Youth Peer Support Counselor, Mobile Crisis Team - Grays Harbor, WA

Position Overview

Under the supervision of the program director and administrative director, the mobile crisis peer counselor provides peer support services; serves as a consumer advocate to youth and family; provides consumer information for consumers experiencing mental health crises in a variety of settings. The peer counselor performs a wide range of tasks to support youth and family in crisis to identify, learn, and use skills and resources to build resilience and improve their ability to manage difficult situations. Crisis peer counselors will model competency in recovery and Wellness, assisting consumers to live their own lives through sharing of the peer counselors own lived experience in crisis and recovery. Must be able to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time with occasional climbing of stairs, while providing crisis response services in the office and community. Community includes homes, hospitals, streets, alleys, jails, schools, professional buildings, etc..

Summary of the Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Peer Counselor will:

• Support consumers in articulating personal goals for recovery and wellness, and
• Support consumers in articulating the objectives necessary to reach his or her recovery and wellness goals.
• Assist consumers in identifying strengths, setting objectives, and in identifying barriers.
• When clinically appropriate, share lived experience to normalize and validate the child/families experiences.
• Support consumers in determining recovery and wellness interventions based on consumers' life goals,
• Recognizing and reporting progress consumers make toward meeting objectives and
• Understand and utilize specific interventions necessary to support consumers in meeting their recovery and wellness goals.
• Lead recovery dialogues, and utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups,
• Teach consumers techniques for identifying and combatting negative self-talk, and
• Teach consumers techniques for identifying and overcoming fears.
• Support the vocational choices consumers make and support them in overcoming job-related anxiety,
• Support consumers in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure,
• Support non-consumer staff in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery; lend their unique insight into mental illness and what makes recovery possible, and
• Attend treatment team meetings to promote consumer's use of self-directed recovery tools.
• Teach and model the value of every individual's recovery experience,
• Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Develop and share recovery-oriented material with other Peer Counselors, and
• Attend relevant continuing education, such as seminars, meetings, and in-service trainings.
• Provide and advocate for effective recovery based services.
• Support consumers in obtaining services that suit that individual's recovery needs.
• Inform consumers about community and natural supports and how to utilize these in the recovery process.
• Support consumers in developing empowerment skill through self-advocacy and the use of Human Experience Language to combat stigma, and
• Support consumers in setting up and sustaining self-help support groups.
• Refer individuals with substance use disorders to SUD treatment.
• Refer individuals with medical disorders to primary care.
• Refer youth and family to outpatient mental health providers as needed/requested.
• Link individuals to other professional community resources and natural supports, including educational, vocational, social, spiritual, and recreational resources
• Link individuals to community resources that assist in the obtaining of housing.
• Provide skills training, including illness management, socialization, time management, parenting skills, independent living, budgeting, and other skills necessary to enhance self-sufficiency.
• Complete all documentation, reporting, and other paperwork according to agency standards.
• Effectively use technology and software including but not limited to: computers, phones, email, EMR, etc.
• Be helpful, respectful, approachable and team oriented.
• Manage time effectively, including but not limited to: planning ahead where possible and being punctual in person and with work performed.
• Work efficiently both independently and as part of a team.
• Build strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
• Be receptive to feedback, willing to learn, and willing to embrace continuous improvement.
• Attend all appropriate staff, organizational, and external meetings as assigned.
• Representation to the public as assigned by supervisor.
• Assist in other programs when assigned by supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• HS Diploma or equivalent is required.
• Received and must maintain Peer Counselor Certification.
• Registration in Washington State is required (upon hire).
• Must have a valid Oregon or Washington driver's license, insurance, and must clear a multi-state criminal background check. Hiring shall be contingent on a clean driving record per driving abstract submitted by employee.
• Agency Affiliated Registration in Washington State is required, licensure preferred.
• State of Washington mental health specialty in child, disability (developmental disability/serious physical handicap or sensory impairment), and/or older adult populations preferred.

Salary: $20.65

We are proud to be able to not only offer competitive compensation but also a benefit package that our employees love.

We offer all permanent full-time employees:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision paid in full for employees and children beginning the 1st of the month following 30 days of full-time employment. Spousal/Significant other coverage at a nominal cost to the employee of just $46.95 per month.
• Long-term disability and life insurance are paid for by the employer.
• 5% of gross pay is put into a retirement plan by the employer. Immediately vested, no match requirement.
• 11 paid holidays
• 26 days of Paid Time Off per year
• Revenue Share Opportunities

Columbia Wellness is an Equal Opportunity Employer