Peer Support Specialist - NW Housing Alternatives

Job Description

Job Description

Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO)

Peer Support Specialist – Northwest Housing Alternatives Job Description

Pay: $25.00 Per Hour

Schedule: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm

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

Title: Peer Support Specialist

Reports to: Clackamas Program Manager

Department: EVOLVEPeer Delivered Services

Job Summary

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 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 Clackamas County as a peer who has similar life experiences and acts as a positive role model of living in recovery.

The PSS/CRM position will be a member of the Northwest Housing Alternatives Pathways team. The project will provide ongoing rental assistance and housing stabilization services linked to robust treatment and support services to 30 eligible individuals with mental health concerns in Clackamas County.

The PSS/CRM will work as part of the interagency team to support the enrolled participant to live as independently in the community as possible. Activities could include but not limited to skills training in money management, budgeting, community navigation, transportation, and areas of daily living. Peer Support Services can also assist in providing advocacy, development of natural support, nutrition, food preparation, safety planning and in areas of socializing and leisure.

Qualifications

Values Alignment: MHAAO strives to honor cultural and spiritual diversity in the communities we serve as well as honoring Voice and Choice through trauma-informed practices with a Social Justice lens. Our values of Voice and Choice mean we believe in the person’s right to make their own decisions and that people are the “experts” in their own lives. We have an unwavering belief in every person’s ability to learn, grow, and recover.

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 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.

Pre-Hire Drug Screen: As part of MHAAO's commitment to fostering a safe, productive, and professional workplace, we require pre-hire drug screenings for all potential employees. The screening will be conducted in accordance with MHAAO's drug screening policy, as well as applicable state and federal laws.

Experience:

• Identifies as having at least 2 years of lived experience in recovery with addiction challenges (may include both addiction and mental health challenges)
• Experience with mental health recovery is desirable and highly valued
• Understands the principles of trauma informed care, recovery, consumer-involvement, and trauma-informed care

Licensure/Certification:

• Peer Support Specialist (OHA Traditional Health Worker certification) or MHACBO CRM certification required or able to be obtained within 90 days of hire
• Valid Oregon Driver’s License and proof of automobile insurance required. Access to reliable personal vehicle required.

Skills:

• SPANISH SPEAKING (BILINGUAL) HIGHLY PREFERRED.
• 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.)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides 1:1 peer support to diverse individuals being served in accordance with MHAAO’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, MHAAO, 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
• Collaborate with individuals to create a person-directed plan. Person-directed planning tools such as 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.
• Meets with peers in the community and/or their homes to establish and maintain a positive and trusting relationship.
• Assists peers with identifying and engaging various community resources and supports. EVOLVE group support offerings will include but are not limited to peer-led Seeking Safety, SMART Recovery, Peer Zone, and Hearing Voices/Extreme States support groups.
• Assistance and support accessing and navigating mental health/SUD services.
• Introduction and connection with local recovery groups and activities.
• Crisis Support with introduction and connection to the Riverstone Clinic as a crisis resource.
• Support in developing community roles/natural supports.
• Learning and practicing self-advocacy.
• Support with reconnecting/visiting with family/children.
• Addressing basic needs of shelter/housing, food, physical wellness, and entitlements/benefits.
• Support when/where needed in navigating any systems involvement and resource connection.
• Complete other relevant duties as assigned

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.