Crisis Peer Specialist

At Jefferson Center, it is our policy and our mission to be inclusive and mindful of the diversity of everyone who comes through our doors.

We are passionate about building a community where mental health matters and equitable care is accessible to all races, ethnicities, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, religions, cultures, and languages.

The Peer Specialist will greet clients as appropriate upon arrival at the Walk-In Center. May start the documentation process.

Explains what to expect from experience at WIC. Serves as second responder on some mobile crisis calls. Assists with bed searches, sending faxes, and other administrative duties.

Takes phone calls from clients and connects to clinical staff when needed. This position works 4 : 00pm to Midnight, Monday through Friday.

What is a Peer Specialist? A Peer ’ is someone who has been a consumer of substance use or mental health services (or both) and the Specialist ’ refers to one’s ability to translate recovery methods, plans and tactics to our residents as a coach, promoting consumer engagement in therapy, wellness services, primary care, and substance use services as appropriate;

provide self-help recovery services and other peer wellness services in a supportive role.

Essential Duties :

Meets with clients who come to the WIC to welcome them, provide support, and explain the services provided at the crisis center.

Continues to be involved with clients as appropriate

• Initiates the documentation process required for the clients coming to the WIC.
• Initiates follow-up calls to clients not admitted to 24 hours services to check on status and success in accessing follow-up services.
• As requested and appropriate, serves as second responder in paired-response mobile crisis evaluations.
• Reports clinical concerns and high-risk client issues and safety issues to other staff and supervisor as they arise.
• Assists clients in obtaining services that suit the individual’s recovery needs by providing names of providers, and community resources and groups that may be useful.

Informs clients about community and natural supports and how to use them in the recovery process.

• Answers client phone calls, offers support, and transfers to clinician when indicated.
• Assists with searches for inpatient beds.
• Helps with faxes, and phone calls to ER’s and hospitals.
• Attends supervision at times and intervals agreed upon with supervisor
• Participates in supervision by coming prepared with an agenda. Reports high risk / problem cases and utilizes a problem-solving approach as well as feedback.
• Attends mandatory in-services, compliance with individualized training plan if required.
• Attends team meetings as appropriate.

Other Duties :

• Maintains an acceptable attendance record.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Note : Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.

Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required :

• Certification or formal training as Peer Specialist required.
• Personal / lived experience as a 'peer' (see definition of peer above)
• High School Degree or GED equivalent required.
• Motor Vehicle Insurance Coverage requires applicant must be 25 years or older. Must have an acceptable Motor Vehicle Driving record as determine by our insurance carrier.

An MVR will be pulled along with a background check.

Salary Grade 49 High School / GED Counselor $50,000 ($24.04 / hr)*

Salary Grade 50- Bachelor’s Degree $55,000 ($26.45 / hr)*

Additional Salary Information* :

The salary range above is based on 1.0 FTE (full time equivalent) or 40 hours per week. Less than 40 hours / week will be prorated and adjusted to the appropriate FTE.*

Application deadline : 11 / 1 / 2024. Review of applications will begin immediately.