Peer Support Specialist - Prime Plus

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 towards their self-defined recovery journey. They provide a listening, nonjudgmental presence and connect individuals with a full range of community resources.

Prime Plus PSSs work within Multnomah County hospital campuses and other healthcare settings that serve individuals at high risk of opioid and other drug overdoses, as well as those managing health conditions such as Hepatitis A, B, or C and HIV. Support is provided both in these hospital environments and out in the community, including after a participant’s discharge. PSSs in this program also engage in community-based outreach in a range of locations, including emergency departments and hospital areas where individuals receive short-term medical care related to substance use. They are expected to complete required infection-control training for hospital-based interactions. Following a hospital visit, PSSs connect with individuals to assist with transitions to community supports, treatment options, housing resources, and other recovery-oriented services.

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 service, 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 deescalate 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.
• 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.
• Provides peer support specifically to individuals seeking or engaged in Hepatitis and HIV services by helping them navigate access to related healthcare and treatment options.
• Offers a nonjudgmental, harm-reduction–aligned presence for individuals exploring or utilizing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and other harm-reduction services.
• Engages individuals in conversations that support the development of their own self-defined recovery paths related to Hepatitis, HIV, MAT, and other wellness goals.
• Provides follow-up support to help participants stay connected to a full range of medical, recovery, and community resources related to Hepatitis, HIV, and harm-reduction services.
• 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.
• Has 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.
• 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 is required.
• Criminal background check will be conducted; a criminal record does not necessarily exclude an individual from employment.
• Pre-hire drug screening required in accordance with company policy and applicable laws.
• For driving-required positions, Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) search will be conducted. Minimum driving standards:
  • 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 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.