Per Diem Crisis Peer Support Specialist

Per Diem Certified Peer Counselor
Mobile Crisis Outreach Team Hiring Range: $20.07 - $24.58 per hour General Summary of Duties

The Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) Certified Peer Counselor (CPC) has lived experience as a recipient of behavioral health and/or substance use treatment and is willing to share their personal and practical experience, knowledge, and first‑hand insight to support a peer in crisis, as well as support the team, families, and other community partners, as needed. MCOT promotes prompt and focused expert response to those in crisis in a compassionate and efficient manner, while keeping within State and Salish BHA SO mandated crisis services.

MCOT provides rapid mobile crisis resolutions with emphasis on the goal of stabilizing the crisis in the least restrictive appropriate manner, as well as facilitating access to behavioral health and substance use services. The CPC improves the operations of KMHS in support of its stated mission and provides the highest level of customer service to internal and external customers. As a Per Diem CPC, a commitment of two shifts a month is required to maintain employment.

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• Draw on common experiences as a peer to validate identified peer's experiences and to provide guidance and encouragement for peers to take responsibility for, and participate in, their recovery.
• Promote hope and empowerment designed to help identified peers attain recovery goals and maintain the highest possible independence level, even during periods of instability.
• Share experiences related to behavioral health / substance use treatment and provide supportive hope inspired recovery‑oriented communications in support of the peer and family.
• Provide information and referral to housing options as needed to promote and encourage supportive housing options as an alternative to living unhoused.
• Provide referrals to job training and vocational rehabilitation when the circumstances allow.
• Provide information and referrals for reliable transportation to access primary care medical appointments, dental care, and other medical specialists as required.
• Provide coaching and encouragement to help identified peers socialize and assist identified peers to plan and carry out leisure time activities.
• Coordinate with social services personnel to provide services as indicated by treatment team.
• Support other members of the MCOT in arranging for appropriate less restrictive alternative placements.
• Provide consultation to MCOT from the identified peers’ perspective in areas such as symptoms, desired outcome/side effects of medications, identified peers’ perspective of treatment, and recovery experiences.
• Help peers and staff to identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination when discussing behavioral health and substance use disorders/treatment.
• Assist identified peers in locating self‑help and consumer advocacy groups that promote recovery while acting as the liaison between the team and such groups.
• Collaborate with staff and persons aware of the peer’s rights, including grievance and complaint procedures; support peers with filing, mediating, and resolving complaints.
• Assist in providing ongoing support and direct services to peers, responding to challenges that may impact their ability to manage their behavioral health or substance use symptoms.
• Provide practical help and supports to help peers gain access to health care services and other necessary services such as legal services, housing subsidies, and funding alternatives.
• Responsible for arriving to the office in a timely manner to ensure effective pass down of crisis and follow‑up calls, as well as, provide pass down at the end of shift to oncoming shift.
• Documentation is to be legible, concise and organized with clear description of the facts of the intervention and the rationale for decisions/dispositions.
• Participate as a contributing member of the MCOT by attending monthly clinical and administrative meetings and following the agency’s policies and procedures.
• Participate as a contributing member of KMHS, identifying areas of operation that could enhance our efficiency…