POSITION SUMMARY: Participates on Assertive Community Treatment Team and uses lived experience with a mental illness and/or co-occurring disorder to assist and support clients, by sharing parts of their own personal recovery story and first hand experiences and providing mutual support, hope, reassurance and advocacy. .

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Provides peer support to clients regarding, but not limited to, understanding their symptoms of mental illness and effects of trauma history (trauma informed care), developing positive coping skills and resource connection.
  • Deliverable: Employee will be observed providing the above,
• Promotes recovery through modeling and sharing one's own "personal recovery story," display of self-confidence and self-determination, use of natural supports including connections with friends and family and other supports in the community and display of personal achievements of personal recovery goals.
  • Deliverable: Employee will be observed providing the above.
• Assists in helping the individual work on their individual wellness plan for physical and emotional wellness. These services might include physical exercise, dietary assistance, recognition of medical/healthcare needs, developing a WRAP or introduction to alternative healing techniques such as meditation or massage, etc.
  • Deliverable: Develop with individual, an individualized wellness plan. Document in electronic or paper chart within 7 days.
• Provide temporary assistance with ADLs which may include grocery shopping, housekeeping, or going with someone to a medical doctor to support them in this process, etc.
  • Deliverable: Determine with clinician or case manager how long these services might be provided during a time of crisis or in follow-up to crisis, working towards helping individual identify natural supports that may assist them.
• Assist individuals with recommended follow-up services by connecting them to ride services, connecting them to child care services or other services that supports them in following through with recommended services and appointments with agency and other community service providers.
  • Deliverable: Be familiar with community services that will support them in keeping appointments and make those connections as soon as possible. Provide transportation on a temporary basis until other rides can be secured if that is a need.
• Assist individuals, prior to crisis or after stabilization of a crisis situation, with completing Mental Health Advanced Directives and provide them with Medical Advance Directive information, helping them identify their wishes and desires should they go into crisis.
  • Deliverable: Employee will check to see if a Mental Health Declaration and Medical Advance Directive have been offered, to individuals she/he is working with and if not, offer and assist in completing if requested.
• Maintains compliance with all applicable practice standards and guidelines and maintains confidentiality and adherence to HIPAA requirements at all times.
  • Deliverable: Employee will ensure that releases are signed by individuals being worked with prior to sharing information.
• Completes all required documentation in a timely manner consistent with agency policies.
  • Deliverable: Note will be completed within 7 days of service (with the preference being that they are done same day as service).
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: The Peer Support Specialist is an individual who has a unique perspective because of his/her own experience with serious and persistent mental illness. She/he must be able to acknowledge her/his own psychological/psychiatric background and use this in connecting with individuals, instilling hope and modeling recovery.

EXPERIENCE: A Bachelor's degree in a behavioral sciences field, or a combination of at least 3 years relevant work, education, training or experience and has the competencies necessary to communicate effectively. Excellent communication skills. Ability to work independently and collaboratively, Willingness to self-disclose to clients and others as appropriate. Willingness to attend training on subjects of recovery, Computer knowledge and experience entering data in an electronic health record or other electronic system. Other desirable personal characteristics would include tolerance, tact, the ability to control emotions in stressful situations, demonstrated functional maturity and experience performing clerical duties such as filing, completing reports and writing letters.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is often performed in settings outside of the normal office environment to include other community offices, client's homes, jail, and the hospital. This position may be exposed to the everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as an office (i.e., moving mechanical parts, airborne particles, and electrical shock). This position may also be exposed to individuals and situations that are potentially dangerous. Employee will receive training on how to defuse situations and will receive information about agency policy around safety precautions and appropriate response to crisis situations.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Individual must have a valid driver's license and be insurable. Individual should be able to work flexible hours to include being called at night or on the weekend to provide support to individuals in crisis. Average number of hours a week worked will be 12 hours, with the possibility of an additional 4 hours of administrative responsibilities.

CONFIDENTIALITY: This position requires the handling of highly confidential information. Must adhere to rules and laws pertaining to client confidentiality.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Must be able to communicate information in both oral and written form with the ability to present and exchange information internally across teams and co-workers, and externally with clients and the public, Information communicated ranges from routine/ basic information to complex and confidential information

LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK: Must be able to work effectively and constructively with other office staff, clinicians, the administrative team and all other staff. Participates in staff meetings.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform the essential function.

Wallowa County Center for Wellness is an equal opportunity employer.