Job Description

PAY RANGE:  $19.00 - $23.00 per hour

FTE: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)

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

TITLE:  Peer Support Specialist/Certified Recovery Mentor

REPORTS TO:  EVOLVE Peer Delivered Services Program Manager

DEPARTMENT:  EVOLVE Peer Delivered Services Program-OHSU 

TO APPLY: Please submit a resume and cover letter by close of business July 5, 2022. Persons of color, LGBTQIA+ and members of all other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

JOB SUMMARY:

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 an interdisciplinary team 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 plan. They will provide a listening, supportive presence for those working with OHSU Project IMPACT and will offer follow-up support to connect individuals being served with a full range of resources in the community including harm-reduction services and supports.

The PSS/CRM meets with the individual being served at OHSU on the Medical Unit in a hospital room, where they are receiving short or long term physical health care, usually directly related to a substance use. 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. OHSU 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 a skilled nursing facility (SNF), 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 an OHSU Medical stay. 

The PSS/CRM will work closely with members of Project IMPACT, OHSU Medical Unit Social Workers, OHSU Medical Researchers and RN case manager. Most communication will be presented orally every morning at short “huddle” meetings. The PSS/CRM will be expected to present information that is pertinent to the coordination of care from the day before to all doctors and social workers to each individual’s care team. When attendance at huddle meetings are not feasible, information should be passed through secure emails, phone, or by going to meet respective social workers and/or doctors in the hospital.

ACCESS LEVEL TO PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI):

C= Limited approved access to patient care areas and/or all records containing PHI as needed to carry out their duties_. _

REQUIREMENTS: As a Peer-Delivered Services organization, MHAAO has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy that requires all employees, interns, and volunteers to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment in accordance with current Oregon and Washington State laws.  All new hires must show vaccine proof at time of onboarding. Accommodations for those with religious and/or medical exemptions will be reviewed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EXPECTATIONS: MHAAO strives to honor cultural and spiritual diversity in the communities we serve as well as honoring Voice and Choice through trauma-informed practices. 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.

EXPERIENCE:  Identifies as having lived experience of recovery with addiction challenges (may include both addiction and mental health challenges). Lived experience of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and recovery valued. Experience working with adults with addiction challenges preferred.  Experience with mental health recovery is desirable and highly valued.  Understands the potential effects of trauma on health.   Understands the principles of recovery, consumer-involvement and trauma-informed care.

QUALITIES:

• Possess an absolute belief in every person’s ability to learn, grow and recover
• Value person’s right to make their own decisions
• Value people as the “experts” in their own lives
• Possess insight pertaining to personal biases and worldview and how they may interfere with effectively working with individuals representing a variety of cultural, ethnic, language and life experiences.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:   Peer Support Specialist or Peer Wellness Specialist (OHA Traditional Health Worker certification) and/or MHCBO CRM certification required upon hire.

Valid Oregon Driver’s License and proof of automobile insurance if applicable.

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.

Keyboard skills and ability to navigate electronic systems applicable to job functions.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Actively collaborates with social worker and others on the IMPACT team.
• Participates in regular peer support supervisions. 
• Attend case conferences and staff meetings to gain knowledge and communicate program goals and the needs of the individuals being served.
• Implements the regulations, policies, and procedures which pertain to peer-delivered service as well as be mindful of OHSU policies and procedures.
• Meet with individuals being served in the community and/or their homes to establish and maintain a positive and trusting relationship as determined applicable by OHSU team and individual being served.
• Following the direction of the individuals served and support them in exploring strategies that increase satisfaction with the eight dimensions of wellness.
• Offers support with identifying and engaging various community resources.
• Offers individual being served educational opportunities to explore new resources, information and alternatives to utilizing the emergency department for non-emergent needs.
• Offers support in crisis situations as appropriate, following emergency protocols/procedures and coordinating with the IMPACT team with interventions which support a trauma informed environment for people being served and staff.  Practices and is competent in preventing escalation, and works to prevent physical and mechanical restraint techniques, avoiding crisis situations or neutralizing crises in progress. This position will not participate in mechanical restraint or restraint training.
•  Participates in data collection. 
• Reflects peer values and principles of Intentional Peer Support (IPS).
• Documents and maintains peer-centric support summaries 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.
• Openly identifies as a person who has lived the experience addiction and/or mental health challenges and shares own recovery story with individuals being served, IMPACT and hospital staff as appropriate.
• Acts as a positive role model for individuals being served and exploring their own path to wellness and recovery.
• Acts as an advocate for individuals being served when appropriate, both within the organization and also with other entities.
• Respects and honors the persons being served rights and responsibilities and demonstrates professional boundaries and ethics.  Adheres to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements. 
• Demonstrates responsibility for safety of people being served, staff and property; is familiar with fire regulations and evacuation procedures.

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.