Mental Health Peer Support Specialist - Prineville

JOB SUMMARY: 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. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. Identifies recovering person’s abilities, strengths and assets and assist them to recognize and use them;
5. Identifies barriers to full participation and focuses on strategies to overcome them;
6. 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;
7. Referrals to various services, when appropriate (i.e. Food Bank, LINC, primary care/medical services, community college, parenting, etc.);
8. Provides case management services, as needed;
9. Attends program and all staff meetings as well as supervision meetings;
10. Helps clinicians in groups at the office, jail, etc. Provides back-up in groups and other treatment activities, as needed;
11. Helps clients develop and connect to community-based pro-social or wellness-oriented recovery activities;
12. Maintains accurate documentation in the electronic health system (EHS) within agency stated timelines;
13. Other related duties as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Performs work in alignment with BestCare’s mission, vision, values;
2. Supports the organization’s commitment to fostering a culture of open-mindedness, cultural awareness, compassion, and respect for all individuals; 
3. Strives to meet Program/Department goals and supports the organization’s strategic goals;
4. Adheres to the organization’s Code of Conduct, Business Ethics, Employee Handbook, and all other relevant policies, procedures, and other compliance needs;
5. Understands and maintains professionalism and confidentiality per HIPAA, 42 CFR, and Oregon Statutes;
6. Attends required program/staff meetings and completes assigned training timely and satisfactorily;
7. Ensures that any required certifications and/or licenses are kept current and renewed timely;
8. Works independently as well as participates as a positive, collaborative team member.
9. Performs other organizational duties as needed.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES: Must have demonstrated competency or ability to attain competency for each of the following within a reasonable period: 

• Knowledge of mental illness, substance-use disorder, and persons with disabilities as well as community resources, and recovery programs
• Ability to effectively engage clients in mental health treatment services wherever possible in a compassionate and supportive manner;
• Strong ability using MS Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook), EHR platform, databases, virtual meeting platforms, internet, and ability to learn new or updated software;
• Demonstrated ability to effectively assess and manage crisis situations using verbal intervention skills in de-escalating experience crisis, risk situations, and aggressive behaviors;
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills;
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively (orally and in writing);
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through;
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines;
• Critical thinking skills;
• Ability to maintain strict confidence as required by HIPAA, 42 CFR, and Oregon Statutes;
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships;
• Ability to work effectively and respectfully in a diverse, multi-cultural environment;
• Ability to work independently as well as participating as a positive, collaborative team member.
• Ability to function well and use good judgment and be flexible in crisis situations;
• Ability to manage conflict resolution and anger/fear/hostility/violence of others appropriately and effectively.

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