Peer Support Specialist, Crisis Team, Co-Responder

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
Deschutes County Health Services supports over 400 staff in Behavioral and Public Health programs working to promote and protect the health and safety of the community in a broad variety of community based settings.
Deschutes County Behavioral Health (DCBH) is the Community Mental Health Program providing safety net and core clinical services for community members in Deschutes County dealing with mental health and substance use conditions. DCBH is also a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). As such, DCBH relies on multi-disciplinary teams to provide innovative, evidence based, recovery oriented services in behavioral healthcare settings co-located with physical health providers.
To hear from staff about working at Deschutes County Behavioral Health, please 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:
The Deschutes County Co-Responder Program is a law enforcement and behavioral health partnership between Deschutes County Health Services and the Bend Police Department. The position will also provide support to the non-law enforcement response program as part of the overall community based crisis intervention team. The Peer Support Specialist will be a person with lived experience who will engage the individual, reduce barriers to necessary services, and provide ongoing support to ensure successful follow-through and engagement.
A Peer Support Specialist draws on his/her own personal experiences to assist 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/substance use recovery.
This position is also responsible for satisfactorily completing required paperwork and electronic health record documentation according to Deschutes County Behavioral Health policies, procedures, and data integrity standards.
This position is full time and typical working hours include Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm (flexible depending on need of crisis team). Will be required to work some holidays.
Key Responsibilities:

• Model personal responsibility and self-care.
• Share own experiences in appropriate ways.
• Assist clients in developing the perspectives that promote resiliency and facilitate recovery.
• Teach coping/life skills.
• Keep boundaries and form appropriate relationships with clients.

• 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.

• Accepting feedback and being a continuous learner.
• Providing good customer service and coming from a place of “yes.”
• Maintaining appropriate clinical boundaries.
• Encouraging clients and supporting self-efficacy.
• Navigating substance abuse and/or mental health treatment systems.

• 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.

$3,859.82 to $5,172.57 per month for a 173.33 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 (Download PDF reader) for full benefit details.

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 complete an Addictions and Behavioral Health Division certified peer support specialist training program either at the time of hire or within four months from date of hire, and be 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:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Currently credentialed as a Peer Support Specialist in the state of Oregon.
• Previous experience working in the role of a peer.

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.
NOTE: Per OAR 407-007-0000 to 407-007-0100 (Download PDF reader) 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 (Download PDF reader) 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.
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.