Certified Peer Specialist

## Description

Jamestown Salish Seasons (JSS) is seeking a compassionate Certified Peer Specialist to join our interdisciplinary behavioral health team. This position provides non-clinical, recovery-oriented support to individuals receiving care in our 16-bed Evaluation & Treatment (E&T) Facility.

Using your lived experience in behavioral health recovery—whether personal or through direct family support—you will inspire hope, promote resiliency, and encourage meaningful engagement in recovery. As a trusted peer, you'll help create a safe, respectful, and culturally responsive healing environment that honors the traditions and values of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe.

If you are passionate about supporting others through recovery and want to make a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Schedule (Full-Time)

We are hiring for two schedule options

• Monday – Thursday | 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
• Thursday – Sunday | 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Essential Functions

• Provide peer-based emotional support, encouragement, and advocacy to individuals receiving treatment.
• Share lived recovery experience appropriately to promote hope, connection, and engagement.
• Support individuals in identifying strengths, recovery goals, and next steps in their recovery journey.
• Assist with engagement in daily programming, groups, and unit-based activities.
• Model effective coping strategies and recovery-oriented behaviors.
• Provide support using non-clinical, peer-based approaches grounded in recovery principles.
• Support individuals experiencing emotional distress using non-clinical approaches and promptly notify clinical staff of safety concerns, behavioral changes, or escalating needs.
• Promote a safe, respectful, and recovery-focused therapeutic environment.
• Assist with discharge planning by connecting individuals to community resources and services.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary treatment team and communicate relevant observations regarding engagement, behavior, and recovery progress.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in accordance with program, state, and federal requirements.
• Maintain professional boundaries consistent with peer support standards.
• Participate in team meetings, reflective supervision, and required training.
• Support culturally respectful practices that honor tribal traditions, values, and approaches to healing.
• Maintain role clarity by practicing within the non-clinical scope of peer support and avoiding clinical assessment or therapeutic interventions.
• Contribute to an inclusive environment that recognizes the impact of historical trauma, community context, and lived experience.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Demonstrated lived recovery experience of at least one year related to a mental health condition or substance use disorder, or as the parent/legal guardian of a child with such lived experience, consistent with Certified Peer Specialist standards.
• Active Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Certified Peer Specialist credential.
• Holds, or is eligible to obtain, a Washington State Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) registration.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of recovery principles and peer support practices.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care and the effects of historical and intergenerational trauma.
• Understanding of the peer support role as a non-clinical discipline distinct from licensed behavioral health services.
• Ability to recognize personal triggers and effectively utilize supervision to maintain wellness and role effectiveness.
• Ability to engage individuals respectfully and without judgment.
• Ability to support individuals in distress using non-clinical approaches.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
• Ability to document services clearly and accurately.
• Ability to support culturally respectful practices and environments.
• Demonstrated professionalism, reliability, ethical conduct, and sound judgment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively within a collaborative, team-based behavioral health environment.
• Ability to work with individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including Tribal and underserved communities.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel locally and regionally as needed.
• Must successfully pass a criminal background investigation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Washington State Certified Peer Specialist Supervisor credential.
• 1,500 or more hours of work experience as a fully Certified Peer Specialist, including successful completion of the HCA Peer Supervisor Training course.
• Experience working in a behavioral health or residential treatment setting.
• Experience working with Tribal communities and a strong understanding of culturally responsive practices.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and recovery-oriented systems of care.
• American Indian/Alaska Native hiring preferences apply.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a residential behavioral health setting.
• May involve exposure to emotionally challenging situations with ongoing supervision and support.
• Must be available to work assigned shifts, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call assignments as needed.
• Must be able to lift, push, and carry up to 25 pounds without assistance.
• Must be able to stand, sit, walk, bend, climb, squat, and twist for extended periods.
• Requires manual dexterity, eye-hand coordination, and the ability to distinguish letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Regular interaction with residents and staff while maintaining a professional, respectful, and recovery-focused environment.

Why Join Jamestown Salish Seasons?

At JSS, you'll become part of a compassionate team committed to recovery, dignity, and culturally responsive care. We offer meaningful work, a collaborative environment, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges.