Kitsap Mental Health Services Careers

Adult Outpatient Peer Support Specialist

Hiring Range: $20.07 – $24.58 Per Hour

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.

Kitsap Mental Health Services (KMHS) is hiring an Adult Outpatient Peer Support Specialist to provide recovery-oriented peer support services to individuals receiving behavioral health treatment. This role is ideal for someone with lived experience in recovery who is passionate about helping others find hope, empowerment, and stability in their own recovery journey. As part of the Adult Outpatient team, you’ll use your personal experience to model resilience and support clients in achieving meaningful goals while fostering connection and self-determination in their lives.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Build supportive, trusting relationships with clients by drawing upon personal lived experience with recovery.
• Provide recovery-oriented peer support through active listening, mentorship, coaching, and encouragement.
• Assist individuals in identifying strengths, setting goals, and developing coping strategies to enhance recovery and self-sufficiency.
• Support clients in accessing housing, employment, education, healthcare, and community resources.
• Teach and reinforce life skills, including budgeting, nutrition, personal care, and daily living activities.
• Collaborate with treatment team members to ensure continuity and quality of care.
• Transport clients safely in a personal vehicle when needed for appointments, errands, or recovery-related activities.
• Empower clients to advocate for their needs and preferences in treatment team meetings and service planning.
• Provide practical support to help clients gain access to healthcare, legal aid, housing, and other essential services.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation in compliance with agency standards.
• Participate in supervision, training, and professional development activities to strengthen recovery-oriented practice.

Minimum Qualifications:

EDUCATION: High School Diploma or GED

EXPERIENCE: Entry level (no prior related work experience); Lived experience with utilizing mental health and or substance use disorder services and one or more years in recovery. This position requires driving clients in a personal vehicle on behalf of the agency; therefore, the incumbent must meet agency driving requirements, including meeting the minimum age requirement of 21 years old, successfully completing a motor vehicle history check, possessing and maintaining a current, valid driver's license in the state of Washington, and having reliable, insured transportation.

LICENSURE: Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration. Completion of the Washington State Health Care Authority training and approved application for the CPSST (Certified Peer Specialist Trainee) credential within six (6) months of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

EXPERIENCE: Relevant experience working with individuals with mental health and behavioral health challenges, including those with severe and persistent mental illness.

Performance Requirements:

KNOWLEDGE

• 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.

SKILLS:

• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other employees, clients, organizations, and the public.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage, inspire hope, and provide coaching to others.
• Communication - Communicates clearly and concisely.
• Computer skills - The ability to operate a personal computer, fax machine, printer, and copier proficiently.

ABILITIES

• Demonstrated ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries while balancing the sometimes-conflicting demands of being both a peer to clients and an employee of the agency.  Seek appropriate clinical supervision where necessary, particularly around boundary issues.
• Demonstrated ability to meet productivity standards.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively as a team member.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse communities and populations

Equipment Operated: Standard office equipment including computers, fax machines, copiers, printers, telephones, etc. Use of a motor vehicle.

Work Environment: Office, community outreach.

Mental/Physical Requirements: While performing the job duties, the employee is required to walk, sit, use hands and fingers, reach with arms, talk, or listen. Peripheral vision is also required for this position.

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.