Peer Bridger

Department: Crisis Intervention Services

Reports to: Crisis Intervention Services Supervisor

Pay Range: $19 to $22 per hour (DOE/DOQ)

Hours per Week: 40 hours

Work Days: Monday to Friday 8-5

JOB PURPOSE: Serve those program participants who are currently in inpatient psychiatric hospitals and have had a lengthy hospitalization or a history of frequent, multiple hospitalizations. The Peer Support Specialist has experience as a recipient of mental health services for severe and persistent mental illness and is willing to use and share his or her personal, practical experience, knowledge, and first-hand insight with clients. Improves the operations of PBH in support of its stated mission and provides the highest level of customer service to internal and external customers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work to identify potential participants for engagement and discharge planning activities.
• Offer peer support services to participants in State Hospitals prior to discharge and after their return to their communities.
• May function as a role model, peer support, a mentor, a teacher, an advocate, and an ally as he or she communicates hope and encouragement.
• Transition from spending significant amounts of time on social support and begin teaching independent living skills, coping skills and community adjustment skills.
• Work with six to twelve (6-12) program participants. Prior to Hospital discharge, the majority of the work will be inside and/or coordinating with Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals; post-discharge the work activities for discharged participants will be in the community.
• The Peer Support Specialist provides the client with expertise about the recovery process, symptom management, and the persistence required by clients to lead a satisfying life.
• The Peer Support Specialist is responsible for advocating for client choice, self-determination, and decision-making in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of treatment, rehabilitation, and support services.
• The Peer Support Specialist provides consultation to clients and families in the areas of community resources, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and substance abuse services.
• Draw on common experiences as a peer with confidence in his/her own wellness to validate clients' experience. Provide guidance in constructing and encouraging clients to take responsibility and participate in their own wellness or recovery plan. Promote hope and empowerment with the willingness to share his/her own experiences as appropriate as designed to help clients attain recovery goals and maintain the highest possible level of independence, even during periods of instability with the passion and enthusiasm for peer support and the possibility of recovery for everybody.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and support from a strength-based perspective in areas to include transition services from hospital to community, supported companionship, money management, and medication management. Additionally, coaching may be provided in the following areas: personal hygiene, use of public transportation, employment and social skills, and completion of household tasks including cooking, laundry, grocery shopping, and housekeeping.
• Act as an interpreter while providing expertise and consultation from a client perspective in areas such as symptoms, effects and side effects of medications, client opinions of treatment, and client experiences of recovery.
• Help clients to identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination.
• Collaborate with clients on awareness of client rights, including grievance and complaint procedures; support clients with filing, mediating, and resolving complaints.
• Increase client awareness of self-help and consumer advocacy groups which promote recovery, while acting as the liaison between community resources and such groups.
• Assist in the provision of ongoing assessment and direct services to clients, responding to such challenges as an increase in suicidality, the need for substance abuse education and treatment, and the clients' readiness for meaningful daily activity, including employment.
• Assist clients in attaining and maintaining safe, affordable housing including apartment hunting, finding a roommate, landlord negotiations, and procuring necessities such as furnishings and telephone and utility hook-up.
• Assist and support clients to find and effectively use a primary care physician, dentist, and other medical specialists as required.
• Provide practical help and supports to help clients access other necessary services such as legal services, housing subsidies, and funding alternatives such as SSI, SSDI, and Veteran's Administration benefits.
• Assist clients to plan and carry out social and leisure time activities to include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• General Office and computer experience. Provide strong verbal and written feedback on consumer progress to the treatment team, including the timely completion of documentation.
• Set and maintain appropriate professional boundaries while balancing the sometimes conflicting demands of being both a peer to clients and an employee of the agency. Ability to work in a cooperative and collaborative manner as a team member with program participants. Seek appropriate clinical supervision where necessary, particularly around boundary issues.
• Intentionally share their Recovery Story as appropriate to assist program participants, providing hope and help in changing patterns and behaviors.
• Working with participants with construction
• In addition to the above, any other responsibilities appropriate to the position and not specifically listed in the job description.
• Maintains familiarity with and handles client information in accordance with Federal Regulations (42 CFR, Part 2), the Revised Code of Washington (RCW 71.05.390 and RCW 71.24), and other applicable laws pertaining to confidentiality of client and staff information.
• Maintains physical security of confidential materials and assigned Agency property.

SECONDARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs relevant clinical and administrative tasks according to agency policies.
• Demonstrates proficiency in utilization of the Agency's electronic medical records system.
• Participates in team meetings and program development.
• Provides information and education to community members.
• Maintains high standards of professional conduct in interaction with clients, staff, and other community members.
• Maintains professional competency through a program of professional development and in-service training.
• Demonstrates flexibility in adapting to changing work demands.
• Attends Performance Improvement Meetings on a regular scheduled basis.
• Performs other duties as assigned or requested.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

• Maintains accurate, timely chart information in compliance with SBH-ASO, State, funding source, and agency quality assurance guidelines.
• Meets Agency productivity expectations of 50% on a consistent basis.
• Meets Agency expectations of documentation of services.
• Meets all contract obligations.
• Coordinates and prioritizes work assignments so that tasks are completed on time and in a quality manner.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, LICENSE(S), CERTIFICATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

Education: High school diploma/GED

Licensure: Certified Peer Counselor or complete certification within six months of employment

Eligibility to obtain Agency Affiliated Counselor Licensure (with agency assistance)

Experience: At least two years' experience working as a peer and has personal experience as a recipient of mental health services.

Other: Valid Driver's License (must have satisfactory and insurable driving record to be able to drive company vehicles)

Additional requirements:

• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test and background check
• Must be able to provide vaccination records for HepB, MMR, Tdap and recent flu shot

PREFERRED ADDITIONAL CREDENTIALS / EXPERIENCE:

Experience: Two years' experience working with clients with severe and persistent mental illness. Experience working with people from diverse cultures.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Essential:

• Able to identify client capabilities regarding education, work, and leisure activities.
• Able to identify individual coping strategies and supports.
• Able to elicit client choices.
• Able to use sound judgments in intervention, support services and problem solving.
• Able to manage crisis effectively to ensure safety.
• Able to use sound judgment in intervention, support services, and problem solving.
• Able and willing to work independently and as a team member.

Preferred:

• Able to help clients transition from clinical services to natural supports.
• Able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of work in recovery.
• Able to advocate effectively with community partners.
• Basic knowledge of psychotropic medications and their possible side effects.
• Able to assist clients with development of recovery values and principles.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

Physical Demands:

• Able to help clients transition from clinical services to natural supports.
• Able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of work in recovery.
• Able to advocate effectively with community partners.
• Basic knowledge of psychotropic medications and their possible side effects.
• Able to assist clients with development of recovery values and principles.

Cognitive Skills:

• Able to elicit the client's history of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with services, including medications.
• Able to assist clients with improving family communication and involvement in treatment when possible and appropriate.
• Ability to assess the client's understanding of his or her illness, medications, and other treatment.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.

Working Environment:

• May be exposed to infections and contagious diseases.
• Occasionally exposed to patients exhibiting assaultive behaviors.
• Works in both office and community based settings including client homes.

Working Demands:

• Frequent pressure due to schedule demands.
• Contact with patients under a wide variety of circumstances.
• Subject to varying and unpredictable situations.
• Handles emergency or crisis situations.
• Subject to irregular work hours.

Principal Challenges:

• Adopts an approach guided by service recipients needs and desires.
• Able to foster and support self-advocacy.
• Manages personal stress so that on the job activities are not negatively impacted.

*Peninsula Behavioral Health does not discriminate because of a person's presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity including transgender status, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions, age (40), honorably discharged veteran or military status, or use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, state employee or health care whistleblower status.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $19.00 - $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Are you a person who has direct, personal experience receiving services for a mental health condition or is in recovery from a substance use disorder for at least 2 consecutive years? This is a requirement for this position.
• Would working here create a potential dual relationship? (A "dual relationship", as described by the American Psychiatric Association, exists when an employee has some other relationship with the employer or other staff of the employer in addition to the employment relationship. The other relationship could be a commercial relationship, a close personal relationship, or a patient relationship with the employer. In circumstances where a dual relationship could lead to exploitation or undermine care, Employer may decline to hire an applicant unless or until issues related to the dual relationship are resolved. Resolution of the dual relationship could require termination of the non-employment relationship as a condition of employment.)

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $19 - $22