Peer Support Specialist - FHARPS
About The Position
The Peer Support Specialist promotes socialization, recovery, self-advocacy, development of natural supports, and maintenance of community living skills for individuals and groups in a Housing First Program. The role engages consumers in their recovery journeys, supports their participation in treatment, and helps them navigate services and systems using the specialist’s own experience. The position also works with the Trueblood population on housing goals and supports housing development through relationships with private landlords and property management. The position involves community-based work and collaboration with clients, families, providers, housing partners, criminal justice partners, community organizations, and agency staff. It includes frequent travel throughout the service area and work in office, clinical, and community settings, including housing sites, shelters, hospitals, and correctional facilities.
Requirements
- High school diploma.
- Certification specializing in Washington State Peer Support.
- Ability to obtain Jail Access.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to engage individuals experiencing serious mental illness, substance use disorders, homelessness, and criminal legal system involvement.
- Strong customer service orientation and commitment to person-centered, recovery-focused care.
- Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with clients, families, healthcare providers, housing providers, criminal justice partners, and community organizations.
- Assessment, critical thinking, de-escalation, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently in community settings while maintaining effective communication with the treatment team.
- Strong organizational skills, time management, and attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a community-based behavioral health environment.
- Flexibility and adaptability in responding to changing client and program needs.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, and remain active for extended periods during community outreach and client visits.
- Ability to drive and travel frequently throughout the service area.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds occasionally.
- Manual dexterity sufficient to operate medical equipment, collect specimens, administer injections, and use computer systems.
- Ability to safely navigate community-based environments, including housing sites, shelters, hospitals, and correctional facilities.
Responsibilities
- Engage with clients to provide supportive counseling.
- Assess client needs with consumers participating in the process.
- Coordinate clients’ community involvement and connect them with natural supports.
- Help clients tailor goals for daily well-being.
- Provide community living skills support and connect clients with the community.
- Facilitate groups and implement peer support services.
- Provide transportation to clients.
- Lead peer support and program orientation groups with other team members.
- Establish and maintain effective communication with participants.
- Use empathy to provide emotional support and encourage participation in treatment.
- Bring the consumer perspective to meetings and other discussions.
- Help individuals navigate services and systems based on personal experience, and use that navigation to discuss recovery.
- Work with the Trueblood population to develop housing goals.
- Develop relationships with private landlords and property management.
- Work within Housing Development.
- Maintain communication and cooperative working relationships within the agency and the broader community.
- Attend staff and planning meetings as scheduled.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
- 11 paid holidays per year, including 2 paid floating holidays available upon hire.
- 24 days of PTO in the first year, increasing thereafter.
- $325 annual allowance for career development and education.
- An additional 40 hours of paid time off for career development and education.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
High school or GED
