Title: Peer Support Specialist
Salary: $25.51 Hourly, Non-Exempt
Shift: Wednesday-Saturday, 10:00am-9:00pm
Location: Behavioral Health Resource Center (BHRC)
Reports To: Program Manager

Do Good Multnomah is a non-profit organization that partners with the community to provide supportive housing and low-barrier emergency shelter to houseless veterans in Portland, Oregon. We emphasize relationship-building, one-on-one engagement, supportive services, and direct community participation, changing the way we serve houseless veterans. The culture and care we strive to provide our shelter participants at Do Good Multnomah is extremely important to all of us. We believe it is essential to gain an understanding of our participants and the issues that they face. In this way, we are changing the way we serve houseless individuals in the Portland community. Our approach is simple, we offer all program participants our respect and we seek to honor their inherent dignity. While we are committed to providing participants with a safe, warm place to stay for the night, we are equally interested in forging meaningful relationships with them. These bonds allow for our staff to serve as mediators and connectors between participants and a variety of service organizations in Portland.

• Our organization pays a living wage and offers opportunities for continued growth and development within the organization based on employee performance.
• We are decidedly not neutral on matters of inclusion, diversity, equality, and anti-racism; we strive to be a place of refuge and safety for the marginalized.

THE POSITION: The Peer Support Specialist supports the participants staying in the program, as part of a team who advocate for and engage in participants' overall health and well-being using a strength-based, housing first, and harm reductive model. A Peer assists participants in articulating their goals for recovery, supports them in their treatment, and models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies while adhering to the Peer scope of standards. A Peer is expected to build community and relationships, lead recovery/support groups, schedule and facilitate onsite activities and classes, coordinate with external agencies for community in-reach, provide system navigation services, and make referrals to community partners on behalf of participants. Additional duties may include upkeep of site operations, including restocking supplies and linen and ensuring site cleanliness. Peers encourage feedback and maintain a safe and welcoming space for all participants and staff.

HIPAA REQUIREMENTS: This position will have access to Protected Health Information (PHI) during the course of their work activities. Applying the minimum necessary standard of HIPAA, the designated record sets to which this position may have access include all sections of the medical record, patient demographic information in the practice management system, etc. This position is required to read the content of these records only to the extent needed to accomplish the assigned tasks.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop rapport with participants and build a relationship of trust, utilizing personal and professional experience to empower, mentor, and promote wellness and recovery. Provide regular peer support throughout the community to educate and engage participants in their own environment (often by oneself). Encourage participant feedback.
• Work with shelter staff to conduct meetings with identified participants and guide participants into community services. Continue ongoing support and peer support throughout the community.
• Assist participants with goal-setting and systems navigation services.
• Lead recovery/support groups, schedule and facilitate onsite activities and classes, support onsite events.
• Work closely with the Clinical Social Worker to advocate, refer, and assist participants with applications to ensure participants get access to a variety of services and benefits, including employment, recovery, and mental and physical health services.
• Work with the Program Staff and Social Worker to prepare participant assistance fund requests.
• Assist the Case Manager, Navigation Specialist, and Clinical Social Worker with conducting program participation and follow-ups and ensuring corresponding documentation is accurate and uniform.
• Maintain accurate physical and electronic records, including utilizing the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to record peer services provided.
• Participate in weekly or bi-weekly team case conferencing and other on-going, recurring community partner meetings for both Veterans and non-Veterans.
• Develop comprehensive knowledge of community and housing resources and maintain effective relationships with these resources to best meet participant needs. Make referrals and connections to community providers and other system shelters and supports as needed.
• Coordinate with external agencies to be onsite for community in-reach.
• Assist participants with tasks related to housing acquisition, including housing search and viewing, submission of applications, lease and compliance paperwork signing and obtaining furniture and household goods.
• Work with participants to identify and develop natural community support to foster independence and community integration.
• Maintain certification and advance professional knowledge/skills with the guidance of the Program Manager to drive continuous improvement in program effectiveness as measured by individual progress.
• Maintain a safe and welcoming space for all participants, staff, and community partners.
• Ensure that all areas utilized by participants and staff are clean, organized, and left in an orderly manner during and after each shift. This may include, but not limited to, cleaning waste, soiledmclothing, dirty dishes, etc.
• Adhere to all state and federal privacy and security regulations applicable to the program, and to Do Good Multnomah's policies and agreements regarding confidentiality, privacy, and security.
• Other assigned tasks and duties appropriate to the position.

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Consistent, clear, and courteous communication with referrals, staff, participants, and community partners and vendors. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and necessary paperwork.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, problem solve, and complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Ability to display a non-judgmental and non-biased attitude.
• Willingness to learn new skills and ability to continuously learn, apply training instruction, and take constructive feedback.
• Must be self-motivated and detail-oriented.
• Ability to work courteously with the public, participants, co-workers, and community partners.
• Knowledge of and experience with addressing and supporting an escalated participant through proper and trauma-informed de-escalation and engagement techniques. Ability to maintain calm and compassion under pressure.
• Ability to use motivational interview techniques, strength-based advocacy, and trauma-informed care.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with both participants and staff.
• Ability and willingness to engage in Do Good’s equity, inclusion, and anti-racist work at the full-staff, program-specific, and individual levels.