Peer Bridger (Social Services Specialist)

The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans and those with lived experience.

King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community.

This position functions as a Certified Peer Support Specialist (Peer Bridger) member of the King County Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization's (KCBH-ASO) Hospital and Mental Health Residential Unit. The incumbent will provide direct support for people who are currently hospitalized at Washington State Hospital (WSH) and who are ready for transition to the community. The Peer Bridger will develop supportive relationships with the program participants prior to hospital discharge and support them up to 120 days post discharge, with the primary goal of connecting them with outpatient services and successfully reintegrating them back into their community.  As a Certified Peer Support Specialist, the Peer Bridger functions as a role model through sharing their own lived experience with behavioral health issues in a way that will inspire hope, encouragement and help to foster recovery and resiliency for the people they serve. The incumbent will provide trauma-informed, strengths-based services and supports. 

WHO MAY APPLY: 
This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The Department of Community and Human Services values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around March 24, 2025

REQUIRED MATERIALS: 
Application Process: Please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement. 
The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

•NeoGov Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process).
•Supplemental Questions {The responses to the supplemental question should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process, providing your most recent 7 years of applicable experience if available)

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted. 
Additional Job Information 

Additional Job Information

WORK SCHEDULE/CONDITIONS: This position is scheduled to work 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm. This position meets the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible with supervisory pre-approval. 

MISSION CRITICAL POSITION STATUS: This position has been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency.

REMOTE AND ONSITE WORK DETAILS: Employees in this role work remotely from a home location, with onsite reporting requirements. The frequency of onsite work is determined by business needs and may be adjusted accordingly.  
 
REMOTE WORK LOCATION REQUIREMENT: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance of King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.  

RECRUITER: Annette Coleman, ancoleman@kingcounty.gov

• Participate as a member of the King County Hospital and Mental Health Residential team in addressing the needs of King County individuals being served at Western State Hospital (WSH) and other community-based hospitals and developing and implementing individualized discharge plans to promote timely transition to the community. Activities will include:
  • Providing assistance in identifying and linking to community-based services and supports (primary care, mental health and or substance abuse treatment, housing, financial benefits, etc.)
  • Providing assistance with transportation to appointments
  • Helping to facilitate a "warm hand-off" to a community behavioral health provider, including sitting in on intake appointments (if requested by the participant), helping the participant to connect to peer support and other ancillary support services offered by the agency such as housing, employment, etc.
  • Helping the participant to identify and/or re-engage with family, friends and other natural supports and other community resources such as recovery or spiritual communities, etc.
  • Assisting the participant with their adjustment to living in the community.
• Building supportive relationships with program participants, emphasizing the development of trust, mutual respect, encouragement and emotional support through sharing lived experience as a person in recovery from behavioral health conditions.
• Regularly meeting with program participants at WSH for initial engagement, relationship building, goal setting and to provide support around hospital discharge.
• Working collaboratively with the WSH clinical teams to support the program participant and the discharge planning process by carrying the participant and recovery perspective to the team and helping the participant process and understand the clinical team's recommendations.
• Providing group support during hospitalization (Recovery Group, WRAP, etc.)
• Providing education and resources that support illness self-management, self-determination, self-advocacy, WRAP and shared health care decision making.
• Participating in monthly, state-sponsored Peer Bridger conference calls and all meetings as required (KCBH-ASO and WSH).
• Participating in the existing King County Peer Bridger Operations Team meeting, comprised of the peer bridger staff and supervisors from all King County peer bridger programs.
• Collaborating with other KCBH-ASO staff regarding specific participant needs.
• Completing all documentation requirements, including data logs, clinical notes, etc., in a timely manner.

Performing other related duties as assigned.

1. Personal history and lived experience with recovery from mental health, substance use, or co-occurring disorders.
2. Valid Washington State Driver's License and the ability to travel to and from Western State Hospital and throughout the county multiple times per week.
3. Credentialed by DBHR/HCA as a Certified Peer Counselor.
4. Ability to obtain DOH Agency Affiliated Counselor credential within 6 months of hire.
5. At least 1 year of experience working as a peer support specialist (can be a combination of professional peer experience and non-professional experience, such as caregiving, guardianship, volunteer work, etc.).
6. Excellent organizational skills, ability to plan/perform work independently and as part of a team while managing a caseload of 6 to 12 participants.
7. Knowledge of and experience providing services for persons from diverse cultural backgrounds (including experience with participants who have a range in socioeconomic status, age, ability, religion and racial/ethnic backgrounds).
8. Expert knowledge of behavioral health recovery, peer support principles, practices and a proven enthusiasm for peer support and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.
9. Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to work in a cooperative and collaborative manner as a team member and develop working relationships with King County providers and other stakeholders. Outstanding communication skills, ability to listen with compassion and to address sensitive issues in a caring, supportive manner.
10. Ability to help set mutually beneficial boundaries with program participants.
11. Ability to write clear and concise documentation including notes and correspondence.
12. Ability to work flexible hours as needed.

Desired:

1. Knowledge of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services, preferably in Washington State, including Western state hospital experience.
2. Knowledge of and experience navigating the King County behavioral health continuum of care (including outpatient mental health, substance use disorder and psychiatric care providers).
3. 2 years of experience working as a Peer Support Specialist or experience providing peer bridging services.
4. Proficiency in 2010 Microsoft Office Suite, using an Electronic Health Record, and experience utilizing technology (including laptops, mobile hotspots, etc.).

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Salary : $62,962 - $79,810