Peer Provider (Integrated Team Based Care)

Peer Provider (Integrated Team Based Care)

Job Overview

Location/Schedule: This position is located at the Woodland Park Health Center in NE Portland, OR. The schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Position: Peer Provider
Program: Integrated Team Based Care

Cascadia's Mission and Vision

Mission: Cascadia Health delivers whole health care integrated mental health and addiction services, primary care, and housing to promote hope and support the well-being of the communities we serve.

Vision: We envision a community where everyone benefits from whole health care, experiences well-being, and has a self-directed, connected life.

Position Description: The Peer Provider works independently and as a member of a team to provide peer support for assigned individuals. The Peer Provider delivers support in the program, in the community, and in individual homes. The incumbent works in collaboration with the treatment/service team to provide and coordinate high quality services and supports. It is essential that the Peer Provider openly identifies as a person who has lived the experience of receiving behavioral health services and reflects positive peer values that include non-hierarchy, mutuality, and unconditional positive regard. 

The Peer Provider must understand, appreciate, and respect the diversity and cultural differences within our Cascadia community. As such, it is expected that this position promotes integrated care, our vision of trauma-informed and person-first approaches and helps create a work environment of inclusion, safety, and acceptance. 

Essential Responsibilities

This position description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position.  Management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary.   

General:

• Role model empowerment, self-determination, and self-advocacy; share own personal recovery journey when appropriate. 
• Engage with individuals utilizing strengths-based tools and harm reduction concepts. 
• Assist individuals in identifying goals for plans of care/support; coordinate with the team to assure continuity of services and resource development.  
• Provide therapeutic interventions with individuals in the variety setting as required and directed by the mental health treatment plan. 
• Promote, and provide support for, community building and the development of natural support and self-sufficiency. 
• Provide support for, and on behalf of, individuals in securing benefits, mental health services, addictions treatment, medical services, emergency services and housing. 
• Create opportunities for individuals that involve community connections and socialization. 
• Provide individual and/or group support in living skills, creation of healthful lifestyles, and support in areas such as self-care, holistic wellness, hygiene, community resources, and other life skills. 
• Accompany participants, when appropriate, to appointments in the community. Include assisting participants in learning how to use public transportation system.  
• Support individuals in understanding and resolving housing and community related concerns.  Provide coaching and emotional support related to neighbor relationships to reduce risks of conflict and lease violations. 
• Assist in crisis situations as appropriate, following emergency protocols/procedures and coordinating with the treatment/service team and/or with others related to the individual. 
• Develop positive and cooperative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders including but not limited to the treatment service team and potential service providers.  
• May facilitate one or more therapeutic groups per week and actively contribute to the design of therapeutic groups.  
• Participate in regular clinical and task supervisions. Attend clinical case conferences and staff meetings as indicated to gain knowledge, communicate program goals and advocate for the needs of the individuals being served.
• Integrate Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) into client and team interactions to continuously improve service quality and client outcomes.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned. 

Compliance 

• Document and maintain documentation as required by assigned program.  
• Respect and honor participant rights and responsibilities and demonstrate professional boundaries and ethics. 
• Adhere to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements.  
• Participate in all scheduled staff meetings, supervision sessions, and other departmental and agency meetings.   
• Complete annual employee training requirements on a timely basis as indicated by agency requirements. 
• Attend seminars, training, and other educational opportunities in order to develop professional skills and abilities. 

Qualifications 

Education: 

• Traditional Health Worker (THW) Peer Support Specialist Certification required.  
• Traditional Health Worker (THW) Peer Wellness Specialist Certification preferred.  

Experience: 

• Experience as a former or current recipient of behavioral health services is required.  Must self-disclose as a current or former recipient of behavioral health services and must have personal experience with recovery.  
• Some work experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental health challenges and/or working with people experiencing homelessness is preferred.   

Specialized Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Understanding of Assertive Engagement, recovery model, harm reduction, motivational interviewing, illness management and recovery, and strength-based case management philosophies and strategies 

• Well-developed coping skills and strategies in order to deal with known and unknown circumstances. 

• Ability to learn and adapt thinking when new information is provided. 

• Operate computer hardware and software at a level needed to effectively perform job functions.  

• Enter and retrieve data.  

• Prepare simple reports and progress notes. 

Other: 

• Must have the ability to travel to multiple locations throughout the Portland Metro area.  

Working Conditions 

Work is performed in the community, in clinic environments and in participants’ homes.  Given time spent outdoors traveling to participants’ homes or escorting them to appointments there will be regular exposure to the elements including rain, snow, high heat etc.  There is a moderate risk of personal injury/illness due to participants with violent behavior, exposure to disease, biohazards, noise, and contaminants, etc. The Peer Wellness Specialist must have the ability to independently respond in a safe manner to potentially volatile situations, and when needed assist participants, peer staff, or other individuals in providing safety in potentially volatile situations. 

Mental Demands: The work assigned is diverse and involves addressing new and unusual circumstances in which outcomes may negatively affect costs, employee morale or participants. The work regularly involves a degree of unpredictability and disruption of planned tasks requiring a flexible time management approach. There may be a multitude of stressors, including unpredictable behaviors, explosive/violent/aggressive participants, and variable acuity levels. There will be a need for a high degree of time management, crisis response/triage, and prioritizing skills, due to fluctuating programmatic and staffing routines. 

Physical Demands: Activities and structure support community integration and assist program individuals in learning socially acceptable behaviors as supported by the person-driven treatment plan. Employees must be pre-approved to provide transportation using agency vehicles in order to support resident access to the community. Employees must also have the ability to assist individuals being served to participate in a variety of activities, events, and excursions involving skills building and community integration.  

Cascadia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at 503.963.7654.

This position is represented by a labor union.

Employees are responsible for obtaining and maintaining all licenses, certifications, registrations, and other credentials required for their position. Required credentials must remain active and in good standing as a condition of employment. Candidates are encouraged to familiarize themselves with any applicable credentialing requirements, including associated fees and renewal or maintenance obligations, prior to applying.

Benefits

We offer generous benefits for our full-time and part-time employees (20 hours + pro-rated) including:

• Generous Paid Time Off Package - Full-time employees earn 6 weeks of PTO in their first year!
• Medical and Dental Coverage (begins 1st of the month following hire date)
• VSP Vision Discount Plan
• 403(b) Retirement Plan - Eligible after 60 days with immediate 100% vesting and a 1-to-1 company match up to 3% per pay period, plus the opportunity for an additional discretionary contribution (up to 5%) at the end of the fiscal year.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) (Medical, dependent care, and transportation options)
• Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
• Paid Bereavement and Jury Duty Leave
• Length of Service Award
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Supplemental Insurance
• Student loan forgiveness options

Wellness Benefits:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Bike to Work Reimbursement

Starting Rate Range in USD ($)

$23.57 - $24.37