Peer Support Specialist

Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO)

EVOLVE Washington County CHOICE Model PSS/PWS/CRM

Job Description

PAY RANGE: $25.00 per hour

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: EVOLVE Peer Delivered Services Program Manager

DEPARTMENT: EVOLVE Peer Delivered Services – Washington County

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

JOB SUMMARY:

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS)/Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) offers mental health and/or co-occurring mental health and addiction recovery peer support to individuals residing in Washington County as a peer who has had similar life experiences. The PSS/CRM provides nonclinical and nonjudgmental recovery exploration and support.

The PSS/CRM will be a member of the Washington County Choice Model team. A primary function of the position will be to offer support to people who are stepping down from inpatient psychiatric care and/or receiving psychiatric care in advance of hospitalization. The PSS/CRM will provide community-based, holistic, person-centered, trauma-informed and strength-based support to individuals with addiction and/or co-occurring mental health challenges who are referred via the Exceptional Needs Care Coordinators (ENCCs) who are also part of the Choice Team.

Choice Model Services, previously known as the Adult Mental Health Initiative (AMHI), are designed to increase care coordination and accountability at a local and state level. Choice Model will promote the availability and quality of individualized community-based services and supports so that adults with mental health issues are served in the most independent environment possible and to minimize long-term institutional involvement.

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 and each employee of MHAAO.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.

Background Check: A criminal background check will be conducted by MHAAO in accordance with the MHAAO background check policy. 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 mental health and/or co-occurring addiction issues 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 person’s ability to learn, grow and recover.
• Value 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.

Licensure/Certification: Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Peer Support Specialist (PSS) and/or Peer Wellness Specialist (PWS) certification and/or 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 recovery if applicant identifies as in SUD recovery.

Valid Oregon Driver’s License and proof of automobile insurance required. Have reliable transportation preferred.

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 and group peer support in the community
• Collaborates with individuals to create a person-directed (centered) plan. Person-directed planning tools such as AMHI REAL Recovery, MHAAO’s Initial Recovery Exploration, PATH*, MAPS*, and/or other models including assistance with developing their own Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)* will be utilized. Training will be provided in the use of these tools.
• Participates in regular peer support supervision sessions.
• EVOLVE group support offerings will include but are not limited to PeerZone, SMART Recovery, and Hearing Voices/Extreme States support groups.
• Assistance and support with health and recovery planning and community integration upon release from hospitalization including meeting peer specialist/recovery mentor prior to discharge.
• Assistance and support accessing and navigating mental health services.
• Introduction and connection with local recovery groups and activities.
• Crisis Support with introduction and connection to the Hawthorne Clinic as a crisis resource.
• Support in developing community roles/natural supports.
• Learning and practicing self-advocacy.
• Support with reconnecting/visiting with family/children.
• Navigating resources for basic needs such as shelter/housing, food, physical wellness, and entitlements/benefits.
• Supporting successful outcomes with PSRB and transitioning to lower levels of care/housing.
• Support when/where needed in navigating any systems involvement and resource connection.
• Support with physical health related goals and connecting to community resources and programs that work toward this aim.
• Education and employment support.
• 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.
• As appropriate, openly identifies as a person who has lived the experience of mental health and/or co-occurring addiction issues 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 patient 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.