Peer Support Specialist/Counselor

LCSNW; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & dental benefits

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Vacation 2 weeks

Sick leave 2 weeks

Holidays 12

Floating holidays

401(k) with match

EAP access

Student loan forgiveness eligibility

Job summary

Lutheran Community Services NW in Seattle area seeks dedicated case managers to support individuals and families across WA, OR, and ID. You will collaborate with clients, navigate care systems, address social determinants of health, and help people achieve stability through tailored action plans with regular check-ins.

The role emphasizes peer support, community engagement, and cross-functional work to improve youth and family outcomes.

Qualifications

• 2 years of related experience; as someone who has received mental health services or a parent/guardian of a child in treatment.
• Lived experience that enhances relatability to clients being served.
• HS diploma or equivalent; substantial relevant experience considered in place of degree.
• Affiliated Agency Counselor-Registered (AAC-R) within 90 days; CPR/First Aid within 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer support one-to-one weekly in groups and in the community for youth up to 25.
• Promote a culture valuing youth/family participation and lived experience.
• Attend monthly CFT planning meetings with other supports and partners.
• Ensure youth/families are present in decisions and contribute to care planning.

Skills

Client support

Communication

Crisis intervention

Cultural competency

Education

HS diploma or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

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,justiceand hope.Our case managers serve as trusted guides, working closely with clients to navigate systems of care, address their social determinants of health and health-related social needs, and overcome barriers to achieving stability. This includes support with housing, food, transportation, behavioral health, and more. Weassistclients in setting personalized goals and developing action plans, while providing ongoing support through regular check-ins.

• Provide peer support on a one-to-oneweeklybasis, in peer support groups, in the community such as thepeer’shome, meetings, court rooms, hospitals,orschools for up to 25 youth.
• Help promote a culture that sees youth/family participation as valuable and integral to achieving youth-identified goalsthroughdemonstratingvalue of lived experience andrespect forthevalues, 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 professional supports, naturalsupports, 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, andidentifysupport 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,Medicaidand agencyrequirements.

HOW YOU WILL BE A GREAT FIT:

• 2years 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 equivalentor related field; substantial relevant experience will be considered in place of degree

• Affiliated Agency Counselor-Registered(AAC-R) credential is required within 90days of hire;CPR/First Aid is required within 90 days of hire.

• Fluency in English, both spoken and written

• Basicmastery of business applications and productivity suites

• Demonstrates resilience, awareness and self-regulation in navigating challenges,conflictand 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 amoderately noisyenvironment

• Interacts with others and performs tasks in-person andthrough the use oftechnology, withmoderateperiods of stationary activity andminimal / moderate /longperiodsof increased physical activityincluding and notlimitedtocommuting to community centers (schools, libraries, homes) for client appointments throughout the day.

• Moves equipment/materials weighing up to7pounds

• Travels between worksitesregularly;responsible formaintainingvalid 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.