Peer Support Specialist

JOB SUMMARY: The Peer Support Specialist will provide support to outpatient mental health clients who are engaged in mental health services, including clients who are discharged from subacute/residential mental health treatment or psychiatric hospitalization, clients with serious mental health issues, and those with higher risk with self-harm and suicidality. The Peer Support Specialist facilitates the development of recovery skills. The Peer Support Specialist provides opportunities for individuals to direct their own recovery process and support the learning and utilization of skills needed to foster recovery. The Peer Support Specialist will be knowledgeable of available service options, will promote the utilization of natural support systems, will facilitate the development of a sense of wellness and self-worth, and will work with a treatment team to promote the goals of the person in services. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Directs interactions with clients who are assigned to peer support services, and acts as a role model to clients to inspire hope and share life experiences as appropriate to the recovery process;
• Telephones contacts, which includes talking with clients who need support, are struggling and may be prone toward self-harm/suicidality or prone to making bad decisions. Also, making reminder calls to clients who are scheduled for assessments, groups, individual sessions, medication management appointments, and other BestCare services;
• Transportation: Takes clients to some appointments, when appropriate, if approved by supervisor. Transports clients to/from acute care or mental health residential treatment to outpatient services at BestCare. Transports clients to other agencies when they need assistance with accessing benefits (i.e. Social Security Office-Bend, DHS-Aging & Persons w/Disabilities, etc.). Occasionally   transports clients to appointment related to Supported Employment services;
• Identifies recovering person's abilities, strengths and assets and assist them to recognize and use them;
• Identifies barriers to full participation and focuses on strategies to overcome them;
• Helps monitor clients who are in residential/higher levels of mental health care, or jail, to stay connected to them and ensure that they remain connected to Crook   outpatient mental health services;
• Referrals to   various services, when appropriate (i.e. Food