Kitsap Mental Health Services Careers

Peer Support Specialist – New Journeys 20 Hours Per Week

Hiring Range: $20.07 - $24.58 Per Hour

About Our New Journeys Team:

The goal of New Journeys is to create a new path for people between the ages of 15 and 40 experiencing their first episode of psychosis. Participants have access to wrap-around services for education, employment, individual resiliency therapy, family psychotherapy and medication management.
 

Kitsap Mental Health Services is looking for a Peer Support Specialist to join our New Journeys team. This is an opportunity to bring your personal experience as a recipient of mental health services to support our clients. Your insight and knowledge will empower our team and clients, promoting recovery, independence, and hope. If you want to join us in making a difference in the lives of our clients, apply today!

Primary Responsibilities:

• Validate clients' experiences and provide guidance and encouragement for their recovery journey.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and support in various areas such as transition services, money management, medication management, personal hygiene, employment, and social skills.
• Act as an interpreter for the team, providing expertise and consultation from a client perspective on symptoms, medication effects, treatment opinions, and recovery experiences.
• Co-facilitate groups such as Illness Management and Recovery (IMR), Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP), and Integrated Primary Care (IPC) activities.
• Coordinate treatment services for an assigned group of clients, collaboratively developing, implementing, evaluating, and revising treatment goals and plans.
• Educate and support clients' families, advocating for clients' rights and preferences, and maintaining coordination in the treatment process with community agencies.
• Combat stigma and discrimination, assisting clients in locating self-help and consumer advocacy groups that promote recovery.
• Collaborate with staff and clients on awareness of client rights, grievance procedures, and complaint resolution.
• Assist clients in addressing challenges such as suicidality, substance abuse, and readiness for meaningful daily activity, including employment.
• Support clients in accessing safe, affordable housing and essential services such as health care and legal services.

Minimum Qualifications:

EDUCATION: High School Diploma or GED

EXPERIENCE: Entry level (no prior related work experience)

This position requires driving clients in a personal vehicle on behalf of the agency; therefore, the incumbent must complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver's license in the state of Washington, and have 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

EXPERIENCE: Relevant experience working with clients with severe and persistent mental illness.

Capacity to work well with children and families.

Our recruitment processes are designed to prevent discrimination against our people regardless of gender identity or orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any aspect which makes someone unique.