Peer Support Specialist

Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO)

EVOLVE Old Town In-reach Team Peer PSS/CRM Job Description

Pay: $25

FTE: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)

Benefits: This is a benefited position as outlined in the MHAAO Employee Handbook

TITLE: Peer Support Specialist / Certified Recovery Mentor

REPORTS TO: Peer Delivered Services Program Manager

DEPARTMENT: EVOLVE Peer Delivered Services (Old Town In reach)

Persons of color, LGBTQIA+ and members of all other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

William Temple & Blanchet Houses – Tuesday to Saturday, 10AM – 6PM

JOB SUMMARY:

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS)/Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) will provide services to the people experiencing homelessness and poverty that are served by community partners in the Old Town district. MHAAO will be partnering with Blanchett House of Hospitality, William Temple House, and other community partners to implement an outreach peer delivered services team that will provide mental health and peer support intervention services in the community. The PSS/CRM is a member of an interdisciplinary team that will participate in collaboratively supporting an individual’s self-defined and self-directed care.

The PSS/CRMs will provide support as a peer who has similar life experiences and acts as a positive role model of living in recovery. The PSS/CRM provides outreach and community-based services that will be holistic, person-centered, trauma-informed and strength-based to individuals with addiction and/or co-occurring mental health challenges who may also be living outdoors. This position will also provide peer support to meal guests at Blanchet House of Hospitality and people living outdoors. The PSS/CRM will be able to collaborate and work in tandem with a wide variety of community partners in Multnomah County, including healthcare systems. The PSS/CRM will support peers in getting connected to community-based resources and building natural supports that address social determinants of health.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Expectations: MHAAO strives to honor cultural and spiritual diversity in the communities we serve as well as honoring Voice and Choice through trauma-informed practices. Being committed to Social Justice means being committed to constantly assessing our organizational values and the extent to which we are modeling or falling short of them. It also means listening to feedback from our stakeholders and others who have interacted with our organization and taking the time to understand and reflect on those interactions. This commitment is extended from the organization, as well as each employee of MHAAO.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.

Background Check: A background check will be conducted by MHAAO in accordance with the MHAAO background check policy before. A candidate must successfully pass the background check before being hired. A criminal record does not necessarily exclude an individual from employment with MHAAO.

Experience: It is an essential function of the position to identify as having lived experience of addiction and/or co-occurring mental health challenges and navigating a life of recovery. It is also vital to understand the effect of trauma on health, coping, and other aspects of individual needs as well as the principles of recovery, self-direction, and trauma-informed care.

Qualities:

• Possess an absolute belief in every persons’ ability to learn, grow and recover.
• Value a person’s right to make their own decisions.
• Value people as the “experts” in their own lives
• Possess insight pertaining to personal biases and worldview and how they may interfere with effectively working with individuals representing a variety of cultural, ethnic, language and life experiences.
• Important to have working knowledge of Multnomah County resources.

Licensure/Certification: Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Peer Support Specialist (PSS) certification and MHACBO Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) certification is required but may be applied for within 1 month of hire. This position requires at least 2 years of addiction recovery.

Skills:

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.

Keyboard skills and ability to navigate electronic systems applicable to job functions.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides 1:1 peer support to individuals being served in accordance with the performance expectations of the MHAAO Employee Handbook.
• Collaborates with individuals to create Person Directed Plans.
• Participates in regular peer support supervision sessions.
• Attend staff meetings as applicable to gain knowledge and communicate program goals and the needs of the individuals being served.
• Implements the regulations, policies, and procedures which pertain to peer-delivered service.
• Meets with peers in the community and/or their homes to establish and maintain a positive and trusting relationship.
• Following the direction of the individuals served, assist peers in exploring strategies that increase satisfaction with the eight dimensions of wellness.
• Assists peers with identifying and engaging various community resources and supports.
• Offers peers educational opportunities to explore new resources, information and alternatives to utilizing the emergency department for non-emergent needs.
• Administers outcome measurement tools with individuals being served and participates in data collection.
• Displays a solid understanding of the core values and principles of peer support.
• Documents supports 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.
• Openly identifies as a person who has lived the experience of addiction and/or co-occurring mental health challenges and is able to appropriately share own recovery story with individuals being served.
• Acts as a positive role model for individuals being served and exploring their own path to wellness and recovery.
• Acts as an advocate for individuals being served when appropriate, both within the organization and also with other entities.
• Respects and honors a person’s rights and responsibilities and demonstrates professional boundaries and ethics. Adheres to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements.

The above accountabilities represent work performed by this position and are not all-inclusive. The omission of a specific accountability will not preclude it from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical extension of the position.

Employment with Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon is "at-will." This means employees are free to resign at any time, with or without cause, and Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advance notice. As an at-will employee, it is not guaranteed, in any manner, that you will be employed with Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon for any set period of time.

Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities at Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon are based upon one's qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job. All employment opportunities are provided without regard to race, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, Veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.