About Job

Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO)

Multnomah County Behavioral Resource Center (BHRC)

Day Center Peer Support Specialist Job Description

Pay: $25 Per Hour

FTE: 1.0 FTE (40 Hours Per Week)

Schedule: Monday – Thursday 7a-5p

Benefits: This is a benefited position

Title: Peer Support Specialist

Reports To: MHAAO BHRC Peer Program Manager

Department: Behavioral Health Resources Center

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. Support will be offered and provided to individuals with addiction and/or co-occurring mental health challenges who may also be living outdoors and who are participants of the Day Center. 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 houselessness and behavioral health challenges. The Day Center is run by Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon and is staffed entirely by peers from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

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

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
Typing and general technology skills to easily and efficiently navigate electronic systems (e.g., email, Microsoft Teams, etc.)

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES AND 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
Participate in BHRC Day Center opening and/or closing procedures and protocol.
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
Administers outcome measurement tools with individuals being served and participates in data collection.
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

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.

Monday - Thursday 7am-5pm