Description

Summary

The Peer Support Specialist is a member of the Motel Support Team: Cultivating Community that provide outreach and support to serve participants who are housed in emergency motel placements. The goal of the Motel Support Team is to provide supplemental support and connection to motel program participants and aid program participants in accessing community based resources. The Peer Support Specialist will provide services which include: advocacy, crisis prevention and de-escalation, peer support, skills training, community navigation, community integration, case management, transportation to appointments or connection to transportation resources, collaborative meetings with treatment teams and other external supports to ensure safe housing placement, obtaining food boxes, and referring to community based mental health and substance use disorder providers if needed. With additional peer and risk case management support the program aims to minimize program participant hospitalizations (emergency department and psychiatric admissions), increase necessary contact between the resident and their respective mental health and substance use service providers, and aid linkage to transitional or permanent housing programs.

A peer is defined as a person who has received mental health and/or addiction services and uses their own recovery story, when appropriate, and models the principles of recovery to assist peers in gaining greater independence, wellness and self-determination. The Peer Support Specialist assists individuals in identifying and developing natural community supports in order to lessen dependence on the mental health system. Peer Support is strengths-based, trauma-informed, and focuses on assisting individuals to identify and develop their personal strengths and aptitudes to foster recovery and independence.

In alignment with OARS, documented vaccination or exemption is required

Core Competencies:

• Communication: Clear, direct and concise. Keeps people informed. Listens effectively to others.
• Teamwork: Effective at working in team situations.
• Utilizing available resources for personal wellness: Communicates with Supervisor or other designated New Narrative personnel to meet personal wellness and safety needs.
• Adaptability: Ability to modify or change service delivery as needed to best fit the needs of program participants and New Narrative values
• Analytical thinking: Attention to detail over sustained periods of time.
• Dependability: Counted on to follow through on commitments: at work each day and on time; work completed in a timely fashion.
• Aptitude: Ability to comprehend and apply new ideas, processes and procedures, or training.
• Demeanor: Remaining calm in crisis situation, empathetic, unbiased, non-judgmental and excellent peer model skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Peer Delivered Services

• Providing direct peer support in one-on-one settings within the assigned motel or the community as needed
• Willing to meet and engage with people “where they are,” including their environment and readiness for change
• Provide skills training, advocacy, support, case management, community navigation and integration to support participants working towards their identified goals
• Use trauma-informed, person centered approach and language and participate in ongoing training and education.
• Exemplify recovery principles in order to show, by example, that recovery is possible and attainable for everyone. The Peer Support Specialist shares their own recovery story, as appropriate, and walks the road of recovery alongside the service recipient.
• Educate and advocate for the values and principles of the Recovery Model.

Case Management

• Maintain professionalism in encounters with participants and other providers.
• Provide supportive case management to assist in linkage to resources as well as coordination, advocacy, and maintenance of resources.
• Coordination with providers and resources linked to participant’s goals as indicated.

Crisis Prevention/De-escalation/Harm Reduction

• Provide crisis response and de-escalation in a community based setting.
• Use crisis prevention approach to decrease use of crisis services, Project Respond, EMS, police, hospitalization, etc.
• Ability to work in collaboration with emergency services (ie. police, Project Respond, Multnomah County Crisis, Behavioral Health Unit)
• Ability to work in collaboration with acute care settings if necessary
• Must be able to assist in de-escalation and crisis as needed
• Support harm reduction approach, linkage to resources such as, but not limited to: clean needle exchange, NARCAN, MAT, SUD services, education around harm reduction, etc.

Documentation/Expectations

• Complete documentation and data entry as required by contract (ie. Electronic Health Record and HMIS/ServicePoint system, etc.) within 48 hrs.
• Utilize centralized scheduling to account for client appointment, meetings, training, etc.
• Utilize outcomes based care tools in order to provide outcome informed care.
• Ensure timely completion of all required paperwork.
• Maintain a regular work schedule, including some evenings.
• Work to increase level of cultural sensitivity, awareness and competency regarding Person-Centered Services.
• Attend and positively participate in required team, agency, and interdisciplinary meetings.
• Use trauma-informed, person centered approach and language and participate in ongoing training and education.
• Provide crisis response in a community based setting.

Description of other duties and expectations:

• Perform other duties as assigned

• Complete all other assignments in a timely manner as requested by supervisor

Supervision Received

• Receive regular supervision from the Motel Program Manager, seeking additional supervision whenever necessary.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and group supervision as required.
• Receive additional biweekly peer specific supervision or co-reflection from Peer Supervisor

Other General Expectations:

• Attend and positively participate in required meetings.
• Uphold New Narrative Mission and Values in all interactions.
• Ability to work as a team member, remain flexible and establish priorities as a group.
• Ability to work independently when necessary.
• Ability to take direction from supervisor.
• Ability to learn and utilize new skills.
• Ability to display a non-judgmental attitude.
• Creative, innovative and progressive problem-solver.
• Ability to take initiative on new tasks.
• Ability to multi-task and remain calm in a busy and stressful environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and ability to learn new electronic records system (HMIS, Servicepoint, etc.).
• Pursue ongoing development of skills and competencies, including:
  • • A minimum of 12 hours per year continuing education in the area of mental health/dual recovery;
    • 4 hours annual training in cultural competence;
• Follow all New Narrative policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Follow through on all directives and instructions.
• Maintain CPR and First Aid Certificate.
• Must be able to pass a criminal history check through the Department of Human Services.

Qualifications:

• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred
• Persons of color and all genders encouraged to apply
• Self-identifies as a current or former recipient of a mental health services and/or addiction services and/or formerly homeless.
• Person must be able to identify how they have “lived” personal experience leading to an understanding of the needs of persons with mental health and substance abuse issues.
• All applicants must have completed Peer Support Specialist training or Peer Recovery Mentor, or complete within 6 months of hire with assistance from New Narrative. Completion of certification preferred.
• Current Possession of Traditional Health Worker certification preferred.
• Incumbents with a substance use disorder must be sober and free of substance use for 2 full years preceding date of hire, and must maintain this sobriety.
• Must maintain current Oregon driver’s license and insurance. Must have own reliable vehicle to meet participants in the community, as the position requires a lot of driving.
• QMHA preferred, but not required: (a) Bachelor's degree in a behavioral sciences field; or (b) A combination of at least three years relevant work, education, training or experience.

Employee Acknowledgement

I acknowledge and confirm I have read the above job description information. I understand and agree that it is my responsibility to speak to my immediate manager should I have any questions or concerns regarding my job duties or any content of the job description.

I understand a copy of this will be retained in my individual Human Resources file.

Employee Signature ___________________________ Date________________________

Authorized Signature ___________________________Date________________________

Qualifications