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Peer Partner Apprentice

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Peer Partner Apprentice utilizes their own experiences to deliver direct supportive services to youth referred to or receiving outpatient/Wise services with an identified need. The Peer Partner Apprentice must have lived experience with either mental health struggles as a youth or mental health system involvement as a youth. The Peer Partner Apprentice ensures that youth voice and choice is understood and utilized by other providers, connects youth/families to supports and resources within their community, and engages youth and family in the treatment process, advocates for youth/family needs within the team and community, Provides services in a variety of community locations. The Peer Partner Apprentice will be learning on the job and working toward being certified with the Peer Counselor credential. This includes splitting time between on-the-job training and classroom work.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Provide peer counseling and support to youth/families, drawing on common experience to encourage hope and inspire a sense of agency.

  • Promote self-determination, empowerment, personal responsibility for recovery and wellness, and assist youth in advocating for themselves and their families.

  • Engage youth and families in the recovery process through lived experience with mental health struggles.

  • Act as a bridge between youth, their families, and recovery system representatives.

  • Adhere to principles of recovery, strengths-based approaches, and harm reduction

  • Assist in treatment planning by identifying relevant community resources and developing strategies to utilize and build upon strengths of the youth and families.

  • Assists clients in their recovery by teaching independent living skills, such as shopping, budgeting, meal preparation, using public transportation, and establishing/maintaining community-based supports.

  • Collaborate with the treatment team to promote a culture within which each client’s point of view, experience, and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected, and client decision-making maximized.

  • Assist youth in gaining skills to advocate for themselves when treatment planning and in other system settings.

  • Assist youth/families in identifying existing and building new community and natural supports.

  • Support clients during team and family meetings.

  • Provide referrals and linkages to youth/families and system partners.

  • Assist youth/families in navigating systems to have their needs met.

  • Partner with client, family, other practitioners, and other systems of care representatives to promote youth/family involvement at all levels of care, treatment planning, and service delivery.

  • Attend and participate in clinical consultation, staff meetings, and mentor and supervision appointments.

  • Maintain complete and timely clinical documentation, including gathering data in accordance with agency policies and procedures.

  • Assist in tracking client progress using agency- and contract-mandated data collection tools.

  • Participate in supervision with the assigned supervisor.

  • Demonstrate a high degree of skill in communication and positive interaction with all Ryther employees, prospective employees, external agencies/companies, and the community at large.

  • Perform all other duties as assigned.

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ESSENTIAL JOB REQUIREMENTS

  • Commitment to the Mission, Vision, and Values of the agency.

  • High School Diploma or equivalent required; AA or BA Degree in a behavioral science field preferred.

  • Minimum of 18 years of age.

  • Ability to exercise discretion and maintain both client and employee confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, contract requirements, or other applicable laws and regulations.

  • Valid state driver’s license.

  • Must provide own transportation and ability to meet clients/families throughout King County.

  • Acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, cultural, and spiritual practices.

  • Ability to maintain awareness of culturally relevant issues while interaction with children, families, co-workers, and community members.

  • Lived experience with mental health systems or struggles as a child.

  • Understanding of child development, child psychology, and treatment.

  • Awareness of the public mental health system.

  • Ability to work effectively with individuals with complex needs and multi-system involvement.

  • Ability to operate as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team.

  • Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality.

  • Excellent written/verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

  • Flexibility and ability to work a varied schedule including some evenings and weekends.

  • Effective computer skills, including but not limited to Microsoft Office & Electronic Health Records.

  • Ability to accommodate a moderate level of stress.

  • Ability to maintain a positive, solution-focused demeanor when responding to conflicts or problems.

  • The ability to address and resolve conflict in a professional manner.

  • Lived experience navigating social resource systems. Willingness to share lived experience as a means of providing hope and support to clients in challenging circumstances.

  • Evidence of maintaining stability in their own recovery for at least one year.

  • Experience advocating for and partnering with youth/families of multi-systems involved clients.

  • Strong knowledge of and experience with crisis de-escalation and safety planning. Confidence and skill in handling crisis situations safely and effectively essential.

  • Ability to perform a range of physical motions including but not limited to:

    • lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs.,​

    • standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time,

    • kneeling, squatting, and stooping; and

    • running for brief periods of time.

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AGENCY COMMITTMENTS

  • Commitment to the Purpose, Vision, and Values of the agency.

  • Accept and positively engage with people with a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, cultural and spiritual practices and ability and statuses.

  • Effectively manage own work while working within a team environment.

  • Adapt and respond effectively to change.

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PAY: $20 - $25 an hour

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BENEFITS

Full and part-time employees at Ryther enjoy a variety of competitive benefits including: 

  • Comprehensive Medical and Dental Coverage (We pay your medical deductible!)

  • Multiple Retirement Plan Options (403b tax deferred)

  • Generous Paid Leave Program (3 weeks paid vacation, 10 accrued sick days, 5 personal days, and paid holidays)

  • Life Insurance Coverage

  • Professional development funds

  • Ryther is a recognized and accredited non-profit (501c3) which qualifies for the federal public student loan forgiveness program

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SUPERVISOR: OPS Program Manager or WISe Program Manager

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