Peer Support Specialist - Kaiser Addiction Medicine
The Peer Support Specialist (PSS)/Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) offers peer support to individuals as someone who has similar lived experience and acts as a positive role model of a person in recovery. The PSS/CRM offers peer support and recovery mentorship for individuals who identify as having a substance use disorder and/or co-occurring mental health challenges and are exploring and navigating their own self-directed recovery journey. The PSS/CRM will be working with an interdisciplinary team at Kaiser Permanente (KP). The PSS/CRM will provide a listening, supportive presence to the person being served, will also support the development of person-directed plans and goals and will offer follow-up support to connect individuals with a full range of resources in the community and within KP.
The PSS/CRM will initially meet with the person being served at The Westside/Washington County Kaiser Clinic locations. The PSS/CRM will also have phone contacts and visits with individuals in their home setting or in the community (which is where much of the valuable work of supporting recovery takes place), as well as in any treatment facility in which the person is being served. In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, peer support services may be provided virtually as needed.
The PSS/CRM will communicate regularly with KP medical, addictions, and social work/case management team members and collateral providers to link the individual with services in the community and support the coordination of care in collaboration with the person being served.
The PSS/CRM will support KP members in engagement with medical care and recovery support services including harm-reduction services. The PSS/CRM will play a major, ongoing role in supporting the people being served to engage in addiction and mental health treatments including medication assisted treatment if the individual so desires.
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.
- Ability to have difficult conversations with peers while remaining person-centered and with good judgment.
- Experience using de-escalation pathways techniques in a peer-centered way (preferred). Additional training provided if necessary.
Licensure/Certification: Peer Support Specialist or Peer Wellness Specialist (OHA Traditional Health Worker certification) and/or MHCBO CRM certification required upon hire. Valid Oregon Driver’s License and proof of automobile insurance if applicable.
GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- To provide 1:1 peer support to a person being served with a performance expectation of 50-60% of the employees FTE being dedicated to the provision of peer support.
- Actively collaborates with KP Mental Health and Addiction medicine teams.
- Participates in regular MHAAO peer support supervisions.
- Attending care conferences and staff meetings to gain knowledge and communicate program goals and the needs of the individuals being served.
- Implements the regulations, policies, and procedures which pertain to peer-delivered service as well as be mindful of Kaiser Permanente policies and procedures.
- Meet with individuals being served in the community and/or their homes to establish and maintain a positive and trusting relationship as determined applicable by KP team and individual being served.
- 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 KP 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 MHAAO core values and practices the 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 KP clinic 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.
View full job description HERE.
