AOT Peer Support Specialist - Social Services Specialist
- Summary
The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans and those with lived experience.
The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, self-reliant and connected to community.
This position is in the Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) of DCHS. This position will work within the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) Court system of King County, supporting people who are enrolled in King County's Involuntary Treatment Court Outpatient Recovery Pilot Project. The Peer Support Specialist will develop supportive relationships with the program participants, support their recovery goals, and connect them with formal and informal support. The Peer Support Specialist functions as a role model through sharing their own lived experience with behavioral health issues in a way that will inspire hope for recovery and resiliency. The incumbent will provide trauma-informed, strengths-based services and supports.
Required Materials: Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must submit an online King County application and respond to the supplemental questions. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the requested and relevant information in the online application and supplemental questionnaire. Applications and/or supplemental questionnaires that state, "see my resume" are considered incomplete and will not be considered to be competitive.
WORK SCHEDULE/CONDITIONS: This position is nonexempt (overtime eligible) and will receive overtime with supervisory pre-approval. The typical work week is normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This Term Limited Temporary (TLT) position is for approximately 1 year.
RECRUITER: Annette Coleman at annette.coleman@kingcounty.gov- Job Duties
1. Build supportive relationships with program participants, emphasizing the development of trust, mutual respect, encouragement, and emotional support through sharing lived experience as a person in recovery from behavioral health conditions.
2. Regularly meet with program participants at court and in the community for initial
engagement, relationship building, and goal setting.
3. Work collaboratively with the ITA and Recovery Pilot Project (RPP) Court teams to support the
program participant by amplifying the participant's voice and choice provides advocacy and
facilitates access to information.
4. Help facilitate a "warm hand-off" to a community behavioral health provider, including sitting
in on intake appointments (if requested by the participant), helping the participant to connect
to support services offered by the agency such as housing, employment, etc.
5. Provide assistance in identifying and linking to community-based services and supports
(primary care, mental health and or substance abuse treatment, housing, financial benefits,
etc.)
6. Fully assist participants with transportation to court and community resources based on their
individualized needs.
7. Help the participant to engage with natural supports and other community resources such as
spiritual, cultural or recovery communities.
8. Provide education and resources that support self-management, self-determination, selfadvocacy,
and shared health care decision making.
9. Participate in Peer Specialist focused meetings, Assisted Outpatient Services Program (AOSP)
team meetings, and other meetings as assigned.
10. Develop a strength-based treatment plan, write progress notes, and collect data in a timely
manner.
11. Perform other related duties as assigned.- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
1. Must be Credentialed by Washington State as a Certified Peer Specialist.
2. Enthusiasm for peer support and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.
3. The incumbents in these positions will have personal history with mental health recovery.
4. Understanding of, or experience navigating, ITA requirements and/or therapeutic court
processes.
5. Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to work in a cooperative and
collaborative manner as a team member and develop working relationships within BHRD and
DCHS as well as with providers and other stakeholders in high intensity environments.
6. Outstanding communication skills, ability to listen with compassion and to address sensitive
issues in a caring, supportive manner.
7. Ability to help set mutually beneficial boundaries with program participants.
8. Good organizational skills, ability to plan/perform work independently and as part of the RPP
Court team while managing multiple participants at once.
9. Knowledge of culturally responsive practice and ability to challenge interpersonal and system
oppression.
10. Ability to write clear and concise documentation.
11. Ability to read and understand court documents and court processes.
12. Demonstrated ability to gather and analyze data and to create summary reports.
13. Ability to work flexible hours as needed.
14. Demonstrated proficiency in 2016 Microsoft Office Suite and the internet.
15. Valid Washington State Driver's License.
Desired:
1. At least five years' experience working within King County's Behavioral health system with at
least 3 of those years working as a Certified Peer Specialist.
2. Participation in Trauma Informed Peer Support and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)
training or will obtain this training within the first year of employment.- Supplemental Information
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Are you a certified Peer Counselor?
- Yes
- No
02Do you have documentation that you are a certified Peer Counselor?- Yes
- No
03What populations do you have experience providing peer support services to?04King County has transformed its work on equity and social justice from an initiative to an integrated effort that applies the principle of "fair and just" intentionally in all the county does in order to achieve equitable opportunities for all people and communities. Please share two factors contributing to why some in our community thrive, while overs struggle to survive.Required Question