Peer Support Specialist - BHRC Outreach Team

MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTION ASSOCIATION OF OR•Portland, OR

28d•$25

About The Position

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) provides peer support as someone who has similar life experiences and acts as a positive role model for living in recovery. The PSS is a member of interdisciplinary teams participating in collaboratively supporting an individual’s self-defined and self-directed care. The PSS supports the individual being served by creating their own person-directed recovery plan and accomplishing goals towards their self-defined recovery journey plan. They provide a listening, nonjudgmental presence and connect individuals being served with a full range of community resources. The Multnomah County Behavioral Health Resource Center (BHRC) is an innovative model that has been led by peers and centers its values in being trauma informed and equity based. The BHRC is a project of Multnomah County in collaboration with many community partners. The BHRC includes a Peer Run Day Center, 33 bed shelter with stays up to 30 days and a 19-bed bridge to housing program with stays up to 90 days for people experiencing homelessness and behavioral health challenges. The Day Center is run by Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon and currently is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. As a part of the multidisciplinary team, this PSS engages directly with people experiencing homelessness around the BHRC to facilitate connection and engagement with health and social services and other services and supports the people being served are seeking. Peers support people in taking the next step in the care continuum by talking directly with people in the field, finding out what they need, identifying programs, resources, and services that will best meet those needs, and removing barriers to accessing those programs, resources, and services. Goals include helping people experiencing homelessness access the BHRC; enter shelter; develop trusting relationships with their medical or behavioral health home; and access food and material resources.

Requirements

Identifies as having at least 2 years of lived experience in recovery with addiction challenges (may include both addiction and mental health challenges)
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Peer Support Specialist (OHA Traditional Health Worker certification) or MHACBO CRM certification required or able to be obtained within 90 days of hire
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team
Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
Typing and general technology skills to easily and efficiently navigate electronic systems (e.g., email, Microsoft Teams, etc.)

Nice To Haves

Experience with mental health recovery is desirable and highly valued
Understands the principles of trauma-informed care, recovery, consumer-involvement, and trauma-informed care

Responsibilities

Provides 1:1 peer support to diverse individuals being served in accordance with The Peer Company’s values alignment and principles of peer support
Collaborates with individuals to create Person Directed Plans (PDPs) to support their individualized recovery journey
Participates in regular peer support supervision sessions
Collaborate with other service providers and interdisciplinary teams to support participant PDPs and recovery journeys
Attend meetings, as applicable, to gain knowledge, communicate program objectives, and advocate for the needs of the participants being served
Implements the regulations, policies, and procedures which pertain to peer-delivered service, The Peer Company, and community partners
Following the direction of the participants served, assist participants in exploring strategies that increase satisfaction with the eight dimensions of wellness
Travels to visit community partners and participants, occasionally transporting participants to relevant community partners
Support participants in crisis by helping them to deescalate and identify next steps in their recovery journey
Assist participants in identifying and engaging various community resources and supports
Documents support services in a program database in a manner that assures compliance with policies, program procedures and local, state, and federal regulations
Maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation as required by program deliverables
Acts as a positive role model for individuals being served and exploring their own path to wellness and recovery
Respects and honors a person’s rights and responsibilities and demonstrates professional boundaries and ethics
Adheres to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements
Complete other relevant duties as assigned