Description

This position is located at our Urgent Walk-In Clinic in our Plaza Health Center in SE Portland. The schedule for this position is Tuesday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Job Overview

The UWIC, Peer Provider provides follow-up support and services to individuals that have contact with Crisis Services through Cascadia, including the Urgent Walk-In Clinic or Project Respond. The Peer Specialist uses their training and experience to provide engagement, de-escalation, and advocacy to support individuals in regaining stability in the community. This position is part of a team and approaches working with people from a trauma-informed, strength-based, perspective and works in concert with programs in Multnomah County’s Acute Care Continuum. The Peer Specialist models wellness and recovery while offering acceptance, hope, options, opportunities, problem solving, non-directive and supportive peer services based on respect and mutuality through similar or shared lived experiences to individuals they are responding to. The employee works collaboratively with mental health and physical health and other social service agencies to assure the best possible treatment for clients, while supporting a Trauma Informed Care environment.

This position must understand, appreciate, and respect the diversity and cultural differences within our Cascadia community. As such, it is expected that this position promotes integrated care, our vision of trauma-informed and person-first approaches and helps create a work environment of inclusion, safety, and acceptance.

Essential Duties

This position description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position. Management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary.

• Act as a positive role model; openly identify as an individual who has lived experience of receiving mental health services, including sharing your own recovery story with the individual(s) being served when appropriate.
• Provide information and facilitate linkage to mental health treatment and other social services, including follow-up communication with clients in days following their visit to Standing Stone

• Promote, assist, and support in connecting to and developing the skills necessary to access and utilizecommunity resources, and other life skills.
• Demonstrate positive peer values that include non-hierarchy and mutuality.
• Must document and maintain clinical records in a manner that assures compliance with all agency policy and procedures and local, state, and federal regulations through use of Electronic Health Record System (EHR).

• Provide information and coordinate services with other community providers, including but not limited to medical providers, mental health providers, and Aging and Disability Services.
• Consult with teammates, supervisors, program managers, and program medical directors as appropriate.
• Adhere to compliance, required laws and trainings, and the safety of property, staff, and client, all regulations, I.e. Mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPPA, fire regulations, including all company policies and policies under which the facilities is licensed and operates
• Participate in all scheduled staff meetings, supervision sessions, and other departmental and agency meetings.
• Complete all annual employee training requirements in order to understand how to conduct ethical work, for professional development, and stay in compliance
• Assist in crisis situations as appropriate, following emergency protocols/procedures and coordinating with the Crisis Team, which may include requesting support from the Urgent Walk-In Clinic, Project Respond, and/or law enforcement support as appropriate.

• Participate in all scheduled staff meetings, supervision sessions, and other departmental and agency meetings.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education:

PSS: Must have completed a Peer Support training approved by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

PWS: Must have completed a Peer Wellness training approved by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

A Traditional Healthcare Worker (THW) certification is required in addition to the certification in order to keep current and in compliance with the OARs.

Experience:

Position requires experience as a former or current user of mental health services.

Must self-disclose as a current or former user of behavioral health services and must have personal experience with recovery.

Experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental health challenges is preferred.

Experience working with diverse populations & communities.

Specialized Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Operate computer hardware and software (including Electronic Health Record software) at a level needed to effectively perform job functions
• Enter and retrieve data
• Prepare simple reports and progress notes

Core Competencies

Leadership and Decision Making:

Make decisions with consultation, guidance, and review from other staff (Supervisor, Manager, Director)

Demonstrate quick and efficient decision making

Maintain confidentiality of information when appropriate

Interpersonal:

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Effectively engage with internal providers, external providers, and stakeholders

Work independently as well as part of a team

Demonstrate a work history of dependability

Possess clinical skills that honor individual autonomy while promoting a safe and secure environment

Demonstrate initiative and creativity in approach to problems and tasks

Identify opportunities to improve methods, systems, and procedures to increase productivity and enhance services

Understand, appreciate, and respect diversity and cultural differences

Represent the program effectively in a variety of settings and with diverse communities

Working Conditions

Environmental: This position is both in an office setting and sometimes out in the community. The positionoperates in a sometimes ambiguous and frequently changing work environment. Some work may occur in the community away from the primary worksite.

Mental: Meal periods and breaks are subject to interruption. Remaining aware and alert is critical to detect and address escalated, potentially volatile situations. Universal precautions should be taken due to exposure to disease, biohazards, noise, and contaminants

Physical Demands: Work performed is often sedentary at a workstation with constant use of keyboard and computer for meetings and documentation. Must be able to move about the lobby on an ongoing basis, directing clients from lobby to the desk. Communication and the ability to convey information for clinical to read and interpret information and directions. On occasion there may be use of stairs when out in the community, stooping, transport of paper or supplies. On occasion may need to run or move quickly to avoid crisis situation or for safety.

Benefits

We offer generous benefits for our full-time and part-time employees (20 hours pro-rated) including:

• Generous Paid Time Off Package Full-time employees earn 6 weeks of PTO in their first year!
• Medical and Dental Coverage (begins 1^st of the month following 30 days after hire date)
• VSP Vision Discount Plan
• 403(B) Retirement Savings (Pre and post-tax plans with matching contribution)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) (Medical, dependent care, and transportation options)
• Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
• Paid Bereavement and Jury Duty Leave
• Length of Service Award
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Supplemental Insurance

Wellness Benefits:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Bicycle Reimbursement
• Discounted Fitness Memberships
• Trauma Support Team

Cascadia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at 503.963.7654.

This position is represented by a labor union

Qualifications