Mental Health (MH) Residential Services Peer Program Specialist

**Must have or obtain within 90 days of hire Peer Support Specialist (PSS) or Peer Wellness Specialist (PWS) certification.**

 

Mental Health (MH) Residential Services provides health and safety oversight to residential programs that house over 600 individuals in Multnomah County. Programs include: Secure Residential Treatment Facilities (SRTF), Residential Treatment Homes (RTH), Adult Care Homes, and a range of supportive/supported housing. The MH Residential Services Peer Program Specialist position works closely with Residential Specialists, Providers, Behavioral Health Quality Management, and the Office of Consumer Engagement to elevate lived experience via the peer voice of current and past MH Residential Services participants, and thereby incorporate the peer experience and voice to inform and guide future best practice, policies and procedures.

 

As the MH Residential Services Peer Program Specialist, other duties will include:

 

Client/Provider Feedback

• Develop evaluation criteria and procedures for obtaining and evaluating client and provider feedback on Peer Support in Residential care. 

• Collect client feedback on their experience in residential placement to help shape new or improved processes for residential settings, services provided, etc. 

• Gather feedback from Residential Providers on why/how they use Peer Support, how Peer Support informs their processes, rules and regulations, etc. 

• Organize, assess and synthesize feedback and conduct analysis on best practices and trends. 

• Formulate recommendations to Behavioral Health leadership, internal and external providers, and service users related to Peer Support in Behavioral Health Residential care. 

• Act as subject matter expert (SME) to drive future Peer Support initiatives in Multnomah County Residential Services.

 

Technical Assistance and Consultation

• In partnership with the Residential Specialist, participate in client consults lead by Residential Providers and/or Choice Exceptional Needs Care Coordinator (ENCC), including related to safety planning and programming. 

• Provide technical assistance, advocacy and consultation to Residential Specialists and BH Quality Management regarding critical incidents, as needed, as part of investigations, crisis response, etc. 

• Participate in training and staff/provider meetings, advocating and representing the consumer perspective to staff and others. 

• Participate in Community Mental Health Program (CMHP) Multidisciplinary Team meetings as part of education and information sharing. 

• In partnership with QM and Program Supervisor, conduct workflow analyses to identify areas for improvement, simplify redundant processes, and address quality assurance through the peer lens. 

• Provide technical assistance and subject matter expertise to other internal and external partners, as needed. 

• Position requires an understanding of Residential Oregon Administrative Rules, policies, and procedures in order to provide technical assistance in ensuring compliance, through the peer lens.

 

Community Advocacy 

• Arrange, publicize, and facilitate training, related to intersection of Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Mental Health and/or Peer Support to provide information and answer questions about how the areas or conditions can affect one another and clients. 

• Develop and share informational resources, presentations, and materials related to Peer Support, and conduct workshops and trainings internally and/or to Providers on the purpose and benefits of including Peer Support in program settings, processes, etc. 

• Schedule/partner with other speakers when appropriate. 

• Represent the county and the Residential Program, centering the peer lens. 

• Respond to requests for information on the topic of Residential Services and consumer voice.

 

Pilot Program  

• Incorporate the findings and recommendations from client/provide feedback above, as a pilot program to provide short-term (up to 1 month) 1:1 peer support during residential placement transitions such as admission and terminations of services, including planning, noting client needs, bridging possible communication gaps, etc. 

• Work with clients 1:1 to provide hope, education, encouragement, support, self-determination, direction and connection to the community and services. 

• Mentor, coach and problem solve with clients, to engage in mental health care. 

• Receive pilot “referrals” directly from Residential Specialists, and consults with Residential Program Supervisor and Peer Supervisor to prioritize referral follow-ups.

 

Multnomah County offers an exceptional benefits package, including employer-funded retirement savings; health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents; paid parental leave; wellness programs; a focus on work-life balance; and much more. Find more details on our benefits website.

 

TO QUALIFY:

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

 

Minimum Qualifications (REQUIRED):

 

Education/Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree and one (1) to four (4) years of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. (Equivalency 5-8 years of qualifying training and/or experience).

 

Experience: Direct lived experience in Residential Services (strongly preferred)

 

Certification: 

• Certified Peer Support Specialist (PSS) or Peer Wellness Specialist (PWS) under the Oregon Administrative Rules Oregon Administrative Rule 410-180-0305. Must be obtained within 90 days of hire.

 

Other: 

• This position requires a background investigation, which may include being fingerprinted. 

• Personal lived experiences and recovery journey

• Experience working with systems

 

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills*: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/ transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. 

• Knowledge of issues faced by those who experience behavioral health challenges and a basic understanding of the full continuum of care for those in need of services.

• Lead with race through actions and advocacy with internal programs, with community partners and across departments throughout the county.

• Demonstrate the ability to flex style when faced with myriad dimensions of culture in order to be effective across cultural context.  

• Respect and appreciation for ethnic and cultural diversity.

• Ability to collaborate and build relationships to achieve positive work outcomes.

• Ability to maintain a safe and healthy workplace.

• High degree of resilience, is outcome driven, and can thrive in an environment of rapid change while managing pressure in an effective and professional manner.

*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

Questions? Please contact recruiter: Caitrin Thomaselli  Email: [email protected]   Phone: +1 (971) 4218257