Flex & Follow Up Crisis Outreach Peer Specialist - MRRCT

DESC•Seattle, WA

3d•$39 - $43

About The Position

As a member of DESC’s Mobile Rapid Response Crisis Team (MRRCT), the Crisis Outreach Peer Specialist responds to adults experiencing mental health or substance use crises in the community, following referrals from Crisis Connections (988). The role provides initial crisis outreach, peer recovery support, and follow-up care to help people connect with services after a crisis. Working in teams of two alongside Mental Health Professionals and Crisis Outreach Specialists, the specialist helps individuals identify therapeutic options and next steps, with the goal of avoiding unnecessary emergency room visits or other non-therapeutic settings such as jail. The position works throughout the central region of King County, primarily Seattle, in varied community settings and all types of weather. It calls for collaboration with clients, DESC programs, first responders, community providers, and other agencies. The specialist recognizes and respects each client’s perspective and preferences and incorporates them into treatment, recovery, and community self-help activities. The role also supports DESC staff and programs responding to client crises and completes required project and agency documentation.

Requirements

Current Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) or Certified Peer Support Specialist Trainee (CPSS-T) credential through the Washington State Department of Health.
Completion of Crisis Awareness and Communication in Peer Support (CACPS) training, or ability to complete it within 90 days of hire.
Lived experience as a consumer of behavioral health services, including mental health and/or substance use treatment, or being the parent or legal guardian of a child who has received behavioral health services.
Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle for agency business; a current Washington State driver’s license and insurable driving record are required.
Interest or experience working with clients who are difficult to engage and retain in traditional mental health or substance use disorder programs.
Strong personal understanding, informed by lived experience, of recovery and resilience, client partnerships and choice, and the balance between protection from harm and personal dignity.
Willingness to understand clients’ circumstances, preferences, and goals and incorporate them into crisis responses.
Cultural humility and willingness to learn to work effectively with people who face discrimination or barriers to health care, including Black, Latinx, Native American, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, and LGBTQIA individuals.
Strong knowledge of relevant community resources and methods for accessing them.
Ability to respond empathetically and non-judgmentally, value meaningful client engagement, accept feedback, and work collaboratively in a potentially stressful environment.
Ability to sit, drive, walk, stand, communicate with employees and vendors, lift and carry items weighing up to 10 pounds, and operate computer hardware systems.
Vision abilities including close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in all types of weather; considerable stress may occur.

Nice To Haves

One or more years of experience in community-based behavioral health services or a similar industry serving a diverse client or participant population.
Two or more years of experience leveraging a personal peer story as a peer specialist.
Fluency in Spanish and English.
Knowledge of de-escalation skills, crisis intervention stabilization, and harm reduction strategies.
Experience in outreach or crisis work.
Experience working with adults experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, mental health conditions, and/or co-occurring substance use disorders.

Responsibilities

Respond promptly to outreach referrals in collaboration with first responders and other referral sources; assess needs and connect individuals to services.
Identify individuals in need, screen for services, build rapport and trust, provide case management support, address immediate and basic needs, and support connection to long-term services.
Provide peer recovery support and help clients identify recovery goals, shelter, basic needs, and desired connections to providers.
Assist eligible individuals experiencing homelessness with obtaining and coordinating social services, including daily living resources, financial planning, transportation, habilitation and rehabilitation, vocational services, and housing supports.
Use personal experience with mental health concerns and substance use disorders in work with program participants.
Help participants understand and address stigma and discrimination, including developing strategies to reduce self-stigma.
Advocate for clients’ access to community resources and services, uphold their rights, and collaborate with providers to promote continuity of care and appropriate referrals.
Help clients express their interests and goals through Goal Plans, Crisis Plans, WRAP, and other methods.
Participate in multidisciplinary field work, including psychosocial assessments, substance use screening referrals, stabilization, and engagement for adults referred to MRRCT.
Support DESC staff and programs during client crisis situations through consultation and in-person responses to assess and prevent emerging crises.
Develop and implement plans to engage clients in relevant services and resources, and provide follow-up services to establish service connections as needed.
Complete project and DESC data collection and documentation requirements.
Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with programs serving the population.
Follow applicable research and evaluation procedures, agency policies, and relevant Washington Administrative Code and Revised Code of Washington provisions.
Participate in verbal de-escalation and crisis intervention in emergent situations and assist other staff in maintaining a safe, secure environment.
Perform other duties as assigned.