Certified Peer Counselor

GENERAL SUMMARY

Certified Peer work alongside professional team members to provide a living example of hope that recovery is possible for others living with disorders. Peers' personal experiences can be a valuable asset to the clinical team. Their first-person knowledge and their stories of recovery enhance and extend services, as well as infuse clients with hope and self-determination. 

Certified Peer provide flexible services that are customized to the needs of the client and that allow the peer to act as a role model of recovery. Certified Peer assist professional team members in the delivery of conventional health services and a service model built on principles of mutuality, empowerment, and informality. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

• Assists in developing and implementing the recovery plan, including identifying life goals and the steps needed to achieve them. 

• Identifies services and activities that promote recovery and resilience.

• Supports clients and their families in making their own choices and taking responsibility for their own recovery.

• Assist clients with navigating the behavioral health and criminal justice systems.

• Assists clients in building self-advocacy skills and developing coping skills.

• Assists clients with navigating the mental health and other systems.  

• Assists clients in building and maintaining community living skills and accessing community resources. 

• Assists clients with finding and retaining employment, education, and volunteer work. 

• Assists clients with finding other meaningful activities that promote a sense of purpose, structure, and inclusion in the community.

• Assists clients to identify strengths, recognize successes, and build hope.

• Assists in reducing the sense of isolation and helplessness that clients and families often feel.

• Articulates their own recovery and resilience stories in ways that are relevant to the obstacles faced by clients of mental health services.

• Utilizes recovery tools and resources in the delivery of services.

• Facilitates classes and individual plan development.

KEY WORK RELATIONSHIPS

Establishes and maintains positive, ethical, and professional working relationships with clinical team members, clients, and outside organizations. Relates to a wide variety of people including members of ethnic and sexual minority populations and is respectful of individual and cultural differences. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• High School Diploma, GED or in active pursuit of diploma or GED preferred but not required.

• Previous experience working in community behavioral health or lived experience is preferred. 

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS

• Follows direction from supervisor and maintains professional boundaries with both clients and team members. 

• Uses personal experience to build empathy and rapport. 

• Validates and provides information, emotional support and encouragement.

• Understands dual relationships and role conflicts.

• Maintains confidentiality.

• Knows when to seek consultation and supervision within the scope of their training.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES & REGISTRATIONS

• Must be a Certified Peer Counselor, having completed the training, passed the exam and be in possession of the confirmation letter from DSHS/DBHR.

• Must be able to obtain a WA State Agency Affiliated Counselor credential within the first 60 days of hire. 

• Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record required. 

• Must pass a criminal background check.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

To successfully perform the essential duties of this Job, an individual must be able to sit at a desk for four or more hours a day, and use office equipment, including phones and computer keyboards, for four or more hours per day. Individuals must be able to engage vendors, team members, clients and others over the phone and in-person by voice. Regular attendance is an essential function of the Job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to assist individuals with disabilities to perform essential Job functions.

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER

The above Job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work performed; it is not intended as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and required skills for the Job. Team members will be required to follow any other Job-related instructions and to perform other duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State laws. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities necessary to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an "at-will" basis.