PACT - Peer Support Specialist

Job Description

Lives Change Here! We are GROWING…Columbia River Mental Health Services provides comprehensive behavioral health and recovery services that transform the lives of children, adults and families in the communities of SW Washington. We are the largest and oldest not-for-profit provider of mental/chemical dependency treatment in southwest Washington with 200 employees and a history dating back to 1942.

Our Mission: Providing behavioral health and recovery services that transform the lives of children, adults, and families in the communities of SW Washington.

Why Work Here?

CRMHS offers amazing benefits aside from health and wellness (medical/dental/vision etc.) Work life balance benefits: 10 total paid holidays per year, including 3 paid floating holidays available upon hire, 20+ days of PTO days in the first year and only increases from there! Career development: $325 annual allowance for career development and education with an additional 40 hours of paid time off for career development/education!

And so many More!

Starting Pay Range - $22.50 - $24.81 /hr

Summary:

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) is a vital member of the multidisciplinary Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) team, using their own lived experience with mental health recovery to inspire hope, model recovery, and support individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) in achieving their personal goals. The PSS provides peer-based outreach, engagement, advocacy, and skill-building services to promote recovery, wellness, and community integration in alignment with PACT principles.

Essential

Job Responsibilities:

Role Specific Responsibilities

• Use personal lived experience to build trusting relationships and connect with individuals in non-judgmental, respectful, and empowering ways.
• Help people figure out what recovery means to them and support them in setting and working toward their own goals.
• Support individuals in articulating personal goals for recovery and identifying steps to achieve them.
• Reach out consistently and creatively to people who may be disconnected, unsure, or struggling to stay engaged.
• Facilitate wellness and recovery-focused interventions including WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning), recovery storytelling, and mutual peer support.
• Provide individual and group coaching on skills for daily living, social connection, coping strategies, and self-advocacy.
• Assist with community integration by supporting clients in engaging with meaningful roles, such as employment, education, volunteer work, and recreation.
• Participate in daily PACT team meetings and share observations, insights, and recommendations from a peer perspective.
• Conduct outreach to engage individuals who may be ambivalent about services, including home visits, phone calls, and community-based contacts.
• Collaborate with the PACT team to support continuity of care, harm reduction, crisis intervention, and safety planning.
• Document services provided in accordance with agency and Medicaid standards.
• Serve as an advocate to promote recovery-oriented language, trauma-informed practices, and the meaningful inclusion of persons with lived experience in all aspects of care.

Team-based Responsibilities

• Actively participate in daily team meetings and treatment planning, sharing client and team relevant updates and goals.
• Contribute to the strengths-based team culture including multidisciplinary collaboration, cross-training, and integrated care.
• Document services promptly in the electronic health record (EHR) and additional programs, following fidelity and compliance standards.
• Demonstrate competence in utilizing Microsoft Suite, cell phones, and other technology.
• Promote client self-determination and recovery through strength & harm-reduction based engagement.
• Participate in supervision and case consultation as indicated.

Additional

Job Functions:

• Supports agency mission, goals, and objectives while adhering to agency policies & procedures; HIPAA compliance; safety standards; infection control procedures; TMACT Fidelity standards; and applicable federal/state regulations.
• Maintain effective communication and cooperative working relationships both within the agency and community at large, while maintaining a high degree of confidentiality.
• Other duties as assigned.