Peer Support Specialist - Housing

BestCare Treatment Services, Inc.; Madras (OR); On-site; USD 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

BestCare Treatment Services, Inc. is seeking a Peer Support Specialist for housing to assist clients in the Rental Assistance/Supported Housing Program (SHP/RA), helping them secure and sustain housing and access community resources.

The role requires a high school diploma, Oregon peer definition, and PSS certification; applicants should have familiarity with mental illness, substance use, and recovery; valid driver's license; bilingual English/Spanish a plus.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Must meet Oregon's peer definition (life experience related to recovery).
• Familiarity with mental illness, substance use, disabilities, and community resources.
• For recovery individuals, two years of continuous recovery required at hire.

Responsibilities

• Works with clients to secure and maintain housing.
• Collaborates with Mental Health Team to provide compassionate care.
• Assists clients with accessing resources, benefits, and entitlement programs.
• Completes administrative paperwork for housing and SHP/RA program.
• Supports clients in achieving ISSP goals and objectives.
• Ensures rental units meet state housing codes and standards.
• Provides transportation for clients when appropriate.
• Conducts client home visits and welfare checks with clinicians.
• Assists with skill-building like budgeting, bill payments, and accessing housing resources (HUD/Section 8).
• Maintains clinical documentation per guidelines.
• Participates in trainings to enhance performance.
• Models positive behavior and trains new staff.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor or Program Director.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Housing support knowledge

Client advocacy

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Associate’s degree or college courses in behavioral health

Tools

Driver's License

Peer Support Certification

Job description

Description

The Peer Support Specialist for housing will provide support service components to clients who are eligible and accepted into the Rental Assistance/Supported Housing Program (SHP/RA) to provide support and resources to improve and maintain their ability to live as independently as possible within the community.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• High School Diploma (or equivalent) required


• Must meet the Oregon Administrative Rules definition of a peer: “any individual who has similar life experience, either as a current or former recipient of addictions or mental health services, or as a family member of an individual who is a current or former recipient of addictions or mental health services.”


• Familiarity with mental illness and substance abusing populations as well as people with disabilities, and community resources.


• For individuals in recovery from substance-use disorder and/or mental illness, must have maintained continuous recovery for the previous two years at the time of hire

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Peer Support Specialist certification (PSS, THW, PWS) from a State-approved training program is required. New Hires that do not hold a current certification must make an application within the first 30 days of employment and complete within 6 months from date of hire


• Must maintain a valid Oregon Driver License or ability to obtain one upon hire, and be insurable under the organization’s auto liability coverage policy (minimum 21 years of age and with no Type A violations in the past 3 years, or three (3) or more Type B violations)

PREFERRED:

• Lived experience and/or understanding of the unique difficulties of those who are transient or experiencing houselessness


• Associate’s degree or college courses in a behavioral health field


• Bilingual in English/Spanish a plus

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Works with clients in securing and maintaining housing;


2. Works closely with other staff and as a key member of the Mental Health Team to provide effective, compassionate care and supports;


3. Assists clients with accessing resources, benefits, and entitlement programs;


4. Completes administrative paperwork, including but not limited to participant screening and all administrative paperwork required related to client housing and the Supported Housing Program;


5. Provides support to mental health clients in achieving their treatment plans (ISSP/Individual Services & Support Plan) goals and objectives;


6. Stays abreast of state housing codes/standards and ensures that each prospective rental unit is in full compliance with said housing standards;


7. Provides transportation for clients when appropriate and under the direction of the mental health clinician and/or MH Clinical Supervisor;


8. When appropriate, conducts or participates in client home visits and welfare checks, working in conjunction with the mental health clinician and/or MH clinical supervisor;


9. Assists with the facilitation and coordination of skill-building such as completing applications, budgeting, timely bill payments, accessing community resources, maintaining healthy relationships, and applying for mainstream housing resources (HUD/Section 8);


10. Maintains clinical documentation within agency stated guidelines;


11. Participates in training (agency, state, regional, etc.) that will assist the employee in their position;


12. Models appropriate behavior to the newer staff and helps to train and orient new staff to the program. In addition to being a positive role model, provides assistance to clients, showing compassion and being effective in engaging clients in mental health treatment services wherever possible;


13. Other related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor or Program Director.