Crisis Peer Counselor - ITA and CTS

Major Duties

• 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.
• Participate in verbal and physical de-escalation and interventions in emergent situations and be willing to assist other team members as needed to maintain a safe and secure environment.
• 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.
• Affords assistance 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.
• Provides 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.
• Collaborates 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.
• Helps 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.
• Runs daily groups using WRAP material that encourages participants to identify personal recovery tools.
• Collaborates 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.
• Serves 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.
• Affords assistance in daily cleanup of the kitchen and service areas, refrigerators, ice machine and dish washing machine.
• Affords assistance in room turns for participants discharging and coming into the program.
• Facilitates serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with clean up following each meal.
• Supports with washing participant laundry.

Position 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 Counselor 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.

Complexity

The incumbent provides crisis-based peer services to individuals who differ widely in age and socioeconomic status and who may possess a variety of chronic and serious social, behavioral and psychological problems. Strong interpersonal, sound judgment and creativity are required to help implement and deliver treatment services that meet the complex needs of the individuals.

Physical Demands

While performing the essential functions of the job, the incumbent is regularly required to sit, speak clearly, hear and use hands and fingers to manipulate writing utensils and keys on a keyboard. The incumbent is regularly required to stand, walk, reach with hands or arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or lift and/or move maximum of 25 lbs. The incumbent is regularly required to effectively operate an automobile. This position requires individuals to be able to work 12 hour shifts with walking, standing, and moving around over 60% of the day.

Working Environment

Working hours are spent indoors in offices or other meeting rooms or in the milieu. Supervision of outdoor activities, visits to community agencies, and participation in staff retreats and staff development activities will be required.

Immediate Supervisor

MHP Supervisor and Program Director

Salary

$19.00 - 22.61 /hr DOE