Peer Counselor - Diversion

Catholic Charities of Central Washington; Wenatchee (WA); On-site; USD 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13 paid holidays

Health insurance with medical/prescrip

Retirement 403(b)

Life Insurance paid by employer

Education Assistance Program

Job summary

Catholic Charities of Central Washington is seeking a Peer Counselor to provide outreach, support, and service coordination for individuals facing behavioral health challenges. The role emphasizes using personal recovery experience to engage clients and divert them from incarceration or hospitalization into least restrictive settings.

Services may occur in the community, jail settings, or clinic locations. The position requires certification as a Peer Specialist (or Trainee), a valid Washington

Qualifications

• Must be a self-identified consumer of mental health or substance use disorder treatment services in stable recovery for at least one year.
• Certified Peer Support Specialist or Certified Peer Support Specialist Trainee credential
• Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor credential and WA driver’s license with required liability insurance

Responsibilities

• Evaluate clients' needs and collaborate on a care and recovery plan.
• Assist clients with accessing medical, dental, and behavioral health services as needed.
• Assist with obtaining and maintaining housing and independent living skills.
• Attend scheduled court appearances and provide transportation to appointments.
• Engage clients using recovery lived experience and active listening to build trust.
• Respond to community diversion requests and coordinate services with partners.
• Maintain detailed records and prepare monthly progress reports for attorneys and prosecutors.
• Participate in supervision and team meetings as required.

Skills

Verbal and written communication

Time management

Professional representation

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Position Summary:

The Peer Counselor provides outreach, support, and coordination of services for individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges who may be at risk of incarceration, hospitalization, or involvement in the criminal court system. The goal of this position is to help stabilize behavioral health needs and divert individuals from incarceration or hospitalization into the least restrictive setting possible. The Peer Counselor supports clients by utilizing their own lived experience with recovery to engage individuals in services and assist them in navigating behavioral health, criminal justice, and community systems. Services may be provided in the community, jail settings, other healthcare agencies, in a client's home, or at a Catholic Charities clinic location depending on need.

Responsibilities:

Direct Support and Client Advocacy

• Evaluate clients' needs and collaborate with clients to develop a plan for their own care & recovery
• Assist clients with identifying and accessing medical, dental, and behavioral health treatment as appropriate to each client's needs and goals
• Assist clients with obtaining and maintaining housing
• Support clients to develop independent living skills such as budgeting, creating and sticking to a routine, paying bills, accessing food banks or grocery shopping, utilizing a calendar to make and track appointments, etc.
• Attend scheduled court appearances with clients
• Provide transportation to clients for appointments with other service providers
• Share personal experiences with recovery and service navigation as appropriate to build trust with clients, using active listening skills and compassion to support clients in their recovery journey

Community Coordination and Collaboration

• Respond in the community to law enforcement requests for diversion support and immediately engage the individual to offer resources and support
• Assess the client for safety and de-escalate clients who are experiencing a crisis
• Work with community partners to help coordinate services to meet clients' needs
• Facilitate communication between clients and service providers and advocate on clients' behalf as appropriate
• Review jail roster regularly for diversion referrals and active Trueblood Class Members

Documentation and Supervision

• Maintain detailed, accurate records of services provided, client interactions, and diversion agreement compliance
• Prepare and provide monthly progress reports for attorneys and prosecutors
• Attend regular supervision meetings, team staffing's, trainings, community events, and other meetings as instructed

Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Job Requirements:

The following requirements are those that are normally required for performance of this position. Any disabled applicant or incumbent who does not meet or more of the physical requirements, but who can perform the essential function of the job (with or without reasonable accommodations) shall be deemed to meet these requirements.

Physical Requirements:

This position normally requires the physical demands of standing, walking, bending, lifting or performing other work requiring low physical exertion, talking and hearing on a regular basis to perform the job requirements. These physical demands are required up to 80% of the time. Position also requires ability to drive with adequate vision and skill.

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required

Experience

• Must be a self-identified consumer of mental health or substance use disorder treatment services in stable recovery for at least one year
• Two years of experience providing peer services preferred

Special Skills

• Possess and utilize effective verbal and written communication skills
• Self-motivated with excellent time management skills
• Ability to represent the agency in a professional manner within the community
• Bilingual/biliterate in English & Spanish preferred

Licensure, Registration, Certification

• Certified Peer Support Specialist or Certified Peer Support Specialist Trainee credential
• Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor credential
• Valid Washington State driver's license and required minimum liability insurance by WA State
• Must be deemed insurable as determined by Catholic Charities' liability insurance provider

Employment is conditional upon:

• Being cleared by criminal background check and fingerprinting when required

Work Schedule:

Tuesday- Friday, 7:00am - 6:00pm, occasional on-call rotation

Wage Range:

$22.26-$27.56 per hour, depending on education & experience

Benefits:

• 13 paid holidays, 12 days of vacation, 12 days of sick leave per year
• Health insurance including medical & prescription coverage, with optional dental and vision insurance plans. Majority of premiums paid by Catholic Charities
• Retirement 403(b) Plan: employee contributions commence upon employment; Catholic Charities contributes 2% of monthly income and matches up to 4% of employee contributions following 6 months of employment
• Basic Life Insurance paid 100% by Catholic Charities
• Flexible Spending Account eligibility following 6 months of employment
• Education Assistance Program reimbursing up to $5,250 per year for approved continuing education after 6 months of employment
• Additional voluntary insurances including supplemental life, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D), critical illness, long term disability, accident, and ID theft
• Employee Assistance Program includes 3 counseling sessions per year, legal consultations, financial coaching, and other wellbeing tools
• Annual longevity awards begin at 5 years of employment

It is the practice of Catholic Charities to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We gladly offer reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities to support participation in the hiring process and employment.