Peer Support Specialist - Latinx BHRN

Pay: $25.00 per hour

Schedule: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week), Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Location: Home Office – Recovery Campus, 8935 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97266

About the Role

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) provides peer support as someone who has similar life experiences and acts as a positive role model for living in recovery. The PSS is a member of interdisciplinary teams participating in collaboratively supporting an individual’s self-defined and self-directed care. The PSS supports individuals by helping them create their own person-directed recovery plan and accomplish goals toward their self-defined recovery journey. They provide a listening, nonjudgmental presence and connect individuals with a full range of community resources.

BHRN Peer Support Specialists will provide peer support via intentional outreach, community partner referrals, and/or self-referrals from anyone seeking help for drug use or addiction issues. This position is community-based, serving people in their homes, social service agencies, homeless camps, or wherever their peers reside. The PSS must drive and schedule independently, requiring daily local travel. The PSS will process referrals in Latinx BHRNs and connect individuals with the resources of their choosing.

Responsibilities

• Provides 1:1 peer support to diverse individuals in accordance with The Peer Company’s values alignment and principles of peer support.
• Collaborates with individuals to create Person Directed Plans (PDPs) to support their individualized recovery journey.
• Participates in regular peer support supervision sessions.
• Collaborates with other service providers and interdisciplinary teams to support participant PDPs and recovery journeys.
• Attends meetings to gain knowledge, communicate program objectives, and advocate for the needs of participants.
• Implements regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to peer-delivered services, The Peer Company, and community partners.
• Assists participants in exploring strategies that increase satisfaction with the eight dimensions of wellness.
• Travels to visit community partners and participants, occasionally transporting participants to relevant community partners.
• Supports participants in crisis by helping them de-escalate and identify next steps in their recovery journey.
• Assists participants in identifying and engaging various community resources and supports.
• Documents support services in a program database in compliance with policies, program procedures, and local, state, and federal regulations.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation as required by program deliverables.
• Meets TPC’s metric-based performance expectations based on organizational standards and contract deliverables.
• Acts as a positive role model for individuals exploring their own path to wellness and recovery.
• Respects and honors a person’s rights and responsibilities and demonstrates professional boundaries and ethics.
• Adheres to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements.
• Completes other relevant duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Identifies as having lived experience in recovery with substance use disorder (SUD) and/or mental health challenges.
• At least 24 months of continuous, sustained recovery with SUD and/or mental health challenges before employment.
• Understands the principles of trauma-informed care, recovery, and consumer involvement.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, with the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Must maintain continuous recovery and remain abstinent from substance or alcohol use (illegal, legal, and recreational) during employment with TPC.
• Peer Support Specialist (OHA Traditional Health Worker certification) or MHACBO CRM certification required or able to be obtained within 90 days of hire.
• Valid Oregon Driver’s License and proof of automobile insurance required.
• Access to reliable personal vehicle required.
• No major driving violations within the past 3 years (e.g., DUII, careless driving, leaving the scene of an accident).
• No more than 3 moving violations within the past 3 years (e.g., speeding, failing to yield, running a red light).

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.
• Typing and general technology skills to navigate electronic systems (e.g., email, Microsoft Teams).
• Ability to push, pull, lift, or carry items up to 25 pounds.

Benefits

This is a benefited position as outlined in the TPC Employee Handbook.