Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

The Peer Company

Peer Support Specialist – OHSU MEADOWLARK

Job Description

Pay: $25.00 Per Hour

Schedule: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)

Days/Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Benefits: This is a benefited position as outlined in The Peer Company Employee Handbook

Title: Peer Support Specialist

Reports to: Director of EVOLVE Peer Delivered Services

Department: EVOLVE Peer Delivered Services – OHSU MEADOWLARK

Position Duration : This is a research grant-funded position with a duration of one year, with the possibility of extension based on funding availability.

Job Summary

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) provides peer support as someone who has similar life experiences and acts as a positive role model for living in recovery. The PSS is a member of interdisciplinary teams participating in collaboratively supporting an individual’s self-defined and self-directed care. The PSS supports the individual being served by creating their own person-directed recovery plan and accomplishing goals towards their self-defined recovery journey plan. They provide a listening, nonjudgmental presence and connect individuals being served with a full range of community resources.

The PSS offers peer support and recovery mentorship for pregnant and/or parenting people who identify as having a substance use disorder (SUD) and are navigating their recovery and peripartum journeys.

The PSS will be working with the MEADOWLARK ( ME ntal health and AD diction integrated for O bstetric W ellness – L ink A ge for R ecovery, K nowledge and Empowerment) Program, an interdisciplinary team at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). MEADOWLARK is a novel integrated high-risk obstetric (Maternal Fetal Medicine – MFM) and addiction clinic at OHSU. The OHSU team is conducting research studying ways to support pregnant and parenting persons with SUD, including the role of peer support doulas in supporting peripartum people with SUD.

The PSS will meet with participants at OHSU, in the community, in homes, and in the hospital where deliveries occur. They will also participate in hospital/clinic-based maternity and recovery group care, assist with some research activities (e.g., facilitating surveys, logging visits in a database), and attend OHSU research meetings. This role will play a major part in supporting informed decision-making, empowered choice in care, and preparation for successful birth and postpartum options.

Qualifications

Values Alignment: The Peer Company strives to honor cultural and spiritual diversity in the communities we serve as well as honoring Voice and Choice through trauma-informed practices with a Social Justice lens. Our values of Voice and Choice mean we believe in the person’s right to make their own decisions and that people are the “experts” in their own lives. We have an unwavering belief in every person’s ability to learn, grow, and recover.

Being committed to Social Justice means being committed to constantly assessing our organizational values and the extent to which we are modeling or falling short of them. It also means listening to feedback from our stakeholders and others who have interacted with our organization and taking the time to understand and reflect on those interactions. This commitment is extended from the organization, as well as each employee of The Peer Company.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.

Background Check: A criminal background check will be conducted by The Peer Company in accordance with The Peer Company background check policy. A criminal record does not necessarily exclude an individual from employment with THE PEER The Peer Company.

Pre-Hire Drug Screen: As part of The Peer Company's commitment to fostering a safe, productive, and professional workplace, we require pre-hire drug screenings for all potential employees. The screening will be conducted in accordance with The Peer Company's drug screening policy, as well as applicable state and federal laws.

Experience:

• Identifies as having at least 2 years of lived experience in recovery with addiction challenges (may include both addiction and mental health challenges)
• Experience with mental health recovery is desirable and highly valued
• Understands the principles of trauma-informed care, recovery, consumer-involvement, and trauma-informed care
• Lived experience of substance use disorder (SUD) challenges as it relates to pregnancy, parenting, and/or DHS child welfare involvement
• At least 2 years of continuous addiction recovery required if identifying with SUD/addiction lived experience
• Previous experience as a recovery peer mentor preferred
• Previous experience as a Birth or Postpartum Doula preferred
• Prior experience in a healthcare setting is valuable
• Experience with SUD recovery/support is highly desirable
• Understands the effect of trauma on health, coping, and parenting
• Experience navigating the legal/corrections system preferred

Licensure/Certification:

• Peer Support Specialist (OHA Traditional Health Worker certification) or MHACBO CRM certification required or able to be obtained within 90 days of hire
• Valid Oregon Driver’s License and proof of automobile insurance required. Access to reliable personal vehicle required
• Birth or Postpartum Doula certification required (or willingness to obtain within 1 month of hire)

Skills:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Typing and general technology skills to easily and efficiently navigate electronic systems (e.g., email, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
• Strong interest and ability to work with pregnant and parenting people
• Demonstrates empathy, care, and concern in challenging situations
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriate boundaries
• Professional demeanor with excellent organizational skills
• Ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary medical team
• Willingness to work a variable work schedule if needed

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides 1:1 peer support to diverse individuals being served in accordance with The Peer Company’s values alignment and principles of peer support
• Collaborates with individuals to create Person Directed Plans (PDPs) to support their individualized recovery journey
• Participate in regular peer support supervision sessions
• Collaborate with other service providers and interdisciplinary teams to support participant PDPs and recovery journeys
• Attend meetings, as applicable, to gain knowledge, communicate program objectives, and advocate for the needs of the participants being served
• Implements the regulations, policies, and procedures which pertain to peer-delivered service, The Peer Company, and community partners
• Following the direction of the participants served, assist participants in exploring strategies that increase satisfaction with the eight dimensions of wellness
• Travels to visit community partners and participants, occasionally transporting participants to relevant community partners
• Support participants in crisis by helping them to deescalate and identify next steps in their recovery journey
• Assist participants in identifying and engaging various community resources and support
• Documents support services in a program database in a manner that assures compliance with policies, program procedures and local, state, and federal regulations
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation as required by program deliverables
• Acts as a positive role model for individuals being served and exploring their own path to wellness and recovery
• Respects and honors a person’s rights and responsibilities and demonstrates professional boundaries and ethics
• Adheres to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements
• Meets with participants in OHSU medical clinic settings and group sessions to support recovery and maternity care
• Meets with participants in homes, hospitals, and community settings to build positive, trusting relationships
• Supports engagement with OB/maternity care, addiction treatment, DHS child welfare (if relevant), and family adjustment needs
• Collaborate with OHSU providers, addictions counselors, and social workers to coordinate care and modify treatment plans
• Participates in hospital- and clinic-based recovery/maternity groups
• Assists with OHSU research activities including administering outcome measurement tools, facilitating surveys, logging visits, and attending research meetings
• Offers educational opportunities to reduce non-emergent ER use
• Reflects positive peer values and appropriate boundaries, openly identifying as a peer with lived experience when appropriate
• Acts as an advocate for pregnant/parenting people served, both within medical systems and the community
• Ensures safety awareness for patients, staff, and property; follows fire and evacuation procedures
• Complete other relevant duties as assigned

The above accountabilities represent work performed by this position and are not all-inclusive. The omission of a specific accountability will not preclude it from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical extension of the position.

Employment with The Peer Company is "at-will." This means employees are free to resign at any time, with or without cause, and The Peer Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advance notice. As an at-will employee, it is not guaranteed, in any manner, that you will be employed with The Peer Company for any set period of time.

The Peer Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities at The Peer Company are based upon one's qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job. All employment opportunities are provided without regard to race, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, Veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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