About Job

Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO)

Peer Support Specialist – Prime Plus Job Description

Pay: $25.00 Per Hour

Schedule: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)

Days/Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm

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

Title: Peer Support Specialist

Reports to: Doug Bishop

Department: Evolve

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.

Evolve Peer Support Specialists/Certified Recovery Mentors (PSS/CRMs) will be working in Multnomah County-based hospital campuses and other healthcare settings that have frequent and repeated interaction with those at high risk of opioid and other drug overdoses and have additional health conditions such as Hepatitis A, B, and/or C and/or HIV. PSS/CRMs will offer peer support in these locations and out into the community post- discharge. Legacy Emanuel and Good Samaritan are the participating hospitals thus far.

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS)/Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) offers peer support to individuals as someone who has similar life experiences and acts as a positive role model of a person in recovery. The PSS/CRM is a member of several interdisciplinary teams participating in collaboratively supporting an individual’s self- defined and self-directed care. The PSS/CRM also supports the individual being served with creating their own person-directed recovery path and accessing Hepatitis and HIV healthcare services and treatment. They will provide a listening, nonjudgmental presence for those who desire to access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or other harm-reduction services and will offer follow-up support to connect individuals being served with a full range of resources in the community.

The PSS/CRM will provide outreach in the community in a wide variety of locations and the hospital campus or emergency department where they are receiving short-term physical health care, usually directly related to substance use disorder. The PSS/CRM will learn and be willing to practice all infection control training as it pertains to interacting with people in a hospital setting. The hospital will provide these trainings electronically, and they are expected to be completed during onboarding. It is encouraged for the PSS/CRM to connect with the individual being served for a follow up after the hospital experience and/or participate in the transition to community resources, treatment, or housing from the hospital. The follow up may occur in a person’s home setting or community where the valuable work of supporting recovery takes place, after the treatment episode at hospital.

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 is required

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.)

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
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.