Peer Counselor - Mobile Unit

Peer Counselor

• Mobile Unit: We Care Daily Clinics

Base Pay Rate: $26-$28/hour

About We Care Daily Clinics:

We Care Daily Clinics (WCDC) is a warm, welcoming, and modern facility that provides treatment for addiction in a person-centered environment located in Auburn. WCDC seeks to renew hope and purpose for those battling opioid use by removing barriers, providing a holistic approach to recovery, and utilizing evidence-based treatment to restore healthy living. Our top priority is to provide the highest levels of patient-centered care to those we serve.

WCDC is an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) facility using FDA approved medication paired with behavioral health counseling. Our individual service plans are built around patients in a supportive, safe environment to create a personalized pathway to recovery. In addition to recovery, we also offer planned patient transportation and family and social support.

WCDC's first two mobile clinics launched October 2022 in Seattle and Tacoma. The mobile clinics offer the same evidence-based, quality treatment that is available at the Auburn clinic, including medication for opioid use disorder, behavioral health counseling, peer support, transportation, telehealth, and referral services. A third mobile unit will be launched later this year in the SODO district.

Job Summary:

The Peer Counselor serves as a member of a multidisciplinary team. Peers who work alongside professional staff provide living proof that recovery is possible. Peers provide a living example of hope for others. Peers' personal experiences can be a valuable asset to the clinical team. When they add their first-person knowledge and their stories of recovery top the service mix, services are enhanced and extended, as well as infused with hope and self-determination. The Peer Counselor will help clients identify and work toward wellness goals while encouraging individuals to take personal responsibility for their recovery and wellness. As part of the recovery process, Peer Counselors encourage clients to develop natural supports by socializing and engaging with the community. This position is best suited to an individual who is ready to use their own experiences to relate to others.

S/He will perform tasks/responsibilities within the Mobile Unit Clinic. The mobile unit clinics offer the same evidence-based, quality treatment that is available at the Auburn clinic, including medication for opioid use disorder, behavioral health counseling, peer support, transportation, telehealth, and referral services.

The Peer Counselor should adhere to and value the philosophical priorities of the HARM Reduction Model, that Medication Assisted Treatment is the preferred method of addressing opioid addiction and that every person deserves to be treated with respect, compassion and dignity.

Responsibilities:

• Participates as a member of the treatment team providing outreach, engagement and support of on-going services to enrolled clients.

• Utilizes personal experiences of recovery to provide clients and families guidance and support in their own recovery.

• Responsible for assisting counselor/case manager in assessment, development and implementing individual therapeutic and behavioral programs for clients.

• Crisis stabilization (including suicide watch, monitoring risk).

• Advocate for clients, coordinate and refer for services with other community agencies.

• Maintain working relationships with community and government agencies, other professionals, family members of clients and significant others.

• Provide consultation/education services to other organizations as appropriate.

• Will monitor and assist in the Mobile Units.

• Will regularly perform Front Desk reception duties as needed.

Experience:

• 1 year of experience as a Certified Peer Counselor preferred.

• Work experience in the social service field and or in the area of substance use disorder treatment is preferred.

• Opioid Treatment Program experience will be given hiring preference.

Certifications:

• Certification in Peer Counseling is required.

Additional:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and knowledge of substance abuse treatment and counseling issues.

• The counselor shall be creative in developing and implementing effective approaches to chemical dependency treatment.

• Computer literate, with basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, and electronic medical records systems, as well as a high level of initiative in keeping current with technological change.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, clients, and outside contacts from a wide variety of ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds; good diplomatic skills, including strong conflict-resolution skills.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills.

• Conducts all business activities in a professional and ethical manner.

• Complies with and up-to-date with all other testing, screening and credentialing as required.

• Evening/weekend and some Saturday hours may be required.

• Ability to travel as needed (minimal).

• Other duties as assigned.

Characteristics of a We Care Daily Clinics Employee:

If you are someone who is:

• Patient-Centered

• Seeks to understand and effectively address the needs and challenges of our patients;

• Quality focused

• Focused on providing quality, evidence-based care to our patients. We utilize a proven model that pairs MAT with behavioral health counseling in a compassionate environment;

• Highly motivated, detail oriented and organized, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment;

• And committed to a holistic approach that removes barriers for patients, WCDC is the perfect place for the next step in your career.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the job according to specific company requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability, or marital status.