Peer Support Specialist- The Cottage

Working Title: Peer Support Specialist
Program: Community Support Services- The Cottage
Pay Range:$17.51-19.31 Hourly
Location: The Dalles, Oregon (This position will serve all three counties: Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman County)
FTE: 1.0 FTE (37.5 hours per Week)
FSLA Status: Non-Exempt

The Peer Support Specialist provides peer support to clients who may be experiencing mental health issues in the community within the Intensive Case Management Team (ICM). This position facilitates contact with providers, assists with transportation issues and other issues that may be barriers to accessing treatment and/or support in the community. The Peer Support Specialist provides training in independent living skills, documents client progress and issues, and conducts program outreach as necessary.

The Peer Support Specialist for The Cottage empowers adults with behavioral, mental health, and other challenges by providing a variety of recovery-oriented services to individuals. This position works with individuals to promote greater independence, community integration and recovery for mental wellness.

Responsibilities

The following list represents the essential responsibilities of the position. It does not include, however, all of the duties the position may be asked to perform.

• Meet regularly with consumers; train consumers in independent living skills and model same behaviors; provide feedback in the form of log sheets or other documentation as necessary.
• Document encounters with consumers using electronic health record system. Access and use Agency email system and Intranet to remain updated on Agency functions and department communications.
• Advocate on behalf of consumers and promote self-advocacy; maintain consumer networks in the community. Conduct outreach activities in local communities.
• Work alongside Case Managers in order to best support the Client’s goals.
• Communicate with treatment team about problems or concerns; participate in ongoing support network with other Peer Support Specialists. Participate in team meetings with other MCCFL Peer Support Specialists and volunteers.
• Collaborate cross-departmentally with other teams throughout the agency.
• Coordinate and facilitate oversight of outings/activities. Facilitate group planning of activity; ensure the group is in agreement.
• Accompany group on outings; ensure safety; provide transportation as required and appropriate.
• Provide coverage for other Peer Support Specialists as needed.
• Ensure that safety procedures are followed.

Program-specific Essential Responsibilities of the Peer Support Specialist – The Cottage (Position includes all of the aforementioned responsibilities plus the following):

• Support individuals in self-identifying their areas of need; support individuals in communicating these needs to members of their team (therapist, skills trainer, or other outside of the agency supports).
• Monitor and assess general behaviors and activity levels, and the quality of client interactions; intervene as necessary or request assistance. Identify and resolve routine day-to-day program issues that may arise; refer non-routine issues to the Program Supervisor.
• Facilitate access to resources (public and private sector). Coach and support individuals as they make calls to access resources; provide guidance in completing forms and applications.
• Provide support and model self-advocacy on site and while on outings in the community.
• Empower clients to articulate their concerns and needs effectively; maintain local resources for clients to access independently; educate clients in resource research and how to access resources independently. Support the development and connection to natural supports within their community.
• Oversee and direct in a teaching kitchen setting, learning to prepare meals to meet basic needs.
• Attend staff meetings and scheduled supplementary trainings; complete and submit scheduled reports, timesheets, progress notes, and other paperwork as required. Adhere to staff policies and procedures; review and sign confidentiality statement annually; review and sign code of ethics annually.
• Participate, as able, in evaluations of Peer Delivered Service Program efficacy and in program quality improvement activities.

Qualifications

• Qualifying experience and training typically include a high school diploma or GED. The successful applicant must hold or be able to obtain within a reasonable time frame, an Oregon Health Authority certification as a Peer Delivered Service Provider. Such certification must be current and valid at all times.
• Because the services provided by the position are through a peer-to-peer model, preference may be given to individuals who have previous or current involvement as a behavioral health consumer, and/or individuals who possess a “lived” experience dealing with psychiatric disabilities and/or the legal system. Such experience does not, however, in itself constitute a guarantee of employment.
• Must possess and maintain a current food handler’s permit.
• Must possess a valid Oregon or Washington Driver's License, maintain an acceptable driving record and be insurable for client service purposes and for travel between business office for meetings and/or trainings. This position must pass all criminal history check requirements as required by ORS 181.536 to 181.537, and in accordance with OAR 407-007-0220 to 407-007-0370

Other Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of symptoms and challenges faced by people with mental illness.
• Knowledge of assessment and referral processes and procedures.
• Knowledge of MCCFL-based and other community-based services.
• Knowledge of treatment and service terminology required by the position.
• Knowledge of treatment/service planning.
• General knowledge of client charting.

Skill:

• Good interpersonal skills and a strong work ethic.
• Skill in the use of electronic health record systems within the scope of the position.
• Basic skill in the use of standard office software, including email.
• Basic skill in keyboarding.

Ability:

• Ability to understand and effectively apply the concepts and practices of a trauma-informed philosophy in performing the work.
• Ability to work within strong professional ethics and rules of confidentiality to provide effective services to clients.
• Ability to effectively work with clients to encourage and facilitate engagement in the treatment process; ability to effectively advocate for the rights of consumers of mental health services.
• Ability to maintain a strong service orientation.
• Strong ability to maintain composure and direct escalated individuals in a group setting.
• Ability to write and maintain timely and cogent notes using an electronic health record system.
• Ability to organize and execute work effectively under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines.
• Ability to work with grace and good humor under pressure and to meet deadlines as assigned.
• Ability to work cooperatively with other departments and service providers.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and within Sanctuary Model guidelines.
• Ability to maintain proper professional boundaries with clients and staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain harmonious work relationships with co-workers at all levels of the organization, consultants, contractors, community partners, and consumers.
• Ability to plan and prepare meals for large groups.
• Ability to do basic cleaning tasks, including but not limited to, cleaning of kitchen, dining, and cottage space, cleaning shower room/restroom, doing laundry.

Leadership Received: This position works under the leadership of a Program Supervisor.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; talk and hear; use hands and fingers and handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; stoop; kneel or crouch. The position may require the incumbent to move in a variety of field locations, some of which may not provide universal access accommodations. Keyboarding is required.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds in order to carry boxes/totes to and from work locations. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. This position may be required to drive locally and regionally to transport clients and provide services in the community.

Work Environment:

• While this position is based in an office environment with normal office environmental factors, it frequently provides services at various locations in Hood River, Sherman, and Wasco Counties. As such, it may require safety awareness and precautions commensurate with field work in unknown environments. Work is performed in various settings, including clinic/program environment, community settings and other agency stakeholder facilities. The office environment is typically with moderate stimuli and may often result in exposure to increased sensory experiences. This position is required to drive for travel between offices and counties. The employee must have a valid driver’s license and be insurable for the use of agency vehicles.

While this description is intended to accurately reflect the activities and requirements of the Peer Support Specialist position, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary. Job responsibilities are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate the needs of the individuals served by this agency. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship.

MCCFL provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. To request accommodation in the recruitment or selection process, please contact human resources at 541-288-4359 or email hr@mccfl.org.

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