Peer Support Specialist - Assertive Community Treatment - CF011

Native American Rehabilitation Assoc. of the NW•Portland, OR

3d•$21 - $29•Onsite

About The Position

The ACT Peer Support Specialist functions as a fully integrated member of the ACT multidisciplinary team to provide expertise about the recovery process, symptom management, and the persistence required by clients to have a satisfying life. The ACT Peer Support Specialist collaborates to promote a team culture that recognizes, understands, and respects each client’s point of view, experiences, and preferences within the context of Native American/Alaska Native culture. Provides peer counseling and consultation to individual clients, families, and team staff; acts as a liaison with community resources; carries out rehabilitation and support functions; and assists in treatment, substance abuse services, education, support and consultation to families and crisis intervention under clinical supervision. These services may occur at Totem Lodge, at individual residences, at medical provider’s offices or hospitals, or at other points in the community.

Requirements

Must self-identify as a current or former recipient of mental health services and be willing to share lived experiences as appropriate
Must have completed a Peer Wellness Training approved by The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and qualify to be certified as a Peer Wellness Specialist within six months of hire date.
Knowledge and understanding of mental illness, addictions, and physical health and ability to work within an integrated system of care program.
Requires exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills and the ability to engage and interact positively with clients to promote strengths and improve health and well being and to work collaboratively as part of an integrated team to coordinate care.
Requires flexibility, confidentiality, demonstrated ability and ongoing commitment to the maintenance of professional boundaries w/clients, the community, and other staff members, and the proven ability to work professionally and collaboratively in a team environment, treating everyone with respect and dignity at all times.
Ability to pass a pre-employment or for cause drug tests.
Ability to pass criminal background and DMV checks.
Must be able to perform CPR and First Aid. CPR/ First Aid certifications are required and must remain current.
Must demonstrate a high degree of comfort working with individuals actively experiencing symptoms of mental illness
Competent with computers for word processing, internet, email and scheduling, or able to learn these skills.
Must have a valid driver’s license in the state of Oregon or effectively use public transportation to travel independently in the program’s service area.
Ability to report to work reliably and in a timely fashion.
At least one year of experience as a Peer Specialist or one year of experience working/volunteering in a helping profession.
NARA NW is fully committed to supporting sobriety. All employees must agree to model sobriety, both on and off the job, including no alcohol drinking, no illicit drug use, no marijuana use, and no prescription drug abuse behavior. If in recovery, must have been sober/clean for a length of time sufficient to demonstrate that will be able to model sobriety.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with individuals diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness.
Experience working within the Native American/Alaska Native community is considered a plus.

Responsibilities

Openly identify as a person who has lived the experience of receiving mental health services.
Act as a role model to inspire hope and share life experiences as appropriate to the recovery process.
Provide expertise and consultation from a mental health consumer perspective to the entire team concerning each client’s unique and subjective experience and perceptions.
Provide practical help and supports, mentoring, advocacy, coordination, side by side individualized support, problem solving, direct assistance and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living including medical and dental health care; legal and advocacy services; financial support such as entitlements (SSI, SSDI, veterans’ benefits); housing subsidies; money-management services (e.g., payee services); and transportation.
Collaborate with the team to promote a team culture in which each client’s point of view, experiences, and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected, and in which client self-determination and decision-making in treatment planning are maximized and supported.
Collaborate with the team to ensure the protection of client’s rights to help clients improve their knowledge of client rights and grievance or complaint procedures.
Increase awareness of and support client participation in consumer self-help programs, culturally specific services and consumer advocacy organizations that promote recovery.
Provide triage and supports for individuals who present at Totem Lodge without an appointment, as needed.
Assist in the provision of ongoing assessment of clients’ mental illness symptoms and clients’ response to treatment. Suggest appropriate changes in treatment plans to ensure that immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in clients’ mental status or behavior which put clients at risk (e.g., suicidality).
Assist in the provision of direct clinical services to clients on an individual, group and family basis in the office and in community settings to teach symptom-management techniques and promote personal growth and development.
Perform mentoring, problem solving, encouragement and support on and off the job site.
Provide work-related supportive services, such as assistance securing necessary clothing and grooming supplies, wake up calls, transportation.
Provide ongoing assessment, problem solving, side-by-side services, skill teaching, support (prompts, assignments, encouragement), and environmental adaptations to assist clients with activities of daily living.
Assist client to find and maintain a safe and affordable place to live, cleaning and performing household activities.
Assist and support clients with personal hygiene and grooming tasks.
Provide nutrition education and assistance with meal planning, grocery shopping and food preparation.
Ensure that clients have adequate financial support (help to gain employment and apply for entitlements).
Teach money management skills (budgeting and paying bills) and assist clients in accessing financial services.
Help clients to access reliable transportation (obtain a driver’s license and car, arrange for medical transport, use public transportation, find rides).
Assist and support clients to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician, dentist and other medical specialists as required.
Provide side-by-side support, coaching and encouragement to help clients socialize and attend cultural activities.
Assist clients to plan and carry out leisure time activities on evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities to help clients structure their time, increase social experiences, and provide opportunities to practice social skills.
Maintain appropriate and timely documentation as required by agency policy and OARS. Maintain confidentiality always.
Actively seek information and trainings to maintain professional level skills.

Benefits

Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance through Kaiser Permanente
14 Paid Holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Battle of Little Big Horn, Independence Day, Labor Day, Native American Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, and December 25th!
13 Paid Days of Sick Time
13 Paid Days of PTO (Vacation accruals increase with years of service to a maximum of 26 days)
$50,000 Life Insurance & AD&D
Short Term and Long-Term Disability
Flexible Spending Account
Health Spending Account
401(k) with 4% Match
Employee Assistance Program
Public Student Loan Forgiveness -NARA NW is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit, FQHC