up following each meal
• Wash program clothing and linens. Support with washing participant laundry.

Requirements:

• Personal experience with mental illness as a consumer of mental health treatment services.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; College degree in a social science preferred.
• Possess certification as a Certified Peer Specialist consistent with WAC 246-341.
• Current Washington State Department of Health agency affiliate counselor or ability to obtain credentials within 60 days required.
• Current CPR and First Aid and Food Handlers permit, or ability to obtain one within 90 days.
• Experience with WRAP preferred, training will be required and provided.
• Be willing to seek to understand each individual’s unique circumstances and personal preferences and goals and incorporate them into the crisis response to help participants regain a sense of control.
• Have a strong understanding of recovery and resilience, the value of partnerships and individual choice, and the balance between protection from harm and personal dignity.
• Interest or experience in working with individuals who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional behavioral health programs.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behaviors.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for individuals.
• Current unencumbered driver license and proof of current car insurance required.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Great attendance.
• This position requires shift work and requires the ability to work within a flexible schedule including weekends and evenings.
• Ability to work well with others.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Application Process:To apply electronically for this position please click "Apply Now" or visit our ADP career center. For more information on this and other positions, please visit our website at www.lifelineconnections.org

The Benefits:

Lifeline Connections is striving to be your employer of choice by offering our regular/full time employees a generous benefits package. The plan covers 85% of medical, dental, and vision costs at the employee level and 75% for all dependent plans. The majority of out-of-pocket costs for co-pays, prescriptions, and deductible under the medical plan are also covered. We also have employer paid Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance and supplemental coverages.

Our fulltime employees and some part time employees also qualify for our 401(K) plan that matches dollar for dollar up to 5%. On top of all that, our fulltime employees receive approximately 4 weeks of paid time off during their first year of employment (accrual rates increase with years of service), as well as 1 personal holiday and 12 paid holidays per year!

There are many other supplemental benefits we are glad to offer such as tuition reimbursement and discounted cellular service amongst others.

Send us your resume and let's talk about you joining our team!