Peer Support Specialist, System of Care (Limited-duration)

Summary
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
Deschutes County is currently accepting applications for a Peer Support Specialist (PSS) that will provide support services to children, adolescents and young adults 0-21 years old, in the System of Care Program. A Peer Support Specialist draws on their own personal experiences to assists clients in achieving recovery goals and resiliency, promotes self-determination, personal responsibility and empowerment, acts as a role model, and shares life experiences and lessons learned as a person in mental health recovery.

For more information on the requirements to become a Peer Support Specialist: Click Here .

ABOUT THE COUNTY:
We know where you choose to live, work and play matters. Deschutes County is one of the largest employers in Central Oregon and the largest municipal government in the region. Our dedicated and passionate workforce of more than 1,200 employees provide County services in a number of departments, divisions, and offices.

Located in the heart of Central Oregon, between the towering Cascade Mountain Range to the west and the high desert plateau to the east, Deschutes County is the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon. We enjoy a renowned quality of life, with big-city opportunities and small-town neighborhoods.

We hope you'll consider joining our talented team.

ABOUT THE JOB:
PSS's are fully integrated team members who provide highly individualized services and support to clients through sharing their lived experience with recovery. Services provided will be performed in a wide variety of settings in the community such as professional and private facilities, client homes, offices and clinics, and will include self-help groups, drop-in centers, outreach services, system navigation, coordination, screenings, cultivating and linking to supports, resource acquisition, coaching, problem solving, skill development, and education.

The PSS utilizes developmentally appropriate engagement strategies and advocacy and will also be responsible for satisfactorily completing paperwork and electronic health record documentation according to Deschutes County Behavioral Health (DCBH) policies, procedures, and data integrity standards.

PSS's are certified peers who have experienced a variety of challenges similar to the people they serve and have decided to share their success and knowledge by becoming a Certified Peer Support Specialist or a Certified Recovery Mentor. They are here to support others through the process and help others find the resources and support they need. Certified Recovery Mentors are certified through the Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (https://mhacbo.org/en/).

Key Responsibilities:

• Person-Centered Planning (PCP): supporting individuals in creating wellness plans.
• Understanding Mental Health & Addictions: information toward empathy.
• Group Facilitation: peer-led facilitation skills.
• Promote resiliency, wellness, empowerment, and effective peer support strategies and practices to facilitate a self-directed recovery process.

What You Will Bring:
Knowledge of or experience with:

• Principles of recovery, consumer-involvement and trauma-informed care.
• Assisting clients in developing the perspectives that promote resiliency and facilitate recovery.
• Modeling personal responsibility and self-care.
• Advocating for clients.
• Teaching coping/life skills.
• Sharing own experiences in appropriate ways.
• Keeping boundaries and forming appropriate relationships with clients.

Skill in:

• Performing a wide variety of tasks to assist client's wellness.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with others at all times.
• Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Using a personal computer and keyboard.

*This posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but rather constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function.

Notification to all candidates will be sent via email and/or text only. Please opt in for text messaging or check your email and your Governmentjobs.com account for application status.

Review the full job description by clicking HERE.
Compensation
$3,845.12 to $5,152.87 per month for a 172.67 hour work month. Excellent County benefit package when eligible. This union-represented position is available immediately.

BENEFITS:
Our robust health plan is offered at a minimal cost of $90 per month, which includes an innovative on-site clinic, pharmacy, and wellness and wellbeing services. Additionally, we include life insurance, retirement (PERS), generous paid time-off (14-18 hours/month to start, pro-rated for part-time), holidays, and professional development opportunities.
Please click HERE for full benefit details.

This is a limited-duration employment position as defined by Deschutes County Code Chapter 3.08.010. The position has identified funding through August 30, 2024. Extending the position beyond August 30, 2024 will depend on a continued business need for the position and approval of additional funding. Should this occur, the County may at a later date extend the position end date or offer regular employment status to the incumbent in this position.

This posting has been reopened.
Minimum Qualifications

• Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• As defined by Oregon Administrative Rule 309-032-1501, a "Peer Support Specialist" provides peer delivered services to an individual or family member with similar life experience, under the supervision of a qualified Clinical Supervisor.
• A Peer Support Specialist must have at least one year of experience: as a self-identified person currently or formerly receiving mental health services; or a self-identified person in recovery from a substance use disorder, who meets the abstinence requirements for recovering staff in alcohol and other drug treatment programs; or a family member of an individual who is a current or former recipient of addictions or mental health services.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Current certification in Oregon as a Certified Traditional Health Worker, Peer Support Specialist.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Necessary Special Requirements
Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon driver's license within 30 days of hire date. The employment offer will be contingent upon presentation of an acceptable and verifiable driver's license, pre-employment screening for criminal history, driving history, and controlled substances (NOTE: Positive test results for marijuana use may result in rescission of a contingent offer of employment). This screening must be completed with satisfactory findings in order for a formal offer of employment to be extended.

Must have dependable transportation and be willing and able to drive throughout Deschutes County in sometimes-adverse weather conditions.

Must be willing to work a flexible schedule when needed to meet the needs of the client and department.

Must complete an Oregon Health Authority approved Certified Peer Support Specialist training program within four months of hire date.

If identified as being in recovery from a substance use disorder, must be able to document continuous abstinence under independent living conditions or recovery housing for the immediate past two years as defined by Oregon Administrative Rule 309-032-1520. Will be asked to discuss recovery experiences during interview process. If offered the position and incumbent is a current client of Deschutes County Health Services Behavioral Health, incumbent must be reassigned to another agency for services.

Deschutes County will comply with the Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division Oregon Administrative Rule ( OAR 333-019-101 ) requiring COVID-19 vaccination for employees working in a healthcare setting. It is a requirement of this position that the incumbent provide proof of vaccination status or request and be approved for an exemption based on legitimate medical reasons or sincerely-held religious beliefs ( for detailed information on exceptions, please review section (4), (A) and (B) ) by October 18, 2021 or their date of hire, whichever is later. Deschutes County provides reasonable accommodation as required by applicable law, and those finalists seeking a reasonable accommodation from the vaccination requirement may submit a copy of the medical or religious exemption form as prescribed by the Oregon Health Authority in order to certify the reasons for requesting an exemption. There is no need to take action at this point. More information will be provided to candidates that progress to the final stage of the process.

Physical Requirements. Requires sufficient ambulatory ability to drive throughout Deschutes County and to provide face-to-face services in a variety of settings in the community, including but not limited to hospitals, jails, clinics, client homes, and community and residential settings within required response times; possess sufficient hand coordination to perform keyboarding and data entry; arm/hand movements to retrieve work materials and operate a variety of general office equipment. The position is frequently required to sit, walk, stoop, bend, reach, stand, grasp, talk, hear, see, and lift up to 10 pounds.

NOTE: Per OAR 407-007-0000 to 407-007-0100 this position requires a Criminal Background check through the State Background Check Unit/Orchards, which may also include being fingerprinted. These rules provide for the reasonable screening under ORS 181A.195, 181A.200, 409.027 AND 413.036 of the County's employees to determine if they have a history of specific criminal behavior identified in federal or state law or rules such that they should not be allowed to work, be employed, or perform in positions covered by these rules. Please click HERE to review Criminal Records Check Rules. All offers of employment for this position are contingent upon the candidate receiving final approval from the State Background Check Unit/Orchards to work in this position.

Excellent County benefit package when eligible.
Deschutes County offers eligible employees a comprehensive health care package that covers medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their eligible dependents at a minimal cost of $90 per month. Coverage becomes effective the first of the month following 1 month of employment. Included in the health care package is the Deschutes Onsite Clinic (DOC), which provides a wide range of health, wellness, and primary care services to employees and their dependents. The DOC offers convenient hours and no out-of-pocket costs to patients. The DOC Pharmacy is a full service pharmacy available to employees and dependents to have their prescriptions filled at a discounted co-pay. In addition to the health care package, Deschutes County provides a generous and comprehensive benefits program to eligible employees.

Employer paid benefit offerings include:

• Life Insurance for employee and dependents
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement Program through Oregon PERS
• Time Management Leave

Employee paid voluntary benefit offerings include:

• 125 Flexible Spending Program
• 457 Deferred Compensation Program
• Supplemental Life and Accident Insurance

To learn more about Deschutes County's generous benefit offerings, please visit www.deschutes.org/hr and click on Employee Benefits.

Closing Date/Time: 5/30/2023 11:59 PM Pacific