Family Peer Support Specialist

Kitsap Mental Health Services (KMHS)•Port Orchard, WA

69d•$20 - $25

About The Position

The Family Peer Support Specialist supports parents of children and youth that have serious emotional disturbance in identifying goals that promote recovery and resiliency. Partners with parents, providers and the system in advocating for parents of children with complex behavioral and emotional challenges. Provides peer support to parents with Care teams and assist them in building a network of support. Empowers families by assisting in skill-building and instilling hope. The Family Peer Support Specialist demonstrates recovery and serve as an ambassador providing guidance and advocacy to child and family service systems.

Requirements

EDUCATION: High School Diploma or GED
EXPERIENCE: Experienced (minimum 2 years of job-related experience)
This position requires driving throughout the county and, at times, clients in a personal vehicle on behalf of the agency; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a valid driver's license with an acceptable motor vehicle report and reliable, insured transportation.
LICENSURE: Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration. Completion of the Washington State Mental Health Division's Peer Counselor Training and the subsequent certification as a Peer Counselor within six months of employment.
Maintain a working knowledge of current trends in community mental health, including health care reform and automation of job tasks using computer technology.
Maintain a working knowledge of mental health rehabilitation standards.
Working knowledge of the system of care and community resources.
Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other employees, clients, organizations, and the public.
Communication â Communicates clearly and concisely.
Computer skills - The ability to operate a personal computer, fax machine, printer, and copier proficiently.
Ability to maintain complete and timely documentation of clinical files and gather and maintain data information in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
Demonstrated ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries while working with families.
Demonstrated ability to meet or exceed productivity standards.
Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively as a team member.

Nice To Haves

EDUCATION: Associate's degree (Social Work, Psychology or Behavioral Health field)
EXPERIENCE: Relevant experience working with clients with severe and persistent mental illness.
Capacity to work well with children and families.

Responsibilities

Draw on common experiences as a peer to validate clients' experience and to provide guidance and encouragement for clients to take responsibility and participate in their recovery. Promote hope and empowerment designed to help clients attain recovery goals and maintain the highest possible independence level, even during periods of instability.
Housing: Assists clients find and maintain a safe and affordable place to live, apartment hunting, finding a roommate, landlord negotiations, cleaning, furnishing and decorating, and procuring necessities. Identify type and location of housing with an exploration of access to natural supports and avoidance of triggers. Provides practical help and supports, mentoring, advocacy, coordination, side-by-side individualized support, problem-solving, direct assistance, and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living, including medical and dental health care; legal and advocacy services; financial support such as entitlements, housing subsidies; money management services: transportation, and reasonable accommodation requests as needed.
Employment: Assists with referrals to job training and DVR. Performs mentoring, problem solving, encouragement, and support on and off the job site. Provides work-related supportive services, such as assistance securing necessary clothing and grooming supplies, wake-up calls, reasonable accommodation requests as needed, and transportation.
Activities of Daily Living Services: Provides ongoing assessment, problem-solving, side-by-side services, skill teaching, support, and environmental adaptations to assist clients with daily living activities. Assists and supports clients in organizing and perform household activities, including house cleaning and laundry. Assists and supports clients with personal hygiene and grooming tasks. Provide nutrition education and assistance with meal planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation. Ensures clients have adequate financial support teaches money-management skills, and assist clients in accessing financial services. Help clients' access reliable transportation. Assists and supports clients to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician, dentist, and other medical specialists as required.
Social and Interpersonal Relationships and Leisure Time: Provides side-by-side support, coaching, and encouragement to help clients socialize, going with a client to community activities, including activities offered by consumer-run peer support organizations. Assists clients to plan and carry out leisure time activities. Organizes and leads individual and group social and recreational activities to help clients structure their time, increase social experiences, and provide opportunities to practice social skills.
Other coaching, guidance, and transition support: Provides transition services from hospital to community, including medication management. Assist in providing 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.
Act as an interpreter to the rest of the team 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 recovery experiences.
Help clients and staff to identify, understand, and combat stigma, discrimination and assist clients in locating self-help and consumer advocacy groups that promote recovery while acting as the liaison between the team and such groups.
Collaborate with staff and clients on awareness of client rights, including grievance and complaint procedures; support clients with filing, mediating, and resolving complaints.
Provide peer counseling and support, drawing on common experiences as a peer, to parents and caregivers by encouraging them to regain hope in, and control over, their own lives as well as their children's lives. Promote self-determination, empowerment, personal responsibility for recovery and wellness, and assist parent/caregivers to advocate for themselves and their children.
Partner with agency clinicians and other members of the caregivers/parent's teams in creating wellness plans that empower clients to reach life goals. Collaborate with the treatment team to promote a team culture in which each client point of view, experiences and preferences are recognized, understood and respected and in which client decision making in treatment planning is maximized and supported.
Assist parents/caregivers in gaining skills having their voices heard in treatment and other system settings.
Support parents/caregivers in meetings as needed including Child & Family Team, Kitsap Shared Resources, Individualized Education Plan (IEP) conferences, Kitsap County Court proceedings and Family Team Decision Making (FTDM) meetings with Washington State Division of Child & Family Services (DCFS).
Provide resource referral and linkage to parents/caregivers as well as system partners in the community.
Seek appropriate clinical supervision where necessary, particularly around boundary issues, and attend appropriate agency trainings as determined by the C&F Supervisor.
In addition to the above, any other responsibilities appropriate to the position and not specifically listed in the job description.

Benefits

Comprehensive Health & Wellness Coverage: Enjoy extensive health, dental, and vision benefits to support your well-being, with access to top-tier care and services.
Generous Paid Time Off: Take advantage of up to 19 days of paid time off (PTO), plus 2 mental health days and 10 paid holidays in your first year, giving you the time you need to recharge and take care of yourself. (Pro-rated for part-time employees.)
YMCA Membership: Take advantage of a fully employer-paid YMCA membership for you and your eligible family members (adult spouse/partner and children under 26). With waived joining fees, access to local facilities, and 24/7 virtual classes through Y360, it's a powerful resource to support your health and wellness.
Company-Paid Life & Disability Insurance: We've got you covered with short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance, all provided at no cost to you, so you can feel secure in every situation.
Student Loan Assistance & Professional Development: Benefit from student loan repayment assistance and a commitment to your growth with extensive training and development opportunities to advance your career.
403(b) Retirement Plan: Take control of your future with a wide range of investment options in our 403(b) plan. Depending on eligibility, you could also receive generous company contributions to help grow your retirement savings.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access confidential support through our EAP, offering resources for personal and professional challenges, including counseling, financial advice, and more.
Pets Best Pet Insurance: Keep your furry family members healthy with comprehensive pet insurance for your cats and dogs, covering a variety of treatments and services.
2MorrowHealth Behavioral Change App: Improve your mental and physical well-being with free access to 2MorrowHealth, a powerful app designed to support healthy behavior changes and wellness goals.
Dynamic, Collaborative Team Environment: Join an incredible team that thrives on collaboration, creativity, and support, where every voice is heard and every idea valued.