**Peer Support Specialist**

Portland, OR, USA Req #948 Monday, February 7, 2022 LCSNW is looking for a CREDENTIALED PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST who can help support our Multi -Cultural Counseling Program.

**POSITION SUMMARY:**

The Peer Support Specialist plays an active part in the Multicultural Counseling program by working with clinicians and other providers to provide in-office and home-based peer to peer support, bridging cultural understanding, and case management support to refugee clients and families. This position helps clients and families overcome cultural and linguistic barriers so they can better understand and utilize the mental health system. The position also provide co-facilitation of an array of group based supports including adjustment support groups, parenting groups and youth-focused support groups.

This is a 20/hour a week position at our Portland Location.

**ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:**

* Offer hope, encouragement, and empowerment to clients

* Provide outreach and engagement in identified communities

* Provide case management services through the coordination of community services, provide referrals, monitor those services, and advocate for clients

* As appropriate, enroll clients in appropriate services including Medicaid

* Assist clients in attendance and compliance to treatment

* Check medication adherence with clients

* Provide on-going psycho-education to clients

* Participate in psycho-educational trainings related to project

* Maintain strict client confidentiality; information revealed by the client, therapist, or counselor/case manager must not be revealed to any person without the clients expressed, written permission

* When interpreting, the Community Peer Specialist must serve as a conduit; interpreting messages accurately and completely as the client expresses them, a communication manager; preserving the triadic relationship wherein patient and providers relate primarily to each other, a cultural broker; sensing and articulating cultural influences

* Community Peer Specialist/Interpreter may not be a family member

* Coordinator/Interpreters are required to abide by strict confidentiality laws in compliance with HIPPA

* Comply with National Council on Interpreting Health Care (NCIHC) code of ethics

* Model and encourage direct, professional communication among staff members and

facilitate development of a positive staff support network

* Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity in the delivery of client services as it relates

to the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the populations served.

**JOB COMPLEXITY:** This position is not responsible for development and/or decisions regarding new policy or guidelines and does not administer any budgets.

**SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:** This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

**INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:** This position involves interaction with other staff members, clients, and other outside contacts. This will require courtesy and

confidentiality at all times.

**QUALIFICATIONS:** To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

* Knowledge of the population being served

* Understanding of the refugee

resettlement process, issues, and community resources

* Good communication and social skills

* Must be sensitive to cross-cultural

issues that may affect the presentation of psychiatric disorders

* Willingness to learn mental health screening tools, collaborate in a group setting, and participate in interpreter trainings

* Ability to be flexible and attend required meetings which may be held in the evenings or on weekends; may require convening in community locations

* Must be able to work in a multicultural setting

* Requires strict adherence of HIPAA standards in the office workspace to ensure

confidentiality

* Burmese, Karen, Rohingya language speaking candidates preferred

**EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:**

Associates degree or equivalent experience is required. At least two years cross-cultural experience is required, preferably with refugee populations.

**LANGUAGE SKILLS:** Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.

Ability to write simple correspondence.

Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to clients and other employees of the organization.

Must have excellent communication skills with he ability to read, write, and speak in English.

Must be bilingual in the appropriate language as determined by program needs. Must be culturally sensitive, bicultural preferred.

**MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:** A

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

**OTHER SKILLS:**

No additional skills are required.

**REASONING ABILITY:** Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

**CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:**

Peer Support Certificate

A valid drivers license, car insurance, and access to a vehicle are required for this position.

**PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:**

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met/may be encountered by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to

enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and write/type. The employee

is normally engaged in low-activity tasks such as sitting, standing, and walking. The work environment is typical of a professional office; the noise level is usually moderate. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Travel within the community requires a current valid drivers license, car insurance, and access to a vehicle.

**Other details**

* Pay Type Hourly