Overnight Peer Counselor

Job Summary

You will provide culturally competent, and strength-based peer support to youth, young adults, and families experiencing a behavioral or mental health crisis. Working alongside a Mental Health Care Professional, this position will utilize de-escalation techniques to stabilize the situation; assist in developing a Safety and Action Plan to address priority needs; and, where appropriate, transport individuals to care facilities or alternative placement in the community. Services are provided in client homes or safe community locations (hospital, overnight shelter, transitional housing). You will collaborate with co-workers, supervisors, outside professionals, and others involved in delivering the individual or family’s care to meet safety plan needs and action plan goals. As part of a connected, 24/7 regional crisis program, you support care coordination by passing down outreach details and outcomes to our day teams.

This position is with the Y Social Impact Center, the social services division of the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS), serving around 5,000 youth, young adults, and families every year in communities across King County, Pierce County, and various counties across WA. Through our programs we aim to strengthen young people’s ability to develop to their fullest potential through four strategies: reducing risk factors; navigating systems towards successful life transition; establishing stability, safety and wellness in times of crisis; and building competencies and social capital. The Social Impact Center’s programs include homelessness prevention, housing, behavioral health, crisis response, foster care licensing, violence prevention, and employment. Since many of the young people we serve have been involved in the foster care, criminal justice, behavioral health, and/or homelessness systems, we truly value relatable lived experience of our staff and those applying for our positions as an asset.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time, overnight position in which staff are dispatched from their homes to various locations in the community. Dispatches arrive through a phone app, so staff need to be able to hear notifications, wake up, and respond in a timely manner with their shift partner. All crisis work is to be done in-person unless the individual/family explicitly requests a telehealth response.

After Hours teams are scheduled to provide on-call support every night (weekdays and weekends), including holidays. The hours of work are typically from 6/7:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. the following morning. Flexibility is required with some weekend daytime work required as job duties demand.

This position is part of our CCORS (Children's Crisis Outreach and Response System) Program Regional Expansion. There is the opportunity to support youth, young adults, and families in North and East King County (Bellevue, Bothell, Duval, Issaquah, Kenmore, Woodinville, etc.), South King County (Auburn, Federal Wy, Enumclaw, Maple Valley, etc.) or Central King County (Seattle, Vashon, Eastlake, Capital Hill, etc.).

What you'll get from working at The Y

• Membership to the YMCA of Greater Seattle for you and your household 

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance 

• Retirement with 12% employer contributions after 2 years of services - see Y Retirement for more information. Other Savings plans available upon hire. 

• Free access to mental health resources 

• Rapidly accruing paid time off (PTO) 

• Discounts on qualifying YMCA of Greater Seattle childcare, day camp, overnight camp and outdoor leadership programs. 25% for part-time staff, 50% for full-time staff. 

• Direct care staff in the Social Impact Center receive monthly personal Wellness days in addition to existing PTO and Paid Holiday benefits 

* Some benefits only available to full-time staff 

Pre-Certified Peer Counselor: Hiring Range: $22.00 – 24.00/hr 

Certified Peer Counselor: Hiring Range: $24.00 – 27.00/hr 

**Required qualifications listed below

• Provides immediate, intensive crisis outreach services overnight to children, youth, young adults, and families throughout King County and additional coverage as needed.
• Assists in stabilizing the environment and de-escalating the immediate crisis.
• Assists in developing a Safety Plan to address the immediate crisis over the next 24 – 72 hours.
• Assist youth, young adults, and families in developing self-determination and empowerment skills through self-advocacy.
• Identifies individual or family stresses, instability and provides appropriate support.
• Identifies community resources and natural supports and works with the individual or family to effectively navigate resources.
• Collaborates effectively with co-workers, supervisors, and outside professionals.
• Provides timely and accurate updates to our crisis dispatcher in real time to support effective crisis response and the safety of teams in the field.
• Transports individuals to care facilities or safe, alternative community placements as appropriate to support the safety plan.
• Flexes schedule to support other regions to meet the needs of our program and community.
• Maintains a working knowledge of current trends and developments in behavioral health.
• Completes required documentation within program deadlines.
• Reports all critical incidents and adheres to YMCA program rules and procedures.

*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Code of Conduct for Applicants 

All employees and volunteers are responsible for adhering to abuse prevention policies, maintaining appropriate boundaries, completing required training, reporting suspicious or inappropriate behavior, and complying with mandated reporting requirements.  

Responsible for ensuring staff are properly screened, trained, supervised and held accountable to the organization’s abuse risk management standards. 

• Minimum age of 21 years
• Lived experience in receiving services as a youth, young adult, or parent/guardian in complex,youth-serving systems (juvenile justice, behavioral health, child welfare, special educationpreferred) and is prepared to use that experience in helping others.
• Other applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, abilities, andskills necessary to perform effectively in the position will be considered.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team
• Ability to effectively communicate with others
• Ability to set priorities and manage time effectively
• Ability to use a computer and work with Microsoft Windows Outlook and electronic health records data system.
• Trained in and familiar with recovery model and able to assist youth, young adults, and families in mental or behavioral health crisis.
• Demonstrated ability to engage youth, young adults, and families in safety planning that is culturally- and developmentally appropriate.
• Knowledge of community services and resources including: support groups, mental health, substance abuse, child welfare, juvenile justice, developmental disabilities, special education programs, etc.
• Experience with crisis de-escalation and crisis stabilization practices.
• The following physical and mental abilities are required: frequent lifting or carrying up to 15 pounds, must be able to hear, frequent standing/walking going up and down stairs due to community outreach basis, ability to communicate effectively in person and/or phone, the ability to read, analyze and interpret information, ability to write reports, correspondence and procedures, ability to maintain notes/records, ability to define and solve practical problems, collect data
• WA State Peer Counselor Certification preferred and required within one year of employment.
• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalence preferred
• Prefer knowledge of, and previous experience with, diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical activity, sexual orientation, etc.). Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.
• Current State-approved first aid certification, state-approved CPR certification, BBP (HIV/AIDS) training certification.*
• Washington State Agency Affiliated Counseling Credential. **

Pre-Certified Peer Counselor: 
• WA State Certified Peer Support Specialist Trainee or Certified Peer Support Specialist credential required within one year of employment. 

Certified Peer Counselor:
• WA State Certified Peer Support Specialist Trainee or Certified Peer Support Specialist required within 30 days of employment. 

*Within 30 days of employment or first available training.
**Training and certification can be completed after hire. Start process of training and certification within the first month of hire and full certification as a Peer within 6 months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Knowledge of and previous experience with diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc.).
• Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.
Other combinations of applicable education, training, and experience which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered.
All job offers are contingent on the results of a background check. We participate in the Federal E-Verify system.

Authorized Driver Preference

This role has the potential to transport clients as an “authorized driver” for the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS) using an employer-provided vehicle. Driving duties for this role are optional, but preferred.* Driving roles are safety-sensitive. To become an authorized driver, you must be 21+, have possessed a driver's license for at least 3 years, and pass a drug screen that will test for impairing substances (including marijuana) in addition to meeting the driving record standards below:

YGS Driving Record Standards

Within the last three (3) years: No more than two (2) vehicle related suspension(s) and/or reinstatement(s). No more than two (2) moving violations and/or accidents. Moving violations include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Speeding

· Improper Lane Change

· Failure to Yield in Right-of-Way

· Failure to Obey Traffic Signal

· Failure to obey Traffic Sign

Within the last five (5) years: No Major Violations which include, but are not limited to, the following:

· DUI, DWI, OUI, OWI, BUI (Boating), Administrative Per Se, or Refusing to Test

· Driving with an open container of alcohol

· Reckless Driving

· Hit and Run – property damage only (Incidents involving injury fall under Permanent Disqualification)

· Racing

· Driving with a suspended/revoked license/insurance

· Speeding over 20 mph

· Fleeing and/or eluding police

· Any other felony driving conviction(s)

Driving records that result in Permanent disqualification from driving duties:

· More than 3 DUI, DWI, OUI, OWI, BUI, Administrative Per Se, or Refusing to Test for entirety of driving history.

· More than 3 Driving with a suspended/revoked license

· Hit and Run resulting in bodily injury or death

· Manslaughter/felony death by motor vehicle

*Due to state-specific reporting requirements in our driver management system, we are not currently able to enroll California Driver's License holders as Authorized Drivers.

You'll be a great fit for the Seattle Y if you: 

• Thrive on working in a collaborative environment. 

• Are very adaptable. 

• Have high ownership and strong work ethic. 

• Are a great problem solver who can think on your feet. 

• Truly enjoy being of service to people. 

• Like being part of a team that cares about one another as people and enjoy working together. 

• Want to know that the work you do contributes to building a better, stronger community for all. 

OUR MISSION 

Building a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body.  

OUR VALUES 

• Respect 

• Responsibility 

• Honesty 

• Caring 

• Passion for Excellence 

YGS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and equitable work environment.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by local, state, or federal law. 

We are a drug & alcohol-free workplace. We participate in the Federal E-Verify system. All job offers are contingent on the results of a background check in accordance with Washington's Fair Chance Act. Please download and review the below resources for more information: 

(i) The updated 2025 requirements of 49.94.010: 

https://seattleymca.icims.com/icims2/servlet/icims2?module=AppInert&action=download&id=251099&hashed=1503034877 

(ii) The WA attorney general's Washington fair chance act guide for employers and job applicants: 

https://seattleymca.icims.com/icims2/servlet/icims2?module=AppInert&action=download&id=251100&hashed=74689660 

If you need assistance of any kind with the application process, reach out to recruiting@seattleymca.org.