Peer Support Specialist - Unity E-SUDS

Pay: $25.00 per hour

Schedule: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week), Thursday – Sunday, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Locations: Home Office - Recovery Campus (8935 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97266) and Unity Center (1225 NE 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97232)

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 creating their own person-directed recovery plans and accomplishing goals towards their self-defined recovery journey. They provide a listening, nonjudgmental presence and connect individuals with a full range of community resources.

The PSS is a member of a multidisciplinary team and meets with individuals at Unity Center for Behavioral Health in the E-SUDS (Emergency Substance Use Disorder Services) unit, where they receive short-term substance use-related medical care and stabilization services. The PSS offers follow-up support to connect individuals with community resources, including behavioral health and physical healthcare services, longer-term SUD treatment, harm-reduction services, and recovery supports. Follow-up may occur in a person’s home or community setting.

The PSS will collaborate with the Unity E-SUDS team, which includes peer support specialists, social workers, case managers, and medical staff. Most communication will occur in team/individual meetings, encounter notes/documentation, and emails to the care team. The PSS will learn and practice infection control training as required for interacting with people in a medical setting.

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 regulations.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation as required by program deliverables.
• Meets 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.
• Actively collaborates with the Unity E-SUDS team.
• Meets with individuals in the community and/or their homes to establish and maintain a positive peer support relationship.
• Offers educational opportunities to explore new resources, information, and alternatives to utilizing the emergency department for non-emergent needs.
• Provides support in crisis situations, following emergency protocols and coordinating with the E-SUDS team.
• Practices and is competent in de-escalation techniques from a peer support lens to reduce instances of physical and mechanical restraint.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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/carry items up to 25 pounds.

Benefits

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