Mobile Crisis Peer Support Specialist

Join Our Mobile Rapid Response Crisis Team: Make a Difference Every Day!

In this vital role as a Mobile Crisis Peer Support Specialist, you will leverage your personal lived experiences and understanding of behavioral health challenges to provide real-time support to individuals facing crises. Stationed in an active-response mobile van, you will respond to urgent mental health calls day or night, offering immediate behavioral health support, conducting assessments, implementing crisis interventions, and connecting clients with essential resources.

This position requires collaboration with emergency responders, navigating high-stress situations with empathy, and utilizing quick thinking and expertise to manage crises effectively. Whether it's through direct intervention, follow-up services, or community outreach, your efforts will help promote recovery and enhance the wellbeing of those in distress.

We are looking for compassionate, adaptable individuals ready to serve their community by providing life-changing care. This role offers varied shifts, including day, swing, and night shifts, to accommodate the dynamic nature of crisis response. If you're ready to use your skills to make a significant impact and transform lives, apply today and join us in this unique and rewarding opportunity!

Available shifts:

• Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00am-4:30pm
• Friday-Monday, 8:00am-4:30pm
• Sunday-Thursday, 4:00pm-12:30am
• Saturday-Wednesday, 4:00pm-12:30am

Accepting applications until November 3. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Crisis Assessment and Intervention: Respond to crisis calls as a member of a mobile crisis team in the community.
• Follow-up: Provide follow up services for clients after a crisis.
• Support: Provide empathetic support and active listening to individuals in crisis.
• Building Rapport: Use personal lived experiences to foster trust and rapport with clients.
• Diversity, Equity, Justice, Inclusion: Relate to others professionally, respecting individual and cultural differences. Understand how cultural background might impact crisis intervention and treatment.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with behavioral health professionals, law enforcement, and community resources to ensure comprehensive support.
• Crisis Management: Assist clients in developing coping strategies and crisis management plans.
• Community Resource Liaison: Educate clients and their families about behavioral health resources and support services.
• Documentation: Document interactions and maintain accurate records of services provided.
• Training and Supervision: Participate in regular training and supervision to enhance skills and knowledge.
• Education and Outreach: Participate in community outreach programs aimed at raising awareness of behavioral health issues and available resources.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent; some college coursework in psychology or a related field preferred.
• Experience: Lived experience with mental health challenges or related issues is REQUIRED.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Flexibility and willingness to work varied hours, including evenings and weekends, to oversee crisis response operations.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse populations.
• Ability to remain calm and supportive in high-stress situations.
• Knowledge of local mental health resources and support systems.

Certifications & Licensure

• Certification as a Peer Support Specialist is required.
• Must be able to obtain a WA State Agency Affiliated Counselor credential within the first 60 days of hire.
• Must have a Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record.
• Must pass a criminal background check.

Physical Demands

• Regular attendance is an essential function of this position.  
• Work primarily in community settings and homes, sometimes in high-stress or unstable environments.
• May involve on-call responsibilities to support the mobile crisis team as needed during high-demand periods.
• Requires manual dexterity, balance, eyesight, and hearing.
• Must be able to sit, work, and travel in a Mobile Crisis vehicle for six or more hours a day, using office equipment such as cellphones and laptops.
• Individuals must be able to engage vendors, team members, clients, and others over the phone and in person by voice.
• Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, and moving objects up to 50 pounds as needed for patient care.
• May be subjected to hazardous chemicals, adverse weather conditions, communicable diseases, and possible verbal/physical abuse due to people being under the influence of illicit drugs, or having undiagnosed/diagnosed mental health condition(s).
• This position will drive a mobile unit vehicle or other vehicle (that is provided by Sound). In the off-chance department vehicles are under maintenance, staff may be asked to drive their personal vehicles and may submit mileage reimbursement for shift-related driving.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to assist individuals with disabilities to perform essential position functions. 

Safety-Sensitive Positions: Positions requiring the operation of motor vehicles, independent community-based crisis response, crisis intervention, emergency decision-making, and interaction with individuals experiencing acute behavioral health emergencies where impairment could result in significant harm to clients, employees, or the public. 

Limitations & Disclaimer

The above position 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 position. Team members will be required to follow any other position-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 abilities necessary to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an at-will basis.

All Team Members at Sound working 40 hours per week will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance: Premium 100% paid by Sound for team member and child coverage to age 26, depending on plan selected. Spouse/Domestic Partner coverage available at team member’s cost.
• Life Insurance (2x annual salary + additional $25,000): paid by Sound
• Long Term Disability Insurance (60% monthly salary): paid by Sound
• Retirement Plan: Sound contributes 3% to team member’s plan; team member is 100% vested.
• Retirement Plan - 401(k) Plan, pre-tax and/or Roth: team member may contribute to their own plan.
• Health Savings Account: Sound contributes $1,133.33 (individual) or $2,266.67 (family) for eligible team members, pro-rated for new hires in first year.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: for health care and dependent day care costs (pre-tax)
• EAP: Employee Assistance Plan
• Vacation: 18 days per year, increasing with years of service
• Holidays: 9 days per year
• Sick Leave: 12 days per year
• Bereavement Leave: for death in the family
• Parking: Free at all Sound sites
• Training: Free in-house professional training and $400 annually + 3 paid days approved off-site training
• Service Award: at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 & 40 years of service

Compensation:

Base rate - $24.78 - $26.04 per hour, DOE

+ $7.00 per hour Mobile Crisis Team differential

Total compensation range: $31.78 - $33.04 per hour

Additional $1.00 per hour for swing shift work (4:00pm-12:30am).