Peer Counselor

Peer Counselor Non-Exempt Position

The Peer Counselor works under the supervision of the Program Director with clinical oversight provided by program MHP or SUDP. This position provides community based mental health services to agency clients. This position provides clinical services to agency patients. In fulfilling these duties, the incumbent performs the following duties independently:

1. Provide peer counseling and support, drawing on common experiences as a peer, to validate clients' experiences and to provide guidance and encouragement to clients to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
2. Serve as a mentor to clients to promote hope and empowerment.
3. Act as an interpreter to help non-mental health consumer team members better understand and empathize with each client's unique and subjective experience and perceptions.
4. Provide expertise and consultation from a mental health consumer perspective to the entire team concerning clients' experiences on symptoms of mental illness, the effects and side-effects of medications, clients' responses to and opinions of treatment, and clients' experiences of recovery.
5. Collaborate with the team to promote a team culture in which each client's point of view, experiences, and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected, and in which client self-determination and decision-making in treatment planning are maximized and supported.
6. Help clients identify, understand, and combat stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and develop strategies to reduce self-stigma.
7. Help other team members identify and understand culture-wide stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness and develop strategies to eliminate stigma within the team.
8. Collaborate with the team to ensure the protection of clients' rights in order to help clients to improve their knowledge of client rights and grievance or complaint procedures.
9. Collaborate with the team to help clients learn about pertinent grievance procedures and support clients with filing, mediating, and resolving complaints.
10. Increase awareness of and support client participation in consumer self-help programs and consumer advocacy organizations that promote recovery.
11. Serve as the liaison between the team and consumer-run programs such as self-help groups and drop-in centers.
12. Shared duties in the provision of treatment and substance abuse services.

Position requirements:

1. High school diploma or equivalent required; college degree in a social science preferred.
2. Possess certification as a Certified Peer Counselor consistent with WAC 246-341, or ability and willingness to obtain certification within 60 days of employment, and disclose self to be a person in recovery from substance use.
3. In successful recovery for 2 or more years and/or a family member of an individual with substance use disorder.
4. Current Washington State Department of Health agency affiliated credentials required prior to starting the position.
5. Familiarity with Washington State regulations related to the provision of mental health services (RCW 71.05) and substance use services (WAC 246-341).
6. Current unencumbered driver license and proof of current car insurance required.
7. Good verbal and written communication skills.
8. Great attendance.
9. Ability to work well with others.