Peer Support Specialist

Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness; Enterprise (OR); On-site; USD 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness in Oregon seeks a dedicated professional with lived experience to deliver community-based mental health services, including home visits, schools, and residential settings.

You will gather information, develop individualized treatment plans, support clients and families, document in the EHR, and connect people to local resources while adhering to privacy and safety standards. WVCW is an equal opportunity employer.

Qualifications

• Willingness to obtain Peer or QMHA certification in Oregon.
• Experience with behavioral health needs of individuals and families.
• Ability to de-escalate crisis situations.

Responsibilities

• Deliver clinical services directly within the community, including client's homes, residential facilities, schools, hospitals, and other settings.
• Gather information such as medical records, medication lists and other background data to inform comprehensive mental health assessments.
• Provide supports and services according to individualized treatment plans and monitor progress towards objectives.
• Collaborate with clients, families, and community partners to coordinate care and resources.

Skills

Lived experience

Crisis intervention

Empathy & listening

Cultural sensitivity

Team collaboration

Education

Oregon Peer or QMHA certification

Tools

EMR software

Google Workspace

Job description

About us: Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness (WVCW) is an innovative nonprofit providing comprehensive services to individuals impacted by mental health, addictions and developmental disabilities. We hire individuals that are skilled and motivated to meet our mission through outcome-based strategies that foster personal and community transformation.

What You Will Do

In this role lived experience is required, your firsthand insights will help to foster hope and reassurance, making a real difference in individuals lives every day. If you are ready to share your unique recovery story to help individuals overcome challenges, set goals, and embrace their full potential, we'd love to have you on our team.

Responsibilities

• Deliver clinical services directly within the community, including client's homes, residential facilities, schools, hospitals, and other settings to ensure accessible and convenient care.
• Gather information such as medical records, medication lists and other background data to assist in the completion of a comprehensive mental health assessments to evaluate client needs and support options according to state and federal guidelines and rules.
• Provide supports and services according to individualized treatment plans, ensuring they are tailored to meet specific needs and goals. Monitor and evaluate progress regularly to assess growth towards treatment objectives.
• Work collaboratively with clients and family members to engage in ongoing supports and services including but not limited to individual, group, and family counseling.
• Utilizing the Electronic Health Record (EHR) complete objective, accurate documentation in a timely and consistent manner according to agency policy.
• Make referrals and connect clients to community resources to help their specific situation.
• Provide care coordination and work collaboratively with internal teams as well as community partners to ensure that clients receive support and resources.
• Collect pertinent information for suicide risk and other crisis situations that allow you and another mental health professional to develop an appropriate action plan. Participate in ongoing crisis response and support services per WVCW policy.
• Attend and participate fully in team meetings, participate in group and individual supervision (as a provider of mental health treatment), and stay abreast of various diagnoses and treatment modalities.
• Adhere to all state and federal privacy and security regulations applicable to the program, and to WVCW policies and agreements regarding confidentiality, privacy, and security. Maintain confidentiality and discretion
• Expected to disclose personal life experience and tools of self-directed recovery and resiliency as part of clinical care.

Skills/Abilities

• Ability to maintain confidentiality, comprehend laws, regulations, and policies, and the ability to follow such laws, regulations, and policies and report when they are being violated
• Ability to interact with individuals and families of various backgrounds, sexual and gender orientations, education levels, and socio-economic status effectively, tactfully, and empathetically with a culturally responsive nature, especially with those experiencing a crisis and in stressful situations
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral formats with clarity and purpose, including the ability to complete objective, accurate documentation in a timely, consistent manner
• Ability to coordinate care and work collaboratively with community partners to ensure safer and more effective care for the individual
• Must have strong computer skills including the ability to document in an electronic medical record, use electronic time tracking, and the ability to use Google Workspace, specifically Drive, Meets, Spreadsheets, Word documents, and email
• Ability to work as a team member, establish priorities, and manage time effectively to meet deadlines.
• Display a non-judgmental attitude, and a willingness to learn new skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Experience in navigating environments where individuals may be verbally hostile.
• Detailed-oriented; ability to maintain accurate records and necessary paperwork.
• Ability to provide advocacy, as appropriate, and maintain professional boundaries.

Required

• Willingness to obtain your Peer or QMHA certification in Oregon
• Experience with and/or understanding of individuals and families with behavioral health needs
• Knowledge of de-escalation methods or ability to be trained in de-escalation methods. Experience conducting crisis debriefs.
• Ability to adhere to WVCW's drug-free workplace which encourages a safe, healthy, and productive work environment.
• Physical ability to bend, stoop, kneel, squat, twist, reach, pull and lift heavy objects; climb stairs several times a day.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen and criminal background check PRIOR TO STARTING ONSITE. WVCW follows federal guidelines when completing drug screening, this includes marijuana.
• Will be required to carry a cell phone for work use.
• Must possess a current driver's license, pass a DMV background check and be designated an "acceptable" driver as outlined in WVCW's Fleet Safety Policy.
• Must be willing to provide leadership and services in the community.
• Must adhere to the agency's non-discrimination policies.
• Must have strong computer skills, or willingness to learn.

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

Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness is an equal opportunity employer.