Salary
$27.59 - $34.97 Hourly

Location
Seattle, WA

Job Type
Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week

Department
DCHS - Community & Human Srvcs

Job Number
2023CJ18400

Division
Behavioral Health and Recovery

Closing
4/1/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Summary

The Department of Community and Human Services values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences.

King County's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) provides equitable opportunities for people to be healthy, happy, and connected to community.

This position functions as a Certified Peer Support Specialist (Peer Bridger) and is a part of our Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) . Peer Bridgers are members of the King County Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization's (KCBH-ASO) Hospital and Mental Health Residential Unit. This position will provide direct support for people who are currently hospitalized at Western State Hospital (WSH) and who are ready for transition to the community.

The Peer Bridger will develop supportive relationships with the program participants prior to hospital discharge and support them up to 120 days post discharge, with the primary goal of connecting them with outpatient services and successfully reintegrating them back into their community. As a Certified Peer Support Specialist, the Peer Bridger functions as a role model through sharing their own lived experience with behavioral health issues in a way that will inspire hope, encouragement and help to foster recovery and resiliency for the people they serve. The incumbent will provide trauma-informed, strength-based service and support.

WHO MAY APPLY: This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. Interviews for this selection process will take place on or around April 20, 2023.

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 scheduled to work 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm. Flexibility may be required for occasional evening or weekend hours or travel. This position meets the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is overtime eligible with supervisory pre-approval. This position is not represented by a union.

MISSION CRITICAL POSITION STATUS: This position has been designated Non-Mission Critical. Unless otherwise directed by the County Executive, department director or agency head, all employees, regardless of designation, are expected to report to work or request leave during an emergency or inclement weather. For more detailed information, please visit HR Policy County Operations During Emergency Situations and the King County Guidelines for Workforce Management in an Emergency .

TELEWORKING REQUIREMENT: The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of teleworking complemented with onsite work and meetings as needed. Employees will have access to shared workspaces at various King County facilities. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Please note that when an employee conducts work that is likely to bring them in contact with another individual, safety precautions are required , including the wearing of masks in some situations . King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

RECRUITER: Christina Jamerson, cjamerson@kingcounty.gov

Job Duties

• Participate as a member of the King County WSH liaison team in addressing the needs of King County individuals being served at WSH and developing and implementing individualized discharge plans to promote timely transition to the community. Activities will include:
  1. 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.).
  2. Provide assistance with transportation to appointments.
  3. Help to 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 peer support and other ancillary support services offered by the agency such as housing, employment, etc.
  4. Help the participant to identify and/or re-engage with family, friends, and other natural supports and other community resources such as recovery or spiritual communities, etc.
  5. Assist the participant with their adjustment to living in the community.
• 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.
• Regularly meet with program participants at WSH for initial engagement, relationship building, goal setting, and to provide support around hospital discharge.
• Work collaboratively with the WSH clinical teams to support the program participant and the discharge planning process by carrying the participant and recovery perspective to the team and helping the participant process and understand the clinical team's recommendations.
• Provide group support during hospitalization (Recovery Group, WRAP, etc.).
• Provide education and resources that support illness self-management, self-determination, self-advocacy, WRAP and shared health care decision making.
• Participate in monthly, state-sponsored Peer Bridger conference calls and all meetings as required (KCBH-ASO and WSH).
• Participate in the existing King County Peer Bridger Operations Team meeting, comprised of the Peer Bridger staff and supervisors from all King County Peer Bridger programs.
• Collaborate with other KCBH-ASO staff regarding specific participant needs.
• Complete all documentation requirements, including data logs, clinical notes, etc., in a timely manner.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• Personal history of recovery from mental health, substance use or co-occurring disorders.
• Valid Washington State Driver's License and the ability to travel to and from Western State Hospital and throughout the county multiple times per week.
• Credentialed by Washington State as a Certified Peer Specialist.
• At least 4 years of experience working as a peer support specialist, preferably with 2 or more years providing peer bridging services.
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to plan/perform work independently and as part of a team while managing a caseload of 6 to 12 participants.
• Knowledge of and experience providing services for persons from diverse cultural backgrounds (including experience with participants who have a range in socioeconomic status, age, ability, religion, and racial/ethnic backgrounds).
• Expert knowledge of behavioral health recovery, peer support principles, practices, and a proven enthusiasm for peer support and the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS:

• Knowledge of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services, preferably in Washington State, including Western state hospital experience.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, including the ability to work in a cooperative and collaborative manner as a team member, and develop working relationships with King County providers and other stakeholders.
• Outstanding communication skills, ability to listen with compassion and to address sensitive issues in a caring, supportive manner.
• Ability to help set mutually beneficial boundaries with program participants.
• Ability to write clear and concise documentation including notes and correspondence.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and the internet.
• Ability to work flexible hours as needed.

Supplemental Information

Forbes 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 the 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
• 12paid 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

For additional information about employee benefits please visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page .

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.