Job Title: Peer Support Specialist
Program: SafetyNet Peer Respite
Employment Type: Per Diem / As Needed
About Lucid:
Lucid is a peer-run community health organization dedicated to supporting people in continuing to function when life gets hard.
Through SafetyNet, our peer-run respite program, we provide voluntary alternatives to hospitalization by cultivating relationships, hospitality, and environments where recovery can unfold through mutual support.
We believe peer support is a developmental practice. Lucid invests in the growth of peers through Intentional Peer Support (IPS), co-reflection, mentorship, continuing education, and structured opportunities for professional advancement through Lucid's Peer Residency.
Position Summary
The Peer Support Specialist provides relationship-centered support to participants utilizing SafetyNet, Lucid's mental health peer respite program. This position helps cultivate a welcoming, safe, and hospitable environment while modeling recovery, mutuality, and hope through the intentional use of lived experience.
In addition to providing direct peer support, this role emphasizes community engagement, hospitality, and long-term relationship building. Peer Support Specialists participate in outreach throughout the community to connect individuals with voluntary respite services and ongoing sources of support.
At Lucid, we believe in a simple principle:
Serve what you source.
Whenever possible, Peer Support Specialists who introduce someone to SafetyNet may continue supporting that individual throughout their stay, strengthening continuity, trust, and recovery.
Successful applicants selected for Lucid's Peer Residency begin their developmental journey as Peer Residents, receiving structured supervision, co-reflection, mentorship, and professional development designed to prepare them for advanced opportunities within the peer workforce.
1. Essential Responsibilities.
Peer Support & Relationship Building
- Welcome participants into SafetyNet and provide support throughout arrival, stay, and departure.
- Build authentic, mutually respectful relationships that promote hope, recovery, and self-determination.
- Appropriately share lived experience to encourage wellness, resilience, and connection.
- Support participants in identifying personal goals, strengths, and next steps.
- Assist participants in connecting with behavioral health, social, and community resources.
- Encourage meaningful participation in daily activities and community life.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while fostering genuine peer relationships.
- Support a recovery-oriented environment grounded in mutuality, choice, and respect.
2. Community Engagement & Outreach
- Participate in community outreach and engagement activities.
- Develop and maintain relationships with community organizations, service providers, and partners.
- Help increase awareness of SafetyNet and its voluntary respite services.
- Identify opportunities to connect individuals with SafetyNet and other community resources.
- Whenever appropriate, continue supporting participants introduced to the SafetyNet community.
- Represent Lucid and SafetyNet professionally within the community.
3. Household Stewardship & Hospitality
- Help maintain a clean, welcoming, safe, and organized respite environment.
- Assist with meal preparation, laundry, changing bedding, and maintaining participant spaces.
- Maintain common areas and contribute to the overall hospitality of the home.
- Facilitate recreational, educational, creative, and wellness-focused activities.
- Assist with creating an environment where participants feel welcomed, respected, and supported.
- Contribute to a safe, respectful, and recovery-oriented environment for participants, visitors, and staff.
- Demonstrate shared responsibility for the care and stewardship of the SafetyNet environment.
4. Documentation & Professional Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation and required records.
- Attend staff meetings, co-reflection sessions, trainings, and other required meetings.
- Participate in regular supervision and professional development activities.
- Follow organizational policies, procedures, confidentiality requirements, and professional expectations.
- Communicate effectively with team members and community partners.
- Contribute to a culture of mutual learning, curiosity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Professional Development & Peer Residency
This position is part of Lucid's structured Peer Residency, designed to cultivate highly capable and reflective peer practitioners.
Upon appointment as a Peer Resident, individuals receive ongoing professional development through:
- Intentional Peer Support (IPS)
- Co-reflection
- Clinical and peer supervision
- Mentorship
- Continuing education
- Community-based learning experiences
- Structured opportunities for professional growth
As Peer Residents demonstrate reliability, stewardship, relational competency, and professional growth, they may be invited to assume increasing responsibility within the Residency through specialized roles and advanced developmental opportunities.
Qualifications Required
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Personal lived experience navigating behavioral health recovery.
- Commitment to mutuality, recovery, self-determination, and relationship-centered practice.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Reliable transportation and a valid Washington State driver's license.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a peer-run team.
- Willingness to participate in Intentional Peer Support (IPS) Core Training.
- Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.
- Ability to complete required documentation and organizational training.
Preferred Qualifications
- Washington Certified Peer Counselor (CPC) certification or active pursuit of certification.
- Completion of Intentional Peer Support (IPS) Core Training.
- Experience providing peer support, outreach, advocacy, or community engagement.
- Experience volunteering with community organizations.
- Familiarity with trauma-informed care, WRAP, eCPR, Motivational Interviewing, psychiatric rehabilitation, or other recovery-oriented approaches.
- Experience working in behavioral health, homelessness services, crisis response, or other community-based settings.
Who Thrives at Lucid
Individuals who flourish in this role tend to demonstrate:
- Integrity
- Humility
- Curiosity
- Reliability
- Hospitality
- Emotional maturity
- Initiative
- Accountability
- A commitment to learning and growing alongside others
They also tend to enjoy:
- Building authentic relationships.
- Welcoming others with hospitality.
- Working independently while remaining connected to a team.
- Learning through reflection, supervision, and co-reflection.
- Serving their community.
- Supporting others through challenging life experiences.
- Growing professionally over time.
Professional Growth & Advancement
Lucid's Peer Residency is designed to support long-term professional development within the peer workforce.
As Peer Residents demonstrate competency, reliability, stewardship, and readiness, they may be invited to pursue opportunities such as:
- Warmline Operator designation
- Travel Peer secondments with partner organizations
- Peer Navigator development
- Facilitator development
- Supervisory pathways
- Continuing education
- Workforce development opportunities
- Participation in Lucid's statewide peer community of practice
Advancement is based on demonstrated competency, reliability, stewardship, professional growth, and the evolving needs of the organization.
Through the Peer Residency, Lucid is developing the next generation of peer professionals—individuals committed to strengthening relationships, supporting recovery, and contributing to the future of the behavioral health workforce.
Physical & Work Environment Requirements
The Peer Support Specialist must be able to:
- Drive and safely transport participants as needed.
- Work in office, home, community, and respite-based settings.
- Perform routine household activities, including cleaning, meal preparation, laundry, and organizing shared spaces.
- Safely assist participants with community activities and transportation.
- Remain attentive and responsive in a dynamic, peer-centered environment.
- Work collaboratively with participants, peers, supervisors, and community partners.
Core Competencies
Successful performance in this position requires demonstrated ability to:
Relationship Building
Develop authentic, respectful, and recovery-oriented relationships.
Peer Practice
Use lived experience intentionally, appropriately, and in service of the participant.
Hospitality
Create an environment where participants feel welcomed, respected, and valued.
Communication
Communicate clearly, respectfully, and effectively with participants, coworkers, and community partners.
Reliability & Stewardship
Follow through on responsibilities and contribute to the care of the SafetyNet environment.
Self-Awareness & Reflection
Engage in co-reflection, supervision, feedback, and ongoing professional development.
Community Engagement
Build relationships with community organizations and connect individuals with appropriate resources.
Adaptability
Respond thoughtfully to changing participant and program needs while maintaining professional boundaries.
Position Expectations
All Lucid employees are expected to:
- Uphold Lucid's values and peer-run philosophy.
- Treat participants, coworkers, and community partners with dignity and respect.
- Maintain confidentiality and follow applicable organizational requirements.
- Participate actively in supervision, co-reflection, and professional development.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
- Contribute to a culture of mutuality, learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Demonstrate reliability and follow through with assigned responsibilities.
- Support the overall mission and functioning of SafetyNet and Lucid.
Pay: $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Professional development assistance
License/Certification:
- Certified Peer Support Specialist (Preferred)
Shift availability:
- Day Shift (Preferred)
- Night Shift (Preferred)
- Overnight Shift (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
