Family Peer Support Specialist, Crisis #995

Telus Health; Washington (Washington County); On-site; USD 36,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits

On-site role

Job summary

LifeWorks NW is hiring a Family Peer Support Specialist to provide recovery-oriented services to caregivers of youth in crisis, including mobile community support. The role partners with families, peers and community partners to promote safety, stability and recovery.

The position requires lived experience, peer support credentials, and the ability to engage diverse families; evenings and 24/7 availability may be required, with on-site work at Hawthorn.

Qualifications

• Has lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver of a child with health needs.
• Meets Family Support Specialist criteria under ORS 414.665 and may be a peer support or peer wellness specialist.
• Demonstrate effective communication and cultural competence; valid driver license and vehicle use may be required.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with crisis program staff and partners to form safety plans and connect to mental health services.
• Use personal experience to model recovery and support self-care, independence, and wellness.
• Assist families with short-term crisis goals and treatment planning.
• Educate families on available services and mobilize natural supports in the community.
• Provide documentation timely and respond to contacts within 48 hours.

Skills

Lived experience

Crisis response

Peer support

Job description

Family Peer Support Specialist, Crisis #995

At LifeWorks NW, our work strengthens the health and wellbeing of individuals and families at every stage of life. Our mission is to promote a healthy community through high-quality, culturally responsive mental health, addiction, and prevention services that create real, lasting change. Guided by our values of recovery and resilience, relationships, and results, we partner closely with clients and communities to reduce stigma and build pathways to stability and hope. If you want your work to make a meaningful difference beyond the walls of an office, we invite you to join us.

The Crisis Family Peer Support Specialist is a member of the Crisis Support PeerTeam. The Family PeerSupport Specialist provides a variety of recovery-oriented services to primary caregivers of youth who are experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis andwho have self-identified as desiring peer supports. In addition, the position is cross trained inthe role of Crisis Peer Support Specialist.

The FamilyPeerSupport Specialist is part of crisis response to children and familiesexperiencing a crisis. This includesmobile response in the community and supporting families who present atHawthorn. The Family PeerSupportSpecialist works collaboratively with parents, caregivers, teammates and community partners, to promote immediatesafety and stability, greater independence, community integration and recovery.Services provided by peers include awide variety of supports, services and advocacy that contribute to a family's ability to engage in ongoingtreatment. Family Support Specialists have direct experience as a parent orprimary caregiver of a child with complex health needs and specialized trainingin the unique process of "walking beside" families experiencing complex circumstances.

Location: This position is based out of LifeWorks NW's Hawthorn site.

Pay/Benefits: $26.29-$28.98 per hourplusbenefits.

Salary Placement Notice:
The posted salary range reflects the compensation potential for this role. Most candidates will be placed between the entry level and midpoint of the range, depending on their experience and qualifications. However, more seasoned professionals with extensive exact or similar experience may be considered for placement toward the higher end of the range. Final salary offers are made in alignment with internal compensation processes in accordance with Oregon Pay Equity laws.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Works in collaboration with all the crisisprogram staff and community partners to assist families with safety planningand connecting to on-going mental health services.
• Uses his/her own experiences in a strategic way andmodels the principles of recovery for those they work with, including self-care,gaining greater independence, emphasize wellness and self-determination.
• Work with families on specific and obtainablegoals included in the person's short term crisis treatment plan
• Informs people served of available serviceoptions while promoting the use of natural supports and resources within thecommunity.
• Present a model of someone in recovery and sharetheir own experiences as their training provided guidance.
• Provides support to caregivers or parents ofyouth who are having symptoms that could result in hospitalization. Duties could include accompanying to schoolmeetings, spending time with caregivers. Assists clients in accessing communityresources such as support groups, food boxes, healthcare appointments and otherservices as appropriate.
• Educate parents / primary caregivers and naturalsupports on mental illness in children and adolescents.
• Help families develop skills to get throughcrises.
• Assist the family in understanding clinicallanguage and systems and practice positive communication with clinicians andother health care providers.
• Maintain confidentiality of records relating toclients' treatment.
• Educate and advocate for the values andprinciples of Peer Delivered Services and the Recovery Model.
• Completes documentation on a timely basis.
• Checks e-mail/voice mail daily/throughout theday when working responding to contacts within 48 hours for routine matter (urgent matters mayrequire a more immediate response)

Qualifications:

• Have "lived" experience as a parent or primarycaregiver of a child who has experienced mental, emotional and / or behavioralhealth problems.
• Meets the Family Support Specialistqualification criteria adopted under ORS 414.665 and may be either a peersupport specialist or a peer wellness specialist who, based on similar lifeexperiences, provides support services to and has experience parenting a childwho: Is a current or former consumer of mental health or addiction treatment;or is facing or has faced difficulties in accessing education, health, andwellness services due to mental health or behavioral health barriers.
• Holds a Peer Support Specialist certificationfrom a State-approved training program. Current Family Support Specialistcertification is preferred but can be completed after hire.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills andability to provide culturally competent treatment services to diverse clientpopulations.
• Familiar with developmental needs of adults andchildren.
• Transporting clients in an agency vehicle is required. A valid driver's license and ability to meet drivingrequirements are necessary.

Working Conditions:

• Duties are performed both indoors and outdoors.
• Office environment is in an urgent mental health walk-in center thathouses multi-disciplinary teams in a shared office setting with cubicleseating.
• Workday consists of planned and unplanned tasks.
• Fieldwork is required on a regular basis.
• Work includes the use of a company vehicle to travel to locationsanywhere in Washington County for planned follow up or crisis response toinclude but not be limited to personal residences, campsites, hospitals,schools, jail, etc.
• Exposure to natural weather conditions, which may be severe whileperforming outdoor duties.
• May work in hazardous or unpleasant conditions.
• May require working extended hours.
• Working while using personal protective equipment (when indicated).
• Work is in person. Not eligible for agency alternative workarrangement.
• Potential for exposure to traumatic events that involve threat to thesafety of self or others.
• As part of crisis and safety net services, our programs are consideredessential services and continue to operate when other programs and agenciesmight be closed, such as during inclement weather or other hazardousconditions, like poor air quality.
• Individuals in this position need to report in person and provideservices during inclement weather and other hazardous conditions (wheneverreasonably possible).
• Evenings required.
• Program operates 365 days a year, 24 /7. Holidays are required.