Location
Seattle, Washington
Salary
$38 - $42 / HOUR
The SUD Peer Specialist uses lived experience to engage homeless adults with severe mental illness and co-occurring disorders into intensive services. Responsibilities include providing street outreach, crisis intervention, and linking clients to long-term behavioral health and housing resources.
Requires a CPSS or CPSS-T credential (or ability to obtain one) and lived experience as a consumer of behavioral health services. Preferred qualifications include experience in community-based behavioral health and a valid Washington State driver's license.
Homeless Outreach Stabilization and Transition (HOST) is a multi-disciplinary team serving homeless adults experiencing severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders. The team prioritizes services to those who are highly vulnerable, lack service connections or other support, and are unwilling or unable to engage in traditional service models. The team works throughout the greater Seattle area to provide critical survival services and engagement with the ultimate goal of addressing acute mental and physical health needs, increasing stability, obtaining housing, and transitioning to long-term services. Referrals to this program will often include individuals with a history of involuntary detainments or observable behavioral health challenges, they often will not endorse a mental health or substance use issue or have the insight into the impact of their well-being and access to care and resources.
The HOST SUD Peer Specialist uses their lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or substance use and addiction, plus skills learned in formal training, to assertively engage HOST clients into intensive services. This position requires a high degree of coordination and collaboration with other DESC programs as well as outside agencies. This role is supervised by a HOST Peer Supervisor.
Current Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) or Certified Peer Support Specialist Trainee (CPSS-T) credential through the Washington State Department of Health or ability to gain certification within 60 days of hire. Proof of successful completion of the Washington State Health Care Authority's Certified Peer Support Specialist Training prior to hire. Completion of “Crisis Awareness and Communication in Peer Support (CACPS)” training or ability to complete within 90 days of hire. Lived experience as a consumer of behavioral health services (mental health and/or substance use treatment) or be the parent or legal guardian of a child who has received behavioral health services. Interest in working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health/substance use disorder programs. Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior. Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds. Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for clients.
One or more years' experience in community based behavioral health services or like industry serving a diverse client/participant population. Two or more years’ experience leveraging personal peer story as a peer specialist. Experience working with adults who are experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, have a mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use disorders. Knowledge of de-escalation skills, crisis intervention stabilization, and harm reduction strategies. Strong cultural humility and demonstrated ability to effectively serve diverse populations, including women, LGBTQ+ communities, and communities of color. Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle to conduct agency related business, which requires a current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record. Bi-lingual in Spanish/English or other languages. Strong knowledge of relevant community resources and methods for accessing them. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required sit for long periods of time, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, required to lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply.
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