Job Details

Peer Support Specialist

The Peer Support Specialist is a present or past client of mental health services with sufficient recovery to provide peer support services to people with psychiatric illness. The incumbent works as an active member of the treatment team, providing a wide range of peer support services to clients to assist them in regaining control over their own lives and their own recovery process.

Responsibilities include:

• Assisting clients in identifying their personal recovery goals, setting objectives for each goal, and determining interventions based on the clients' recovery/life goals.
• Modeling and teaching good communication skills, recovery-oriented living skills, effective coping skills, and self-help strategies to individuals and groups.
• Developing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship with clients to identify emotional, psychiatric or behavioral changes which may require further intervention or treatment. Helping clients resolve problems and referring them to appropriate clinical staff.
• Serving as a liaison to community resources and assisting clients in using these resources to enhance their independent living skills.
• Observing and monitoring clients and documenting changes in behaviors and mental and medical conditions.
• Informing lead staff persons, program managers, and other pertinent parties of clients' needs or concerns.
• Monitoring and assisting clients in learning daily living skills.
• Transporting clients as requested.
• Monitoring safety and security of the environment.
• Assisting in management of behavioral emergencies.
• Keeping up-to-date documentation and auditing client charts, answering phones, entering information into computer, and scheduling appointments.
• Assisting clients with banking, shopping, cooking, cleaning, transportation, job and housing search, mental and physical health provider appointments, and social service providers.
• Acting as a member of the treatment team, providing input into and utilizing feedback from clients to ensure the best possible outcomes for clients.

Qualifications include:

• High school diploma or equivalent and a general understanding of the population served. Some post-secondary coursework preferred.
• A history of receiving mental health services and being well-grounded in one's own recovery, with at least a year since diagnosis preferred.
• Knowledge and skills sufficient for establishing effective relationships with clients who have a mental illness in order to support them in their own recovery. Competency in recognizing behavioral issues and symptoms of mental illnesses for the purpose of electronic documentation and communication with members of the treatment team.
• Eligibility to become certified as a Peer Support Specialist Adult Mental Health on the State registry and attending required trainings for certification when available.
• Proficiency in Word and other MS Office applications preferred.
• Must pass state-required background and DMV checks; possess a valid OR driver's license and a satisfactory driving record to transport clients. Ability to work independently and flexibly, under general supervision.
• Mature attitude and sensitivity to the needs of people who have a chronic mental illness; understanding of HIPAA laws regarding confidentiality of privileged information; ability to follow verbal and written instructions; ability to work independently and with staff as agency needs dictate.

Options for Southern Oregon is committed to the continued development of an aware, diverse, and culturally responsive workforce and an organizational culture that is supportive and affirming for all staff and clients. Options for Southern Oregon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.