Peer Support Specialist

Central City Concern is an innovative nonprofit agency providing comprehensive services to single adults and families in the Portland metro area who are impacted by homelessness, poverty and addictions. We hire people that are skilled and passionate to meet our mission to end homelessness through outcome-based strategies which support personal and community transformation.

River Haven is an innovative program that will offer integrated housing, health care, and employment services with the long-term goal of eliminating homelessness. We seek to change how these services are delivered to all people, especially vulnerable populations.

This position will work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team at River Haven to deliver comprehensive, person-centered, integrated services to the Portland Eastside community. The Peer Support Specialist provides recovery-oriented based services to individuals who have self-identified as desiring peer support, community integration and recovery-based relationships.

Location: River Haven

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm

Pay: The range for this job starts at $23.36, and pay will be commensurate with experience and internal equity

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• GED or High school Diploma required.
• Must be registered with MHACBO as a Certified Recovery Mentor OR Must be a certified Peer Support Specialist (or Peer Wellness Specialist) and be registered as a Traditional Health Worker on the THW registry.
• Must possess a current driver's license, access to a vehicle, qualify as an Acceptable Driver as designated in Central City Concern's Fleet Safety policy. Must pass an initial drivers training within 60 days of being an approved driver and continued recertification training. Must maintain vehicle insurance coverage of a minimum of $100,000/$300,000 personal auto liability coverage.
• Must meet CCC privileging requirements as required by FTCA.
• Current CPR certification prior to start.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, TB test, and background check. This includes clearance by the DHS Background Check Unit.
• The OAR prohibits A&D program staff from having within the previous 3 years a DUI conviction or diversion, a felony conviction, or a conviction under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
• Will be required to carry an agency cell phone for work use. Cell phone will be provided by Central City Concern.
• Ability to adhere to Central City Concern's drug-free workplace which encourages a safe, healthy and productive work environment and strictly complies with the Drug-Free Work Place Act of 1988. An employee shall not, in the workplace, unlawfully manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess or use a controlled substance or alcohol.
• Must adhere to all Agency non-discrimination policies.
• Ability to effectively interact with co-workers and clients with diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, political affiliations, cultural backgrounds, life-styles, and sexual orientations and treat each individual with respect and dignity.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work as a member of the River Haven multi-disciplinary team to deliver comprehensive, client centered and trauma informed integrated services.
• Actively participate in the integration of services at River Haven and identify new opportunities to improve collaboration between and within service and care teams while carefully following information-sharing guidelines.
• Proactively identify opportunities for improvement within River Haven workflows and logistics. Participate in review of River Haven Performance Indicators; review and contribute to continuous improvement opportunities and plans.
• Build understanding of and appreciation for diversity among River Haven clients and support their connection to culturally responsive and culturally specific services as requested.
• Exemplifies recovery principles in order to show by example that recovery is possible and attainable. Share their own recovery story as appropriate, and walks the road of recovery alongside the service recipient.
• Staff the River Haven when open to clients to offer support and consistency in day-to-day operation of the program.
• Adhere to the key principles of the Blackburn team: monitor for disruptive behaviors, engage positively with members and model recover-based relationships, while fulfilling the different duties in the day-to-day operation.
• Work with peers on specific objectives in conjunction with the client's case manager and/or counselor.
• Actively participate in programming development, including but not limited to: peer-led healing and recovery groups, routine events throughout the year and more.
• Work with Program Manager/Clinical Supervisor to develop and support new and ongoing programming.
• Attend and positively participate in required team, agency, and interdisciplinary meetings.
• Coordinate and consult with other team members to keep team informed of issues and progress.
• Timely and accurately complete special tasks assigned by Clinical Supervisor or Program Manager.
• Cultivate and maintain positive working relationships with clients, staff, and other community resources.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and group supervision as required.
• Educate and advocate for the values and principles of the Recovery Model in River Haven, with staff and with clients.
• Work to increase competency of Peer Delivered Services.
• Ensure timely completion of all required paperwork.
• Work to increase level of cultural sensitivity, awareness and competency regarding Person Centered and Peer Delivered Services
• Identify and facilitate clients' access to community resources.
• Maintain records and documentation in accessible and legible form.
• Ensure that all records are current, and client interactions meet applicable State and Federal guidelines and regulations.
• Adhere to all state and federal privacy regulations, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, and to CCC policies and agreements regarding confidentiality, privacy, and security. Support compliance with all privacy and security requirements pursuant to community partners' and outside providers' patient confidentiality agreements, including privacy and security requirements for EMR access. This includes immediately reporting any breach of protected health information or personal identification information of any person receiving CCC services by CCC or an outside provider to the CCC Compliance Department, as well as to your supervisor or their designee.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to consider the impacts and outcomes for underserved communities during decision-making process.
• Ability to consider impacts of oppression, structural racism, and individual bias on client outcomes.
• Understanding of chemical dependency as a disease, including treatment and intervention methods.
• Ability to work both as a team member and independently to achieve program goals.
• Understanding of HIPAA, confidentiality and boundaries, and a demonstrated ability to incorporate into daily job performance.
• Ability to understand and implement self-sufficiency, treatment or discharge plans developed by other agencies.
• Ability to clearly communicate expectations and consequences to clients/tenants.
• Ability to manage complex and multiple tasks and prioritize appropriately.
• Demonstrated knowledge of community agencies and self-help groups.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing.
• Comfortable working with people from a diverse range of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, including those with dual diagnoses or other disabilities who may display hostility.
• Ability to respond appropriately to clients' complaints and grievances.
• Ability to recognize and acknowledge the limits of own ability and expertise, and a willingness to seek information, help or support whenever appropriate.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and necessary paperwork.
• Knowledge of and ability to utilize de-escalation techniques, when encountering volatile situations.
• Ability to effectively communicate with clients, co-workers, corrections personnel, police, child welfare workers and other community referents.
• Demonstrated understanding of professional and personal boundaries in the workplace.

Benefits: Central City Concern offers an incredible benefits package to our Regular/FT employees:

• Generous paid time off plan which provides up to 4 weeks of PTO accrual in the first year. Accrual increases with longevity.
• Amazing 403(b) Retirement Savings plan with competitive employer match with 4.25% in the first year, 6% in the second year, and 8% in the 3rd year.
• 11 paid Holidays PLUS 2 Personal Holidays to be used at the employee's discretion.
• Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental insurance coverage.
• Employer Paid Life, Short Term Disability, AND Long Term Disability Insurance!
• Excellent relocation package for those roles that qualify.
• Sabbatical Program offering extended time off at years 7, 14, and 21.

This description is intended to provide a snapshot of the work performed and is not designed to contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of the position.

As an agency deeply rooted in recovery, part of our policy and commitment to a drug and alcohol-free workplace includes post-offer, pre-employment drug screens. Please note we follow Federal Guidelines regarding prohibited substances, even for those legal at the state level.

Central City Concern is a second chance employer and complies with applicable laws regarding consideration of criminal background for employment purposes. Government regulations, contractual requirements, or the duties of this job may require CCC to conduct a background check and take appropriate action to address prior criminal convictions.