Peer Support Specialist - Assertive Community Treatment

Title:Peer Support Specialist - Assertive Community Treatment

Location:1438 SE Division Portland OR 97202

Schedule:This is an in-person position Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:30pm.

Wage Range:$21.00 - $29.00Non-Exempt

If you are a motivated and dedicatedPeer Support Specialistlooking for an opportunity to contribute to an organization making a positive impact we want to hear from you!

At NARA NW youll find a supportive and inclusive work environment where every member of our team is valued and respected. Whether youre passionate about healthcare behavioral health education or social services theres a place for you to make a positive impact.

Company Mission:

The mission of NARA NW is to provide education physical mental health services and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians Alaska Natives and anyone in need.

About the Company:

At NARA NW we provide essential services and support to Native American and Alaska Native people empowering them to lead healthy fulfilling lives. As an organization rooted in cultural heritage and community values we offer a unique and rewarding opportunity to make a direct positive impact in the lives of others.

We have over 400 employees in a wide range of programs and services including medical and dental care addiction treatment housing assistance and cultural enrichment programs there are endless opportunities to grow and thrive in your career while making a difference in the lives of others.

Position Overview:

The ACT Peer Support Specialist functions as a fully integrated member of the ACT multidisciplinary team to provide expertise about the recovery process symptom management and the persistence required by clients to have a satisfying life.

The ACT Peer Support Specialist collaborates to promote a team culture that recognizes understands and respects each clients point of view experiences and preferences within the context of Native American/Alaska Native culture. Provides peer counseling and consultation to individual clients families and team staff; acts as a liaison with community resources; carries out rehabilitation and support functions; and assists in treatment substance abuse services education support and consultation to families and crisis intervention under clinical supervision.

These services may occur at Totem Lodge at individual residences at medical providers offices or hospitals or at other points in the community.

What you will do:

Openly identify as a person who has lived the experience of receiving mental health services.
Act as a role model to inspire hope and share life experiences as appropriate to the recovery process.
Provide expertise and consultation from a mental health consumer perspective to the entire team concerning each clients unique and subjective experience and perceptions.
Provide practical help and supports mentoring advocacy coordination side by side individualized support problem solving direct assistance and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living including medical and dental health care; legal and advocacy services; financial support such as entitlements (SSI SSDI veterans benefits); housing subsidies; money-management services (e.g. payee services); and transportation.
Collaborate with the team to promote a team culture in which each clients point of view experiences and preferences are recognized understood and respected and in which client self-determination and decision-making in treatment planning are maximized and supported.
Collaborate with the team to ensure the protection of clients rights to help clients improve their knowledge of client rights and grievance or complaint procedures.
Increase awareness of and support client participation in consumer self-help programs culturally specific services and consumer advocacy organizations that promote recovery.
Provide triage and supports for individuals who present at Totem Lodge without an appointment as needed.
Assist in the provision of ongoing assessment of clients mental illness symptoms and clients response to treatment. Suggest appropriate changes in treatment plans to ensure that immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in clients mental status or behavior which put clients at risk (e.g. suicidality).
Assist in the provision of direct clinical services to clients on an individual group and family basis in the office and in community settings to teach symptom-management techniques and promote personal growth and development.
Perform mentoring problem solving encouragement and support on and off the job site.
Provide work-related supportive services such as assistance securing necessary clothing and grooming supplies wake up calls transportation.
Provide ongoing assessment problem solving side-by-side services skill teaching support (prompts assignments encouragement) and environmental adaptations to assist clients with activities of daily living.
Assist client to find and maintain a safe and affordable place to live cleaning and performing household activities.
Assist and support clients with personal hygiene and grooming tasks.
Provide nutrition education and assistance with meal planning grocery shopping and food preparation.
Ensure that clients have adequate financial support (help to gain employment and apply for entitlements).
Teach money management skills (budgeting and paying bills) and assist clients in accessing financial services.
Help clients to access reliable transportation (obtain a drivers license and car arrange for medical transport use public transportation find rides).
Assist and support clients to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician dentist and other medical specialists as required.
Provide side-by-side support coaching and encouragement to help clients socialize and attend cultural activities.
Assist clients to plan and carry out leisure time activities on evenings weekends and holidays.
Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities to help clients structure their time increase social experiences and provide opportunities to practice social skills.
Maintain appropriate and timely documentation as required by agency policy and OARS. Maintain confidentiality always.
Actively seek information and trainings to maintain professional level skills.

We would like to hear from people that have:

Must self-identify as a current or former recipient of mental health services and be willing to share lived experiences as appropriate
Must have completed a Peer Wellness Training approved by The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and qualify to be certified as a Peer Wellness Specialist within six months of hire date.
Knowledge and understanding of mental illness addictions and physical health and ability to work within an integrated system of care program.
Requires exceptional interpersonal verbal and written communication skills and the ability to engage and interact positively with clients to promote strengths and improve health and well being and to work collaboratively as part of an integrated team to coordinate care.
Requires flexibility confidentiality demonstrated ability and ongoing commitment to the maintenance of professional boundaries w/clients the community and other staff members and the proven ability to work professionally and collaboratively in a team environment treating everyone with respect and dignity at all times.
Ability to pass a pre-employment or for cause drug tests.
Ability to pass criminal background and DMV checks.
Must be able to perform CPR and First Aid. CPR/ First Aid certifications are required and must remain current.
Must demonstrate a high degree of comfort working with individuals actively experiencing symptoms of mental illness
Competent with computers for word processing internet email and scheduling or able to learn these skills.
Must have a valid drivers license in the state of Oregon or effectively use public transportation to travel independently in the programs service area.
Ability to report to work reliably and in a timely fashion.
Experience working with individuals diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness.
Experience working within the Native American/Alaska Native community is considered a plus.
At least one year of experience as a Peer Specialist or one year of experience working/volunteering in a helping profession.
NARA NW is fully committed to supporting sobriety. All employees must agree to model sobriety both on and off the job including no alcohol drinking no illicit drug use no marijuana use and no prescription drug abuse behavior. If in recovery must have been sober/clean for a length of time sufficient to demonstrate that will be able to model sobriety.

Whats in it for you

14 Paid Holidays:New Years Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day Presidents Day Memorial Day Juneteenth Battle of Little Big Horn Independence Day Labor Day Native American Day Indigenous Peoples Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving day after Thanksgiving and December 25^th!

Benefits:Employees working 20 hours or more are eligible for benefits. Benefits are effective from the 1st of the month following the date of hire.

• Affordable Medical Dental and Vision Insurance through Kaiser Permanente
• 14 Paid Holidays (Listed Above)
• 13 Paid Days of Sick Time
• 13 Paid Days of PTO (Vacation accruals increase with years of service to a maximum of 26 days)
• $50000 Life Insurance & AD&D
• Short Term and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Spending Account
• 401(k) with 4% Match
• Employee Assistance Program
• Inclement Weather Days (Snow Days)
• Referral Program- (Up to $1000 Dollars)
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness -NARA NW is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit FQHC

How to apply:

1. To Quick Apply go toCareers NARA NW ()
2. Look for the position you want to apply for and submit a resume (Required) and cover letter (Optional) thats all!
3. Feel free to contactif you have any questions or would like to know where your application is in the process.

NARA NW is fully committed to supporting sobriety. To support NARA NW in its mission all employees agree to refrain from illicit drug use marijuana use and prescription drug abuse both on and off the job. In addition all employees agree to model alcohol sobriety. Modeling alcohol sobriety means not consuming discussing or promoting the use of alcohol on the job on social media and when in the community where the employee would be likely to be seen by NARA NW clients or community. If in recovery employees must have been sober/clean for a length of time sufficient to demonstrate that they will be able to remain sober.

Consistent with NARA NWs sobriety policy all employees volunteers interns and contractors as applicable are required to sign a Drug-Free/Alcohol-Free Workplace Certification Form and NARA NW Modeling Sobriety Policy Form as a condition of employment to confirm that they are aware of this policy and that they agree to comply with it. Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. This policy is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its state counterpart.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the positions activities and requirements the agency reserves the right to modify add or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary.

Preference in hiring is given to qualified Native Americans in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25 US Code Sections 472 and 473). NARA Northwest is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Within the scope of Indian Preference all candidates will receive equal consideration. Experience working with Native American/ Alaska Native community is considered a plus.