Peer Support Specialist - Residential
About The Position
The Peer Support Specialist is a present or past client of mental health services who has sufficient recovery to provide peer support to people with psychiatric illness. As an active member of the treatment team, the specialist provides a range of services to help clients regain control over their lives and recovery process. The role supports clients in pursuing personal recovery goals, developing life and coping skills, accessing community resources, and addressing daily living needs. It also involves monitoring and documenting client wellbeing, communicating with clinical staff, assisting with behavioral emergencies, and maintaining program records.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent and a general understanding of the population served.
- History of receiving mental health services and a well-grounded personal recovery.
- Knowledge and skills to establish effective relationships with clients who have mental illness and support their recovery.
- Competency in recognizing behavioral issues and symptoms of mental illnesses for electronic documentation and communication with treatment team members.
- Eligibility to become certified as a Peer Support Specialist – Adult Mental Health on the State registry, and willingness to attend required certification trainings when available.
- Ability to use email, compose documents, save and locate electronic documents, and learn the Electronic Health Record system.
- Ability to pass state-required background and DMV checks; valid Oregon driver's license and satisfactory driving record to transport clients.
- Ability to work independently and flexibly under general supervision.
- Mature attitude and sensitivity to the needs of people with chronic mental illness.
- Understanding of HIPAA confidentiality requirements.
- Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and work independently and with staff as agency needs dictate.
Nice To Haves
- Some post-secondary coursework.
- At least one year since mental health diagnosis.
- Peer Support Specialist certification before hire.
- Proficiency in Word and other Microsoft Office applications.
Responsibilities
- Help clients identify personal recovery goals, set objectives, and determine interventions based on their recovery and life goals.
- Model and teach communication, recovery-oriented living, coping, and self-help skills to individuals and groups.
- Develop and maintain therapeutic relationships with clients; identify emotional, psychiatric, or behavioral changes that may require intervention, help resolve problems, and refer clients to appropriate clinical staff.
- Connect clients with community resources and help them use those resources to build independent living skills.
- Observe and monitor clients, documenting changes in behavior and mental and medical conditions.
- Inform lead staff, program managers, and other relevant parties about client needs or concerns.
- Monitor and assist clients in learning daily living skills.
- Transport clients as requested.
- Monitor the safety and security of the environment.
- Assist with behavioral emergencies.
- Maintain documentation, audit client charts, answer phones, enter information into a computer, and schedule appointments.
- Assist clients with banking, shopping, cooking, cleaning, transportation, job and housing searches, health-provider appointments, and social service providers.
- Participate as a treatment team member, providing input and using client feedback to support the best possible outcomes.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Education Level
High school or GED
