ACT Employment Specialist and Peer Support Sp

Job Description

Job Description

Adult Mental Health 

Employment Specialist and Peer Support Specialist

(Certified Peer Support Specialist)

Assertive Community Treatment Services 

South Lane Mental Health

Last reviewed: 07/08/2026

Starting Wage between: $20.35 & 22.92 hr. Based on years relevant of experience

About South Lane Mental Health 

Located just south of Eugene Oregon in the beautiful and historic city of Cottage Grove, South Lane Mental Health is a non-profit community mental health agency guided by an enduring commitment to providing individualized mental health services with compassion and respect. South Lane Mental Health’s staff of nearly 100 provides a variety of therapeutic services to over 2,000 individuals annually in Cottage Grove and the surrounding community. Our employees have a wide range of backgrounds, educational attainment, and skill sets. We strive to create an agency community characterized by empowerment, compassion, and innovation. 

Benefits of Working for South Lane Mental Health: 

• 100% employer payment of health insurance premiums for the employee, plus 100% employer coverage of in-network copays and deductibles. 
• 100% employer payment of dental and vision premiums. 
• Possibility to earn up to 5 weeks Paid Time Off per year with full time employment.
• 9 paid holidays per year. 
• Up to12 weeks of paid family/medical leave through the Paid Leave Oregon program, plus paid bereavement and civic duty leave. 
• Accessible Employee Assistant Program, including gym and wellness discounts and resources for legal and financial advice. 
• Opportunities for pre-tax contributions to a403(b)-retirement account, and to acquire supplemental insurances(disability, life, etc.)
• Eligibility for state and federal student loan forgiveness/repayment programs. 
• Flexible schedules. 
• Exceptional culture where employees are supported, trusted ,and treated as adults.

About the position

South Lane Mental Health is looking for a Certified Peer Support Specialist to provide wellness management and recovery strategies as well as supportive employment and education support as a member of our Assertive Community Treatment team. As a Peer you will support program participants to maintain health, wellness, and stability in the community. ACT team members provide direct support to approximately 40 individuals with severe and persistent mental illness living in the rural communities of south Lane County. Services are provided in the community, individual homes, and at our office location.

Position Duties Include: 

• Provides supportive employment and education, vocational assessment, job development, and job placement and support services for program participants. 
• Provide coaching and consultation to clients to promote recovery and self-direction and facilitate wellness management and recovery strategies for program participants.
• Provide ADL (Actions of Daily Living)skills training and support to clients of the ACT program as directed by their primary therapist and as part of a collaborative plan developed by the ACT team.
• Directly support clients to navigate everyday challenges in the community and in their homes including providing transportation and assistance for shopping, doctor appointments, social outings and other activities as directed by collaborative plan developed by the ACT team.
• Conduct individual and group skills training and development sessions with clients of SLMH’s ACT Program. 
• Understand and plan intervention strategies for a variety of individuals, utilizing knowledge of a variety of therapeutic models and theories from a harm reduction lens that meets the individual where they are at. 
• Monitor individual progress and make changes to approach and best practice and evidence-based interventions based on individual’s response to treatment.
• Work collaboratively with the individual client and ACT team to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses priority needs of the individual, desired treatment outcomes, an agreed upon plan of action, and reassessment.
• Understand that many clients have been traumatized and strive to constantly provide services from a respectful, trauma-informed perspective. 
• Complete all required paperwork, including notes on each session, group and individual client paperwork, and assessments within the allotted time limit using our Electronic Health Records.
• Meet requirements regarding productivity and dependability.
• Coordinate with co-workers and treatment teams, including participating in complex case reviews as necessary and daily team meetings. 
• Actively participate in clinical supervision ,team, and staff meetings.
• Engage in continuing education activities and training and continually building therapeutic skills. 
• Participate in completeness and quality reviews as required. 
• As required, positively represent SLMH in the community and with other service providers, and/or act as a liaison with other organizations or with internal committees/cross-departmental teams. 
• Perform all duties in a respectful and responsible manner, both with clients and coworkers, and in a manner that meets all professional ethical standards. 

Position Requirements

• Registered as a Peer on the Oregon State Peer Registry.
• Current Driver's License in the state of Oregon and Pass a Criminal Background Check
• Proffered, 1 to 2 years of active employment in mental health focusing on the SPMI population proffered.
• Proffered One or more years providing Supportive Employment Services. 

Competencies

• Ability to effectively build therapeutic relationships with clients in treatment.
• Ability to respond calmly and professionally in high-stress situations and respond constructively to clients in a crisis.
• Ability to balance clinical, cultural, and ethical values, particularly as relates to client and staff needs.
• Strong written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to interact with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Sound computer skills.

Essential Job Functions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, move, talk, hear, and manipulate equipment, as well as lift and move objects, equipment, and supplies.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Lift up to 40-50 pounds may occasionally be required, depending on the specific style or type of care provided. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must travel using a personal vehicle to locations throughout the community, including client homes. 

Equal Opportunity Statements

South Lane Mental Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQIA+ community members. The strength of our organization lies in the diversity of our workforce and the perspectives our employees bring to their work at South Lane Mental Health.

Additional Information

This description is intended to provide a snapshot of the work performed and is not designed to contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required for the position.