Multnomah County Prime+ Peer Support Specialist

Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO)
EVOLVE PRIME+ PSS/PWS/CRM Job Description

Pay Range: $25.00 per hour.

FTE: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)

Benefits: This is a benefited position as outlined in the MHAAO Employee Handbook

TITLE:Peer Support Specialist/Certified Recovery Mentor

REPORTS TO: EVOLVE Peer Delivered Services Program Manager

DEPARTMENT: EVOLVEPeer Delivered Services-Prime+ Program

JOB BACKGROUND & SUMMARY:

Evolve Peer Support Specialists/Certified Recovery Mentors (PSS/CRMs) will be

working in Multnomah County-based hospital campuses and other healthcare settings that have frequent and repeated interaction with those at high risk of opioid and other drug overdoses and have additional health conditions such as Hepatitis A, B, and/or C and/or HIV. PSS/CRMs will offer Peer Support in these locations and out into the community post- discharge.

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS)/Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) offers Peer Support to individuals as someone who has similar life experiences and acts as a positive role model of a person in recovery. The PSS/CRM is a member of several interdisciplinary teams participating in collaboratively supporting an individual’s self-defined and self-directed care. The PSS/CRM also supports the individual being served by creating their own person-directed recovery path and accessing Hepatitis and HIV healthcare services and treatment. They will provide a listening, nonjudgmental presence for those who desire to access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or other harm-reduction services and will offer follow-up support to connect individuals being served with a full range of resources in the community.

The PSS/CRM will provide outreach in the community in a wide variety of locations and the hospital campus or emergency department where they are receiving short-term physical health care, usually directly related to substance use. The PSS/CRM will learn and be willing to practice all infection control training as it pertains to interacting with people in a hospital setting. The hospital will provide these trainings electronically, and they are expected to be completed during onboarding. It is encouraged for the PSS/CRM to connect with the individual being served for a follow up after the hospital experience and/or participate in the transition to community resources, treatment, or housing from the hospital. The follow up may occur in a person’s home setting or community where the valuable work of supporting recovery takes place, after the treatment episode at hospital.

The PSS/CRM will work closely with members of the appropriate hospital substance use disorder (SUD) teams, harm-reductions services teams, and other relevant community-based resources organizations.

Access Level to Protected Health Information (PHI):

C= Limited approved access to patient care areas and/or all records containing PHI as needed to carry out their duties.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Expectations: MHAAO strives to honor cultural and spiritual diversity in the communities we serve as well as honoring Voice and Choice through trauma-informed practices. Being committed to Social Justice means being committed to constantly assessing our organizational values and the extent to which we are modeling or falling short of them. It also means listening to feedback from our stakeholders and others who have interacted with our organization and taking the time to understand and reflect on those interactions. This commitment is extended from the organization, as well as each employee of MHAAO.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.

Background Check: A criminal background check will be conducted by MHAAO in accordance with the MHAAO background check policy. A criminal record does not necessarily exclude an individual from employment with MHAAO.

A criminal history does not necessarily exclude an individual from hire.

Experience: Identifies as having lived experience of recovery with addiction challenges (may include both addiction and mental health challenges). Lived experience of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and recovery valued. Experience working with adults with addiction challenges preferred. Experience with mental health recovery is desirable and highly valued. Understands the potential effects of trauma on health. Understands the principles of recovery, consumer-involvement, and trauma-informed care.

MHAAO Requires that candidates with lived SUD experience have a minimum of 2 years continuous recovery prior to date of hire.

Qualities:

• Possess an absolute belief in every person’s ability to learn, grow and recover.
• Value a person’s right to make their own decisions.
• Value people as the “experts” in their own lives
• Possess insight pertaining to personal biases and worldview and how they may interfere with effectively working with individuals representing a variety of cultural, ethnic, language and life experiences.

Licensure/Certification: Peer Support Specialist (OHA Traditional Health Worker certification) and MHCBO CRM certification required or able to be obtained within one month of hire.

Valid Oregon Driver’s License and proof of automobile insurance.

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.

Keyboard skills and ability to navigate electronic systems applicable to job functions.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Actively collaborates with hospitals, other healthcare services, harm-reduction, treatment, and recovery support services teams.
• Participates in regular MHAAO Peer Support supervisions.
• Provides 1:1 Peer Support and service connection to those being served.
• Attending case conferences and staff meetings to share relevant lived experience, gain knowledge and support the communication of the self-directed plan of the individual being served.
• Implements the regulations, policies, and procedures which pertain to peer-delivered service as well as be mindful of relevant hospital policies and procedures.
• Meet with individuals being served in the community and/or their homes to provide Peer Support/recovery mentorship (as desired by the individual being served) and as determined applicable by hospital SUD team.
• Following the direction of the individuals served and supporting them in exploring strategies that increase satisfaction with the eight dimensions of wellness.
• Offers support with identifying and engaging various community resources.
• Offers individuals being served educational opportunities to explore new resources, information and alternatives to utilizing the emergency department for non-emergent needs.
• Offers support in crisis situations as appropriate, following emergency protocols/procedures and coordinating with the hospital SUD team with interventions which support a trauma informed environment for people being served and staff. Practices and is competent in preventing escalation, and works to prevent physical and mechanical restraint techniques, avoiding crisis situations or neutralizing crises in progress. This position will not participate in mechanical restraint or restraint training.
• Participates in data collection.
• Reflects and practices the core values and principles of Peer Support.
• Documents and maintains peer-centric support summaries in a manner that assures compliance with policies, program procedures and local, state, and federal regulations. Maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation as required.
• Openly identifies as a person who has lived the experience addiction and/or mental health challenges and shares own recovery story with individuals being served and hospital staff as appropriate.
• Acts as a positive role model for individuals being served and exploring their own path to wellness and recovery.
• Acts as an advocate for individuals being served when appropriate, both within the organization and also with other entities.
• Respects and honors the persons being served rights and responsibilities and demonstrates professional boundaries and ethics. Adheres to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements.
• Demonstrates responsibility for safety of people being served, staff and property; is familiar with fire regulations and evacuation procedures.

The above accountabilities represent work performed by this position and are not all-inclusive. The omission of a specific accountability will not preclude it from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical extension of the position.

Employment with Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon is "at-will." This means employees are free to resign at any time, with or without cause, and Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advance notice. As an at-will employee, it is not guaranteed, in any manner, that you will be employed with Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon for any set period of time.

Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities at Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon are based upon one's qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job. All employment opportunities are provided without regard to race, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, Veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.