Peer Case Manager - CCSWW

$23.62 - $27.16 HR/DOE

Join our Team! We offer an excellent benefits package!
3 weeks vacation * 12 days sick leave * 13 holidays* medical * dental* vision* life insurance * LTD * AD&D * pension * 403b * catastrophic & accident ins * 

Catholic Community Services (CCS) has operated the Arrest and Jail Alternatives (AJA) program since the summer of 2020. The program provides peer counseling, case management, and crisis intervention for individuals experiencing homelessness, unmet behavioral health needs, and frequent law enforcement interaction. The goals of the program are to reduce arrests, jail time, and emergency service utilization and increase access to non-emergency behavioral health services and overall wellbeing in the target clientele, while reducing overall costs to the justice system. The staff of the program work closely with behavioral health service providers, housing specialists, crisis responders, law enforcement, corrections, and other agencies to coordinate wraparound services intended to help generate meaningful change.

 Peer Case Managers share their lived experience with individuals to create mutually supportive relationships based on trust and respect in an effort to increase empowerment and hope, give a voice, improve personal success, provide opportunity for integration into the community, build linkages to needed community resources and begin to establish natural community supports. In addition to providing social support and qualified peer counseling services, Peer Case Managers perform robust case management which includes developing and implementing client-directed service plans, assessing the needs of homeless individuals, referring individuals to appropriate resources to meet their identified needs, coordinating in- and outpatient substance use and mental health providers, and working with housing and shelter providers. Peer Case Managers may be called upon to serve as first responders to behavioral health crises in the community, and may be exposed to hazards including agitated and threatening clients, needles used for intravenous drug use, and bodily fluids and refuse. The clients served are primarily individuals with severe and chronic mental health issues, chemical dependency issues, and medical conditions. Peer Case Managers must be prepared to operate independently and utilize critical thinking to make key decisions without an available supervisor to direct them at all times. They regularly attend community meetings and coordinate with community resources as needed. Peer Case Managers frequently transport clients in their own or agency vehicles. There will be some evening and weekend hours as needed.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Universal Job Skills: All CCS employees will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Communicate role, responsibility and agency philosophy in order to assure mutual respect, confidence and trust with the client and other stakeholders.
2. Provide non-judgmental, unconditional support to the client.
3. Assess for immediate safety and stabilization needs.
4. Customize helping approaches to fit the client’s uniqueness, personality, culture and interest.
5. Report relevant information to the right people at the right time.
6. Maintain a focus on strengths, needs and creative solutions.
7. Utilize the client’s expertise in problem solving and solution seeking.
8. Work interdependently with others toward common goals.
9. Respond to client’s needs in a timely fashion.
10. Complete required documentation within established time-frames.
11. Instill hope for the future by communicating and behaving with confidence and reassurance.
12. Communicate and collaborate effectively with other team members to manage triangulation and potential conflicts.

2. Welcome, Engagement, and Assessment:

1. Maintain a caseload of up to 25 clients, depending on the degree of need of each individual.
2. Dialogue with clients and relate personal experience that will assist in building trust with them.
3. Assess and review the client’s ability to communicate their own position and preferences.
4. Reassure and communicate hopefulness to clients and that “they are not in this alone.”
   1. Conduct initial screenings/intakes to include assessment of individual strengths, needs and barriers, identify support services appropriate for the immediate needs of the individual
   2.Enthusiastically and compassionately “meet clients where they are at” metaphorically and literally, including in homeless encampments, shelters, on sidewalks, and in facilities such as the Olympia City Jail and Thurston County Jail.
   3. Provide a safe and welcoming environment in the AJA office, including by providing custodial services of client and staff areas as needed. 

3. Individualized Service Planning:

1. Utilize evidence-based tools such as the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment scale to evaluate client’s readiness to effect change.
2. Assist individuals in assessing options and developing plans towards gaining housing, meeting needs around mental health and substance use, and identifying the steps required to accomplish goals to move the individuals to self-sufficiency
3. Reach agreement with clients about activities that will contribute to healing and support and assist in communicating that to others.

4. Peer Support/Counseling Services:

1. Provide a range of supportive/helpful interventions and activities including Motivational Interviewing techniques as agreed to with the client and documented in the plan.
2. Adapt activities and interventions to enhance focus on strengths, needs and creativity without changing the basic nature of agreements and plan.
3. Assist clients in analyzing progress toward vision and goals and encourage their feedback to their team.
4. Communicate ideas by using own life as a learning and teaching tool (when helpful to client and plan).
5. Communicate progress and concerns to the appropriate co-workers.
6. Participate in continuous improvement efforts by sharing perspectives in agency activities such as Quality Improvement reviews, staffing’s or other means.
7. Seek assistance and report incidents to the right people at the right time.
8. Maintain strong professional boundaries. 

5. Case Management Services:

1. Understand and utilize principles of harm reduction and the Housing First model.
2. Meet regularly with clients to support ongoing goals and service plans, and help them navigate complex systems.
3. Maintain thorough understanding of locally available services and resources, including but not limited to chemical dependency and mental health assessments and screenings, AA/NA meetings, public benefit counseling, veteran’s services, financial education, clothing resources, dental services, educational opportunities, learning and physical disability services, medical care, and other services.
4. Foster relationships with service providers to facilitate effective referrals, and advocate for clients to receive appropriate services.
5. Transport clients to appointments, basic needs, etc. and assist them with intakes and applications.
6. Coordinate with defense and prosecution attorneys, Department of Corrections officers, and court officials to advocate for client to receive appropriate sentencing outcomes in line with client and program goals.
7. Appear in hearings and other contexts with clients in order to support their appropriate interactions and meeting of obligations related to Community, Municipal, and Superior Court.
8. Maintain well-organized, up-to-date case files.
9. Collaborate with other staff on pertinent topics, including available community resources, scheduling of workshops, and other matters in support of client services.
   1. Provide records and reports as requested by the Program Supervisor and Program Manager.

6. Crisis Management:

1. Serve as a first responder as needed along with members of the Olympia Police Department, Crisis Response Unit, Designated Crisis Responders, or other entities to individuals in extreme crisis in the community.
2. Assess, safely intervene, and follow up in crisis situations involving substance use and mental health emergencies while being exposed to human and environmental hazards.
3. Document all incidents regarding safety of clients and staff.

7. Ability to Partner:

1. Be able to work well with City of Olympia Police Department, City Employees, downtown businesses, social service providers and others, being respectful of all while holding the best interest of the clients as the first priority.
2. Attend regular meetings with OPD and other partner agencies, representing Catholic Community Services and the AJA program. 

Minimum Qualifications- 

1. Must have Recognition as a Peer Specialist by DBHR or the ability to gain certification within 3 months of hire.
2. Availability to work flexible hours (evenings, nights, weekends).
3. Proof of negative TB test within past 12 months.
4. Obtainment of an Agency Affiliated Counselor License (HIV/AIDS training required).
5. Ability to obtain a CPR/First Aid Certification
6. Applicant must successfully pass required background checks prior to an offer of employment.
7. Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and automobile insurance.
8. Must have an acceptable driving record per CCS’ driving policy. (required to provide current driving abstract)
9. Support and uphold the mission, beliefs and values of Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services
10. Support and contribute to a creative, collaborative and respectful environment that promotes teamwork
11. Demonstrates the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in multi-cultural situations

Preferred Qualifications

1. Lived experience with homelessness.
2. Lived experience in recovery from Substance Use Disorder.
3. Experience navigating systems of mental health and substance use service provision.

Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All protected classes are encouraged to apply.

Please let us know if you need special accommodations to apply or interview for this position.