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Peer Support Specialist

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Peer Support Specialist

Salary

$4,158.88 - $5,573.34 Monthly

Location

Bend, OR

Job Type

Regular, full time, full benefits

Job Number

2025-00087

Department

Health Services

Opening Date

05/28/2025

Closing Date

6/11/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

AFSCME

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Summary

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. (https://vimeo.com/683937354/cce8815902)

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 1,250 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:

Deschutes County is currently accepting applications for a Peer Support Specialist - Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team. This position will work on the multi-disciplinary ACT team, with high acuity adults who have serious and persistent mental illness. The goal of services is to help individuals be as independent as possible, and to improve quality of life. Services provided will be performed in a variety of community settings such as client homes, offices or clinics, and will include in-person as well as phone services. The incumbent will assist clients with resource acquisition, and provide support, coaching, and modelling around a variety of life skill areas. This position provides recovery services aimed at improving community navigation and integration. The incumbent will escort clients to various community appointments and outings, and walk alongside them to achieve health, stability, and recovery.

Candidates must be willing to work a flexible schedule when necessary to meet client needs, which will include some evenings and weekends on-call by phone.

A Peer Support Specialist draws on his/her own personal experience to assist clients in achieving recovery goals and resiliency; promotes self-determination, personal responsibility, and empowerment inherent in recovery; acts as a role model to persons in recovery to inspire hope; and shares life experiences and lessons learned as a person in recovery. For additional information on the requirements to become a Peer Support Specialist - Click Here (http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/pd/pages/index.aspx) .

Key Responsibilities:

+ 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.

+ Satisfactorily completing paperwork and electronic health record documentation according to Deschutes County Behavioral Health (DCBH) policies, procedures, and data integrity standards.

What You Will Bring:

Knowledge of or experience with:

+ Approaches and skills used to promote resiliency, wellness, empowerment, and effective peer support strategies and practices to facilitate a self-directed recovery process.

+ The effect of trauma on health, coping and other aspects of client needs.

+ Principles of recovery, consumer-involvement and trauma-informed care.

+ Maintaining professional boundaries and form appropriate, ethical 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 clickingHERE. (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/deschutes/classspecs)

Compensation

$4,158.88 to $5,573.34 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 $95 per month for employee only or $116 per month for employee plus dependents, 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 (https://www.deschutes.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/human\_resources/page/682/2025\_deschutes\_county\_benefits\_guide\_-\_final.pdf) for full benefit details.

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:

+ Previous SPMI and/or substance use vocational experience.

+ Current certification in Oregon as a Certified Traditional Health Worker, Peer Support Specialist.

+ Self-identified person currently or formerly receiving mental health services or combined mental health and substance use disorder.

Necessary Special Requirements

Driving is a requirement for this position. 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 (http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/pd/Pages/training.aspx) approved Certified Peer Support Specialist training program within four months of hire date.

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 may occasionally lift up to 10 pounds.

If the final candidate is a current client of the Deschutes County Health Services Behavioral Health Division, they will be re-assigned to another agency for services.

Deschutes County is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to build an inclusive environment that encourages, supports, and represents the diverse voices and needs of our communities. All are encouraged to apply - we welcome diverse perspectives and experiences.

If you are a veteran and would like to apply for Veterans' Preference, please click HERE (https://www.deschutes.org/hr/page/veterans-preference-information-and-instructions) for information.

Excellent County benefit package when eligible.

Deschutes County offers eligible employees a comprehensive health care package that covers medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage at a minimal cost of $95 per month for employee only or $116 per month for employee plus dependents. 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 visitwww.deschutes.org/hrand click on Employee Benefits.

01

This position requires a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Do you possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent?

+ Yes

+ No

02

Per 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. This position requires you to 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. Do you meet this requirement?

+ Yes

+ No

03

Must possess or have the ability to obtain certification in Oregon as a Certified Traditional Health Worker, Peer Support Specialist. Please check the box that describes your current certification status. ClickHERE (https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HSD/AMH-PD/Documents/Certified-Peer-Support-Specialist-Requirements.pdf) to view the requirements to become a Peer Support Specialist.

+ I possess certification in Oregon as a Certified Traditional Health Worker, Peer Support Specialist.

+ I have the ability to obtain certification in Oregon as a Certified Traditional Health Worker, Peer Support Specialist.

+ I am not certified nor do I have the ability to obtain certification.

04

If applicable, please list your certification number.

05

Preference will be given for previous SPMI and/or substance use vocational experience. Do you meet this preference?

+ Yes

+ No

06

Preference will be given for a self-identified person currently or formerly receiving mental health services or combined mental health and substance use disorder. Do you meet this preference?

+ Yes

+ No

07

Preference will be given for current certification in Oregon as a Certified Traditional Health Worker, Peer Support Specialist. Do you meet this preference?

+ Yes

+ No

08

What types of client activities would you envision a peer support specialist most often engaging in? What skills would you use to engage high needs clients in those activities? Please be specific.

09

Peer Support Specialists are expected to assist clients in developing independence, promoting resiliency and facilitating recovery. Please briefly describe why you are a good candidate to assist clients in achieving these recovery goals.

10

Are you willing to work a flexible schedule when necessary to meet the needs of the department and client?

+ Yes

+ No

11

Successful candidates must have the ambulatory ability to drive throughout Deschutes County and to provide face-to-face services in a variety of settings in the community, including hospitals, jails, clinics, client homes, etc. Applicants must also be willing and able to drive throughout Deschutes County in sometimes adverse weather conditions. Can you meet these requirements?

+ Yes

+ No

12

Are you able to meet the requirements of the position with or without accommodation?

+ Yes

+ No

Required Question

Employer

Deschutes County Human Resources

Address

1300 NW Wall Street Suite 201Bend, Oregon, 97703

Phone

(541) 388-6553

Website

https://www.deschutes.org/jobs

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