Mental Health Peer Support Specialist

Description

 The Peer Support Specialist will provide support to outpatient mental health clients who are engaged in mental health services, including clients who are discharged from subacute/residential mental health treatment or psychiatric hospitalization, clients with serious mental health issues, and those with higher risk with self-harm and suicidality. The Peer Support Specialist facilitates the development of recovery skills. The Peer Support Specialist provides opportunities for individuals to direct their own recovery process and support the learning and utilization of skills needed to foster recovery. The Peer Support Specialist will be knowledgeable of available service  options, will promote the utilization of natural support systems, will facilitate the   development of a sense of wellness and self-worth, and will work with a treatment team to promote the goals of the person in services.  

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• High School Diploma (or equivalent)
• Must meet the Oregon Administrative Rules definition of a peer: “any individual who has similar life experience, either as a current or former recipient of addictions or mental health services, or as a family member of an individual who is a current or former recipient of addictions or mental health services.”
• For individuals in recovery from substance-use disorder, must have maintained continuous recovery for the previous two years at the time of hire

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Must hold a Peer Support Specialist certification from a State-approved training program or ability/commitment to obtain within six (6) months with referral to IPS training by BestCare 
• Must maintain a valid Oregon Driver License or ability to obtain one upon hire, and be insurable under the organization’s auto liability coverage policy (minimum 21   years of age and with no Type A violations in the past 3 years, nor three (3) or more Type B violations)

PREFERRED:

• Priority will be given to applicants currently certified 
• Lived experience and understanding of the unique difficulties of those who are transient or experiencing homelessness is preferred, but not required
• Bilingual in English/Spanish a plus

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Directs interactions with clients who are assigned to peer support services, and acts as a role model to clients to inspire hope and share life experiences as appropriate to the recovery process;
• Telephones contacts, which includes talking with clients who need support, are struggling and may be prone toward self-harm/suicidality or prone to making bad decisions. Also, making reminder calls to clients who are scheduled for assessments, groups, individual sessions, medication management appointments, and other BestCare services;
• Transportation: Takes clients to some appointments, when appropriate, if approved by supervisor. Transports clients to/from acute care or mental health residential treatment to outpatient services at BestCare. Transports clients to other agencies when they need assistance with accessing benefits (i.e. Social Security Office-Bend, DHS-Aging & Persons w/Disabilities, etc.). Occasionally transports clients to appointment related to Supported Employment services;
• Identifies recovering person’s abilities, strengths and assets and assist them to recognize and use them;
• Identifies barriers to full participation and focuses on strategies to overcome them;
• Helps monitor clients who are in residential/higher levels of mental health care, or jail, to stay connected to them and ensure that they remain connected to Crook outpatient mental health services;
• Referrals to various services, when appropriate (i.e. Food Bank, LINC, primary care/medical services, community college, parenting, etc.);
• Provides case management services, as needed;
• Attends program and all staff meetings as well as supervision meetings;
• Helps clinicians in groups at the office, jail, etc. Provides back-up in groups and other treatment activities, as needed;
• Helps clients develop and connect to community-based pro-social or wellness-oriented recovery activities;
• Maintains accurate documentation in the electronic health system (EHS) within agency stated timelines;
• Other related duties as assigned.