Certified Peer Counselor/Community Health Worker

Harborview Medical Center; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Part time

Job summary

Harborview Medical Center seeks a Certified Peer Counselor/Community Health Worker to join the Street Medicine Team serving Pioneer Square Downtown Programs in Seattle. The 32-hour work week includes Fri–Sun and a Monday shift, offering meaningful outreach to unhoused neighbors.

You will work with a multidisciplinary team to engage, support recovery, and connect clients to community services, with care focused on health equity and compassionate, patient-centered care.

Qualifications

• High school graduation or equivalent with two years’ experience in a behavioral health organization.
• Peer Counselor Certification or Community Health Worker Certification.
• Credentialing: apply for Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration/License within 7 days and obtain within 60 days.

Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach, engagement, and direct care for unhoused individuals in various environments.
• Model resiliency and share recovery experiences to support client goals.
• Assist clients in identifying recovery plans and linking to community services.
• Provide case management tasks and help with transportation and benefits.
• Maintain clinic records and document client contacts in EMR.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to serve homeless populations in Seattle area.

Skills

Behavioral health experience

Peer counseling

Engagement and outreach

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

EMR systems

Job description

Harborview Medical Center has an outstanding opportunity for a Certified Peer Counselor/Community Health Worker to join our new Street Medicine Team within the Pioneer Square Downtown Programs

WORK SCHEDULE

• 80%FTE, 32 hours per week
• Friday – Sunday 9 hours, Monday 5 hours

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Opportunity to work with an underserved, disenfranchised homeless population, reduce health disparities, and improve health outcomes
• Join a multi-disciplinary team (MD, ARNP, RN, Mental Health Practitioner, Program Coordinator) to deliver integrated, patient-centered care to our most
• vulnerable and underserved neighbors

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

The Pioneer Square Downtown Programs focus on providing care for Harborview’s mission population to address health equity issues by increasing access to care in our unique primary care settings, homeless shelters, housing programs or community setting for people experiencing homelessness or are vulnerably housed. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of a collaborative approach in client-centered care provision. This multi-disciplinary team will provide outreach, engagement, and direct care aimed towards our unhoused population within the Seattle area including but not limited to encampments, tent cities, streets, under bridges, shelters, etc. We will also receive and respond to referrals from Harborview Medical Center’s Emergency Department, inpatient units, and Medical Respite program to support transitions of care for our unhoused population.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct outreach, engagement, and direct care for unhoused individuals in various environments, such as those living in their cars, encampments, tent
• cities, streets, under bridges, and in the woods
• Serve as a role model demonstrating resiliency in overcoming obstacles common to those who are living unhoused and with mental illness and/or substance
• use and be willing to share personal lived experience as appropriate
• Serve as a role model and utilize lived experience of recovery from homelessness, mental illness and/or addiction, plus skills learned in formal
• training, to assist clients with identifying goals that promote recovery and resiliency
• Share personal recovery stories to help clients create their individual recovery plans
• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to serve people experiencing homelessness, including those with substance use disorders, mental
• illnesses, and complex physical health conditions
• Assist patients in identifying and linking to community-based services and supports
• Provide assistance with a variety of tasks such as applying for and securing financial benefits, support with transportation needs, and other case management
• tasks
• Maintain clinic records and charts client contact in the electronic medical record

REQUIREMENTS

High school graduation or equivalent and two years’ experience in a behavioral health organization or consumer/peer run organization; or equivalent education/experience

AND Peer Counselor Certification (Department of Behavioral Health and Recovery) OR Community Health Worker Certification (Department of Health)

AND within 7 days of employment and depending on job requirements:

must apply for Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration/License with the State of WA (Dept. of Health) and have obtained this credential within 60 days of hire (RCW18.19.210)

As the region's only Level I Trauma and verified burn center, Harborview Medical Center is a comprehensive healthcare facility owned by King County and operated by UW Medicine. It is dedicated to providing specialized care for a broad spectrum of patients from throughout the Pacific Northwest, including the most vulnerable residents of King County. It provides exemplary patient care in leading-edge centers of emphasis, including emergency medicine, trauma and burn care, neurosciences, ophthalmology, vascular surgery, HIV/AIDS, rehabilitation, mental health and substance abuse care.

Harborview employees are committed to the vital role the institution plays in the immediate community, as well as the entire Northwest region.

Challenge. Collaboration. Compassion.

ABOUT UW MEDICINE - WHERE YOUR IMPACT GOES FURTHER

UW Medicine is Washington’s only health system that includes a top-rated medical school and an internationally recognized research center. UW Medicine’s mission is to improve the health of the public by advancing medical knowledge, providing outstanding primary and specialty care to the people of the region, and preparing tomorrow’s physicians, scientists and other health professionals.

All across UW Medicine, our employees collaborate to perform the highest quality work with integrity and compassion and to create a respectful, welcoming environment where every patient, family, student and colleague is valued and honored. Nearly 29,000 healthcare professionals, researchers, and educators work in the UW Medicine family of organizations that includes: Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center - Montlake, UW Medical Center - Northwest, Valley Medical Center, UW Medicine Primary Care, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine, and Airlift Northwest.

Become part of our team. Join our mission to make life healthier for everyone in our community.