Peer Support Specialist, Crisis

Hillsboro, OR, United States

**Peer Support Specialist, Crisis #113**

LifeWorks NW is a private, non-profit organization providing prevention, mental health, substance use treatment, and related social services to youths, adults, and older adults in over fifteen locations throughout Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. LifeWorks NW promotes a healthy community by providing quality and culturally responsive mental health and addiction services across the lifespan.

Our core values-Recovery and Relationships, Resilience, and Results-inform the work we do. The four pillars of the strategic vision include Compassionate, Impactful Care, Holistic Health, Passionate Team, and Thriving Organization. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are critical to successfully achieving the mission. We know that "life works" when people get the help they need and are dedicated to changing lives.

The **Crisis Peer Support Specialist** at the Hawthorn Walk-In Center provides a variety of recovery-oriented services to individuals who are experiencing a mental health/emotional crisis and/or substance use concerns who have self-identified as desiring peer support. The Peer Support Specialist works to promote immediate safety and stability, greater independence, community integration and recovery. Services provided by peers (people who have had the experience of mental health treatment and have certification in Peer Support) include a wide variety of supports, services and advocacy that contribute to a client's ability to engage in ongoing treatment and work towards less dependence on traditional mental health treatment. These activities acknowledge the importance of involving significant others and other natural supports in the person's treatment to positively impact their recovery.

As a behavioral health organization, LifeWorks NW employees are required to have had their COVID 19 vaccination (or have an approved medical/religious exemption) . Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required upon hire.

**Location:** This position is based out of LifeWorks NW's Hawthorn site.

**Days/Hours:** Tues-Sat swing shift, 11:30 am -8:00 pm.

**Pay/Benefits:** $18.30 to $19.57 per hour. This position is 40 hours a week. .

**ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES**: (These responsibilities must be able to be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.)

- Works in collaboration with Crisis Team, Intensive Transition Team, Substance Use Disorder Team, and Mental Health Response Team staff to assist individuals with safety planning and connecting to on-going mental health services, addictions treatment, and/or peer support.

- Participates in welcoming and/or triaging individuals to the Hawthorn Walk-In Center and responding to urgent needs in the lobby.

- Participates in mobile response and/or meets participants in the community to provide peer support.

- Willing to share their own experiences as guided by training and also models the principles of recovery for those they work with, including self-care, gaining greater independence, emphasizing wellness and self-determination.

- Informs people served of available service options while promoting the use of natural supports and resources within the community.

- Assists individuals in navigating the mental health services system and in achieving wellness, resiliency and recovery as defined by the person.

- Work with clients on specific and obtainable goals included in the participant's short term crisis treatment plan.

- Maintains appropriate boundaries with participants.

- Provides support to clients who are having symptoms that could result in hospitalization. Duties could include grocery shopping or learning to use public transportation, or just spending time with clients until they feel secure enough to be on their own.

- Assists clients in accessing community resources such as food boxes, healthcare appointments and other services as appropriate.

- Will alert prescribers and/or support staff of any medication concerns.

- Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.

- Meets standards for documentation and accuracy of work as defined in the performance evaluation.

- Meets standards for cultural competency, productivity, attendance/punctuality, customer service, documentation/accuracy, teamwork, and clinical/prevention model as defined in the performance evaluation.

- Continually increase level of cultural sensitivity, awareness and humility.

- Participate in a culture of feedback at the agency by eliciting feedback to promote professional growth and assess work effectiveness

- Participates in regular individual supervision and team meetings. Provides written and verbal reports to supervisor regarding cases. Meets with Peer Coordinator at regular intervals.

- Attends informational and clinical meetings which may include all-agency meetings, team meetings, consultation meetings with psychiatrist, staffings, intra-agency trainings, etc. Attend and contribute positively to team meetings, agency and interdisciplinary meetings.

- Educate and advocate for the values and principles of Intentional Peer Support (IPS) and the Recovery Model.

- Completes documentation on a timely basis (generally within 24 hours).

- Checks e-mail/voicemail throughout the day when on shift, responds to contacts within 48 hours for routine matters (urgent matters may require a more immediate response).

- Completes online training courses as assigned.**Work Activities**:

- Providing Direct Client Care - Provides client support in person, over the phone, and in the community.

- De-escalation- use of verbal de-escalation skills to resolve heightened emotional situations on site and in the community, use of team approach to de-escalation as needed

- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Peer Support is strengths based and focuses on assisting individuals to identify and develop their personal strengths and attitudes to foster recovery and independence

- Communicating with Supervisors or Peers- Provides information to supervisors and co-workers by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.**Qualifications: Equivalent education and/or experience may be substituted for qualifications.**

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each task proficiently.

- Self-identifies as a current or former recipient of mental health services

- Holds a Peer Support Specialist certification from a state-approved training program. (Training can be completed after hire, if needed).

- Demonstrate effective communication skills and ability to provide culturally-competent treatment services to diverse client populations.

- Familiar with developmental needs of adults and children.

- Basic computer skills including keyboarding, use of mouse, ability to navigate website and use common web browser.

- Transporting clients in an agency vehicle is required. A valid driver's license and ability to meet driving requirements are necessary.

- Ability to perform essential functions of job without creating a direct threat to the safety of self or others.**Knowledge:**

- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.**Skills:**

- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

- Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

- Bilingual preferred**Abilities:**

- Oral Com