Mobile Peer Provider (Project Respond - Gresham Behavioral Health Unit)

Job Overview

Location/Schedule: This position is based at the Kerns Building in NE Portland, OR, but the majority of work will be performed in the community. The schedule is Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Position: Mobile Peer Provider

Program: Project Respond/Gresham Behavioral Health Unit (GBHU)

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 Project Respond Mobile Peer Provider on the Gresham Behavioral Health Unit (GBHU) provides mobile crisis response and follow up support in coordination with the Gresham Police Bureau to adults and individuals in Gresham, OR. The Peer Provider uses their training and experience to provide engagement, de-escalation, and advocacy to support individuals in regaining stability in the community. This position is part of a team and approaches work with people from a trauma-informed, strength-based, perspective and works in concert with programs in Multnomah County’s Acute Care Continuum. This position 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:

• Openly identify as an individual who has lived or can show past work experience with the criminal justice system.
• Openly identify as an individual who has lived experience of receiving mental health services.
• Provide immediate mobile response and follow-up support to individuals experiencing mental health crises in Gresham.
• Provide support through the recovery process for individuals being served by the Gresham Behavioral Health Unity.
• Triage mental health crisis calls as they come into the office from the Multnomah County Call Center and law enforcement agencies.
• Coordinate responses to crisis situations with community agencies and service providers.
• Reflect positive peer values that include non-hierarchy and mutuality.
• Act as a positive role model for individuals being served, demonstrating a recovery and healthful lifestyle orientation.
• Assist and support in connecting to and developing the skills necessary to access and utilize community resources, and other life skills.
• Provide culturally responsive services, particularly for African American, Latino and Native American participants (that are over-represented among homeless participants).
• Model and encourage participation in community inclusion activities.
• Coordinate services provided with other service providers including but not limited to medical providers, mental health providers, and Aging and Disability Services.
• Assess personal safety in the environment and request additional support as appropriate.
• In certain situations, collaborate with law enforcement agencies to determine risk of intervention and develop plans for approach of clients in crises.
• Provide information and facilitate linkage to mental health treatment and other social services.
• Consult with teammates, supervisors, program managers, and program medical directors as appropriate.
• Operate in a sometimes ambiguous and frequently changing work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Regulatory & Compliance:

• Comply with laws, regulations, policies, and procedures under which the program and company operate.
• Assist in crisis situations as appropriate; follow protocols and procedures in coordination with the treatment team.
• Respect and honor client rights and responsibilities and demonstrate professional boundaries and ethics.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation that ensures compliance with all agency policies and procedures and local, state, and federal regulations, and billing requirements.
• Understand safety regulations and evacuation procedures; participate in regular safety drills in compliance with program policies and procedures.
• Complete assigned employee training in compliance with program and company requirements.
• Provide guidance, support, and training to other staff in alignment with company mission and values.
• Participate in all scheduled staff meetings, supervision sessions, and other departmental and company meetings.

Qualifications

Education:

• Required: PSS: Must have completed a Peer Support training approved by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), or PWS: Must have completed a Peer Wellness training approved by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).
• A Traditional Healthcare Worker (THW) certification is required in addition to the certification to keep current and in compliance with the OARs.

Experience:

• Required: Position requires experience as a former or current user of mental health services. Must self-disclose as a current or former user of behavioral health services and must have personal experience with recovery.
• Preferred: Experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental health challenges is preferred. Experience working with diverse populations & communities.

Specialized Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Effective communication and active listening skills.
• Effective interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Ability to work proactively and effectively in a team and independently.
• Operate computer hardware and software at a level needed to effectively perform job functions.

Other:

• Must have the ability to travel to multiple locations throughout the Portland Metro area.
• All client-facing positions must have the ability to perform Basic Life Support (BLS) and properly use AED equipment. BLS certification training will be provided within the first 60 days of hire. Certification must remain current.

Working Conditions

Environmental: Work is performed in one or more of the following: clinical office, acute care settings and community setting including client residences, correctional facilities, shelters, hospitals, public places and other social service sites. Meal periods and breaks are subject to interruption. Universal Precautions and remaining alert to the environment are critical to address the potential for violent behavior, exposure to disease, biohazards, noise, and contaminants.

Mental Demands: The work assigned is diverse and involves addressing new and unusual circumstances. The work regularly involves a degree of unpredictability and disruption of planned tasks requiring a flexible time management approach. In addition, this position requires exercising sound judgment.

Cascadia is an Equal Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at 503.963.7654 or at peopleandculture@cascadiahealth.org

This position is represented by a labor union.

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 30 days after hire date)
• VSP Vision Discount Plan
• 403(B) Retirement Savings (Pre and post-tax plans with up to 8% employer matching contribution!)
• 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)
• Bicycle Reimbursement
• Discounted Fitness Memberships
• Trauma Support Team

Starting Rate Range in USD ($)

-