Mid-Columbia Center for Living

Temporary Peer Support Specialist

Onsite, Hood River and The Dalles, OR
Full Time
CSS - The Cottage
Entry Level

Working Title: Temporary Peer Support Specialist
Status: Temporary, 6 months, non benefitted
Program: Community Support Services- The Cottage
Report to: Program Supervisor
Pay Range: $21.11-25.65/hour
Location: On-site, Hood River(Mondays and Fridays), The Dalles(Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursday), Oregon (Subject to work in Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman County)
Hours/FTE: M - F 7:30am-4:00pm, 1 FTE (37.5 hours)
FSLA Status: Non-Exempt

This Peer Support Specialist will support The Cottage within the Community Support Services (CSS) department. This role will empower adults with behavioral, mental health, and other challenges by providing a variety of recovery-oriented services to individuals. The Peer Support Specialist for The Cottage promotes greater independence, community integration and recovery for mental wellness.

The Peer Support Specialist provides peer support to clients who may be experiencing mental and behavioral health issues in the community. This position facilitates contact with providers, assists with transportation issues and other issues that may be barriers to accessing treatment and/or support in the community.  The Peer Support Specialist provides training in independent living skills, documents client progress and issues, and conducts program outreach as necessary.

Mid-Columbia Center for Living (MCCFL) is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) that specializes in providing services that are both trauma-informed and recovery-oriented to persons / consumers with mental illness and addictions. Trauma-informed care includes safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness, cultural responsivity, and empowerment for both clients and staff. MCCFL serves Hood River, Wasco and Sherman Counties and utilizes a consumer-involved, consumer-engaged and consumer-driven model. MCCFL provides a whole-person care approach to adults and children to address both physical and mental health needs. MCCFL offers a variety of programs including a mobile crisis unit, intensive case management, ongoing counseling, community support, supported employment, jail diversion, hospital discharges, hearings and more.

What you'll need:
Any combination of education, licensure, and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the position’s essential responsibilities. This includes:
  • High school diploma or GED. 
  • Be certified as a Peer Delivered Service Provider through the Oregon Health Authority or obtain certification within 90 days of hire.
  • Must possess a current food handler’s permit, or obtain within 30 days of hire; maintain current and valid food handler’s permit at all times.
  • Have previous or current lived experience as a mental health treatment consumer, and/or support a family member with experience as a mental health treatment consumer, as defined by OAR 309-018-0105.
  • Must possess a valid Oregon or Washington Driver's License, maintain an acceptable driving record and be insurable for client service purposes and for travel between business office for meetings and/or trainings.
  • Must pass all criminal history check requirements as required by ORS 181.536 to 181.537, and in accordance with OAR 407-007-0220 to 407-007-0370.
What you’ll do:
  • Meet regularly with consumers; train consumers in independent living skills and model same behaviors; provide feedback or other documentation as necessary.
  • Document encounters with consumers using an electronic health record system. Access and use Agency email system and Intranet to remain updated on Agency functions and department communications.
  • Advocate on behalf of consumers and promote self-advocacy; maintain consumer networks in the community; conduct outreach activities in local communities.
  • Communicate with treatment team about problems or concerns; participate in ongoing support network with other Peer Support Specialists. Participate in team meetings with other MCCFL staff.
  • Coordinate and facilitate oversight of outings/activities. Facilitate group planning of activity; ensure the group is in agreement. Accompany group on outings; ensure safety; provide transportation as required and appropriate.
  • Provide coverage for other Peer Support Specialists if required.
  • Ensure that safety procedures are followed.
  • Complete specialized training and certification and register on the Oregon Health Authority Traditional Health Worker registry.
  • Use agency vehicles to travel within the community, provide transportation for clients, and drive between business offices in order to complete essential responsibilities and attend required meetings and/or trainings.
  • Regular and reliable attendance; professional communication with all contacts; maintain confidentiality.
 
Position-Specific Essential Responsibilities of the Peer Support Specialist in The Cottage program (This position may include any of the above-mentioned general responsibilities plus the following)
  • Support individuals in self-identifying their areas of need; support individuals in communicating these needs to members of their team (therapist, skills trainer, or other outside of the agency supports).
  • Monitor and assess general behaviors and activity levels, and the quality of client interactions; intervene as necessary or request assistance.
  • Identify and resolve routine day-to-day program issues that may arise; refer non-routine issues to the Program Supervisor.
  • Facilitate access to resources (public and private sector). Coach and support individuals as they make calls to access resources; provide guidance in completing forms and applications. 
  • Provide support and model self-advocacy on site and while on outings in the community.
  • Empower clients to articulate their concerns and needs effectively; maintain local resources for clients to access independently; educate clients in resource research and how to access resources independently.  Support the development and connection to natural supports within their community.
  • Oversee and direct in a teaching kitchen setting, learning to prepare meals to meet basic needs.
  • Attend staff meetings and scheduled supplementary trainings; complete and submit scheduled reports, timesheets, progress notes, and other paperwork as required.  Adhere to staff policies and procedures; review and sign confidentiality statement annually; review and sign code of ethics annually.
  • Participate, as able, in evaluations of Peer Delivered Service Program efficacy and in program quality improvement activities.

The hiring process:
  1. Application review
  2. Questionnaire (if additional information is needed)
  3. Panel Interview
  4. Possible second-round panel interview
  5. Conditional Offer
    1. DMV Record Review, if the position requires driving
    2. 10 Panel Drug Screen (Although recreational marijuana use is legal in the state of Oregon, you will not be considered for this position if you’re unable to pass a pre-employment drug screening due to federal regulations.)
    3. Criminal History check through Orchards BCU
    4. Reference check
    5. Licensure Primary Source Verification


MCCFL provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities. To request accommodation in the recruitment or selection process, please contact human resources at 541-288-4359 or email hr@mccfl.org.

MCCFL provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. To request accommodation in the recruitment or selection process, please contact human resources at 541-288-4359 or email hr@mccfl.org.

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