Peer Support Specialist - Legacy Emmanuel Impact
Pay: $25.00 Per Hour
Schedule: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)
Hours and Location: Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm, Home Office: Recovery Campus - 8935 SE Powell Blvd Portland, OR 97266
Benefits: This is a benefited position as outlined in TPC Employee Handbook
Title: Peer Support Specialist
Reports to: Evolve Program Manager
Department: Evolve Direct Peer Services
Job Summary
The Peer Support Specialist (PSS)/Peer Wellness Specialist (PWS) provides peer support as someone who has similar life experiences of addiction and/or co-occurring mental health and addiction issues to the person being served and acts as a positive role model of recovery. The PSS is a member of an interdisciplinary team participating in collaboratively supporting an individual’s care. The PSS supports the individual by helping them develop their own self-directed recovery plan and accomplishing their goals. They provide a listening, nonjudgmental presence and connect individuals being served with a full range of community resources.
This PSS role operates within a collaborative partnership with Legacy Health’s Addiction Consult Service (ACS), primarily serving individuals at Legacy Emanuel Hospital with additional support to Legacy Good Samaritan and Legacy Mount Hood (as applicable). Using a Peer Support Team Model and grounded in SAMHSA Core Competencies and the National Association of Peer Supporters (NAPS) National Standards of Practice, the PSS provides recovery-oriented support to individuals experiencing substance use–related challenges during hospitalization and in the community as needed post-hospital discharge. The PSS works alongside hospital care teams to build authentic relationships, support individuals in exploring options, identifying strengths, and connecting them to community-based resources for ongoing recovery, while offering alternatives to traditional crisis responses and promoting a whole-health, person-centered approach.
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.
Motor Vehicle Records Search: For positions that require driving, The Peer Company conducts a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) search in accordance with company policy, insurance requirements, and applicable state and federal laws.
To be eligible for a driving-required position, candidates must meet the following minimum driving standards:
- No major driving violations within the past 3 years (i.e. - DUII, careless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, etc.)
- No more than 3 moving violations within the past 3 years (i.e. - speeding, failing to yield, running red light, etc.)
Experience:
- Identifies as having at least 2 years of lived experience in recovery with addiction challenges (may include both addiction and mental health challenges)
- 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/Peer Wellness 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 Suite, Microsoft Teams, data collection tools and platforms etc.)
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Provides 1:1 peer support to individuals experiencing substance use and/or mental health challenges in accordance with national standards, scope of practice and the core values of peer support
- Meets TPC’s peer support services performance expectations outlined in TPC’s Operations Handbook
- Acts as a positive role model for individuals being served and exploring their own path to wellness and recovery
- Builds authentic, trusting relationships through shared lived experience and mutual support
- Collaborates with individuals to create Person Directed Plans (PDPs) to support their individualized recovery journey
- Respects and honors a person’s rights and responsibilities and demonstrates professional boundaries and ethics
- Participate in regular peer support supervision sessions
- Applies a whole-health approach, honoring each individual’s mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs as self-defined
- 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 reducing moments of crisis by helping them to deescalate and identify next steps in their recovery journey while offering proactive alternatives to traditional crisis responses
- Assist participants in identifying and engaging various community resources and building natural supports
- Documents peer services in relevant data platforms, utilizing approved templates, data points and workflows
- Maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation as required by program deliverables
- Adheres to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements
- Participates in required hospital and vendor team meetings, trainings, orientations, and ongoing peer supervision
- Collaborates closely with Legacy’s Addiction Consult Service and hospital-based interdisciplinary teams to support coordinated, person-centered care
- Complete other relevant duties as assigned
