Peer Support Specialist - OHSU Primary Clinics South Waterfront
The Peer Company
Peer Support Specialist – OHSU Primary Clinics of South Waterfront
Family Medicine Job Description
Pay: $25.00 Per Hour
Schedule: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)
Days/Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30AM - 5:00PM
Benefits: This is a benefited position as outlined in The Peer Company Employee Handbook
Title: Peer Support Specialist
Reports to: EVOLVE Peer Delivered Services Program Manager
Department: EVOLVE Peer Delivered Services Program-OHSU Primary Care Medicine Clinics
Job Summary
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 the individual being served by creating their own person-directed recovery plan and accomplishing goals towards their self-defined recovery journey plan. They provide a listening, nonjudgmental presence and connect individuals being served with a full range of community resources.
This position is part of the OHSU Primary Care Clinics Pilot Program. The PSS will support individuals who agree to participate in the program and are referred by primary care providers or behavioral health specialists. Peer support services will initially be provided at the OHSU South Waterfront Family Medicine and Internal Medicine clinics, during clinic hours and in the community as needed.
The PSS offers follow-up support to connect individuals with community resources, including harm-reduction education, services, and supports, either directly or through warm hand-offs to other peer providers. The PSS will work closely with OHSU medical, addictions, and social work/case management teams and other community partners to support coordinated care. They will help individuals engage with medical care, recovery supports, and mental health and substance use treatment services, including medication-assisted treatment if desired by the person being served.
Qualifications
Values Alignment: The Peer Company strives to honor cultural and spiritual diversity in the communities we serve as well as honoring Voice and Choice through trauma-informed practices with a Social Justice lens. Our values of Voice and Choice mean we believe in the person’s right to make their own decisions and that people are the “experts” in their own lives. We have an unwavering belief in every person’s ability to learn, grow, and recover.
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 The Peer Company.
Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.
Background Check: A criminal background check will be conducted by The Peer Company in accordance with The Peer Company background check policy. A criminal record does not necessarily exclude an individual from employment with The Peer Company.
Pre-Hire Drug Screen: As part of The Peer Company's commitment to fostering a safe, productive, and professional workplace, we require pre-hire drug screenings for all potential employees. The screening will be conducted in accordance with The Peer Company's drug screening policy, as well as applicable state and federal laws.
Experience:
- Identifies as having at least 2 years of lived experience in recovery with addiction challenges (may include both addiction and mental health challenges)
- Lived experience of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and recovery valued
- Experience with mental health recovery is desirable and highly valued
- Understands the principles of trauma informed care, recovery, consumer-involvement, and trauma-informed care
Licensure/Certification:
- 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
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 easily and efficiently navigate electronic systems (e.g., email, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Provides 1:1 peer support to diverse individuals being served 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
- Collaborate with other service providers and interdisciplinary teams to support participant PDPs and recovery journeys
- Attend meetings, as applicable, to gain knowledge, communicate program objectives, and advocate for the needs of the participants being served
- Implements the regulations, policies, and procedures which pertain to peer-delivered service, The Peer Company, and community partners
- Following the direction of the participants served, assist 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
- Support participants in crisis by helping them to deescalate and identify next steps in their recovery journey
- Assist participants in identifying and engaging various community resources and supports
- Documents support services in a program database 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 by program deliverables
- Acts as a positive role model for individuals being served and 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
- Collaborates directly with OHSU medical, behavioral health, addictions, and social work/case management staff to support coordinated care
- Participates in OHSU case conferences and team meetings to communicate program goals and advocate for participant needs
- Follows OHSU emergency protocols and coordinates with clinic teams when supporting participants in crisis
- Supports individuals in exploring alternatives to emergency department use for non-emergent needs
- Builds familiarity with and adheres to applicable OHSU procedures, safety protocols, and hospital environment expectations
- Participates in program data collection requirements as defined by MHAAO and OHSU
- Supports harm-reduction engagement and warm hand-offs to medical and community peer resources
- May accompany individuals in the clinic and community to support medical engagement and recovery goals
- Shares recovery experiences appropriately in support of a trauma-informed environment
- Complete other relevant duties as assigned
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 The Peer Company is "at-will." This means employees are free to resign at any time, with or without cause, and The Peer Company 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 The Peer Company for any set period of time.
The Peer Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities at The Peer Company 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.
