Peer Support Specialist/Counselor

Lutheran Community Services Northwest; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, and Rx

Employer-paid disability

Life insurance at no cost

Vacation and sick leave

Holidays and floating holidays

403(b) with employer match

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Student Loan Forgiveness eligibility

Job summary

Lutheran Community Services NW in Washington state seeks a compassionate professional to provide peer support for youth and families. The role emphasizes lived experience, partnership with communities, and active participation in care planning across diverse settings—home, schools, and community centers.

The position requires bilingual fluency in English, a HS diploma or equivalent, and AAC-R with 90 days of hire.

Qualifications

• 2 years of related experience; either: someone who has received mental health services, OR a parent/guardian of a child under 13, or a child 13+ involved in the treatment plan.
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written
• HS diploma or equivalent; substantial relevant experience considered in place of degree
• Affiliated Agency Counselor-Registered (AAC-R) credential required within 90 days of hire; CPR/First Aid required within 90 days of hire
• Basic mastery of business applications and productivity suites

Responsibilities

• Provide peer support one-to-one weekly, in groups, or in community settings for up to 25 youth.
• Attend monthly child and family team (CFT) planning meetings with professionals and partners.
• Ensure youth/families are present when decisions are made and actively involved in care planning.
• Participate in required weekly supervision, case consultation, and staff meetings.
• Cover 24-hour on-call rotation following onboarding training.

Job description

Lutheran Community Services NW is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving communities throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho with a wide range of services for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. All LCSNW team members will contribute to our mission of partnering with individuals, families and communities for health, justice and hope.

WHAT WE WILL DO FOR YOU:

As an employer of choice, we’re deeply committed to supporting our employees—because when you’re empowered, our mission thrives. We provide resources, tools, and care that allow you to focus on what matters most: delivering Health, Justice, and Hope to the communities we serve. We’re proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and peace of mind.

• A 37.5 per hour work week to ensure work/life balance
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription benefits to keep you and your loved ones healthy
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance coverage at no cost to you
• Up to 2 weeks of vacation in your first year (based on hours worked)
• Up to 2 weeks of sick leave (based on hours worked)
• 12 paid agency recognized holidays
• 2 floating holidays to use your way
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching (eligibility applies)
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family
• Potential eligibility for Student Loan Forgiveness through our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT:

All LCSNW team members will contribute to our mission of partnering with individuals, families and communities for health, justice and hope.

• Provide peer support on a one-to-one weekly basis, in peer support groups, in the community such as the peer’s home, meetings, court rooms, hospitals, or schools for up to 25 youth.
• Help promote a culture that sees youth/family participation as valuable and integral to achieving youth-identified goals through demonstrating value of lived experience and respect for the values, preferences, beliefs, culture, and identity, of the child/youth and family, and their community.
• Attend monthly child and family team (CFT) planning meetings that address youth and family goals with other professionals supports, natural supports, and community partners.
• Ensure youth/families are present when decisions about them are made and encourage them to take an active role in their care planning.
• Participate in required weekly individual supervision, case consultation, and staff meetings to explore approaches for engaging with youth and families, process themes of transference/countertransference as they occur, and identify support needed for professional growth in field.
• Participate in the 24-hour on-call rotation for the program following successful completion of on-call training provided by direct supervisor during onboarding and training.
• Complete all necessary paperwork and ensure case notes are completed in a timely manner in accordance with state, Medicaid and agency requirements.

HOW YOU WILL BE A GREAT FIT:

• 2 years of related experience; specifically, as either: Someone who has received mental health services, OR a parent/guardian of a child under the age of 13, or a child age 13 and older who are involved, or were involved, in the treatment plan in child’s mental health services.
• Lived experience that enhances relatability to clients being served
• HS diploma or equivalent or related field; substantial relevant experience will be considered in place of degree
• Affiliated Agency Counselor-Registered (AAC-R) credential is required upon within 90 days of hire; CPR/First Aid is required within 90 days of hire.
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written
• Basic mastery of business applications and productivity suites
• Demonstrates resilience, awareness and self-regulation in navigating challenges, conflict and obstacles/barriers.
• Thrives in a diverse and multicultural environment; works with cross-functional teams to develop and implement strategies to enhance end-user experiences throughout the service lifecycle
• Demonstrates exceptional commitment to serving and advocating for diverse and marginalized populations
• Successfully completes tasks in a moderately noisy environment
• Interacts with others and performs tasks in person and through the use of technology, with moderate periods of stationary activity and minimal / moderate / long periods of increased physical activity including and not limited to commuting to community centers (schools, libraries, homes) for client appointments throughout the day.
• Moves equipment/materials weighing up to 7 pounds
• Travels between worksites regularly; responsible for maintaining valid driver's license, auto insurance, and motor vehicle records clearance.
• Works in a variety of settings, including and not limited to LCSNW office locations, partner agency and community-based settings, client home/community settings, outdoor settings in varying weather conditions, and faith-based settings such as churches
• Meets LCSNW criminal background clearance requirements and other job-relevant clearances as required by the State or program

Thank you! We sincerely appreciate your interest in joining the Lutheran Community Services NW team and thank all applicants for taking the time to apply. While we’re unable to respond to every candidate individually, please note that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Lutheran Community Services NW is deeply committed to our mission of Health, Justice and Hope in all aspects of our work. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences to help us build a stronger, more compassionate community.