Peer Support Specialist

Job Appointment Regular, full time. Work Schedule Employees in this position will work four (4) 10‑hour days with three (3) days off a week. Shifts include days, afternoons, and nights, including weekends and holidays. Ability to work any shift and on any day of the week is essential. During training, your shift may change depending on the availability of the trainers. After completing probation, you will be able to bid on an open shift based on your seniority. Work Location 330 SW Curry St., Portland OR 97239 Benefits Please check our benefits tab for an overview of benefits for this position. Language Pay Premium Eligible This position is or may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees. Union Representation This classification is represented by the Professional Technical Employees, Local 17 (PROTEC17) collective bargaining agreement. Program Values Equity & Social Justice: Strive to uplift the dignity and worth of all Portlanders, particularly those who have been historically marginalized and criminalized, by ensuring timely and professional person‑centered first response. Collaboration: Ensure the best possible outcomes for our clients by working collaboratively with community partners and traditional first responders. Empathy & Compassion: Operate from a framework of Trauma‑Informed Care with the recognition that adverse life experiences (including health systems and carceral trauma) create barriers for clients to connect with the care and supportive services they need to thrive in the community. Resource Efficiency & Prioritization: Respond to the complex care needs of individuals experiencing low acuity crises in the community to enable Police and Fire resources to attend to life‑saving and crime‑related calls for service. Position Summary Under general direction of their supervisor, the Peer Support Specialists (PSS) serves on the multi‑disciplinary PSR Aftercare team along with Community Health Workers (CHW). The role of the PSS is to connect with clients after 911 calls have been resolved. Our Crisis Response teams connect at the time of the 911 call and will refer clients needing more assistance to the Aftercare team. The PSSs and CHWs work closely to complete all tasks associated with follow‑up crisis stabilization services, as well as various other administrative tasks. Responsibilities Establishing positive, trusting relationships and providing support to individuals experiencing crisis; conducting follow‑up and assisting individuals being served in identifying and navigating various community resources and external agency services; documenting support services in a program database in a manner that assures compliance with policies, program procedures and local, state, and federal regulations. Qualifications Ability to establish collaborative relationships with clients and skills in engaging clients and others in problem‑solving. Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries and ethics while operating effectively within the peer scope, i.e., sharing lived experience with addictions and/or mental health disorders and personal recovery story. Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with colleagues of differing disciplines and in a variety of settings, including first responders, health agencies, and community services and organizations. Ability to observe and recognize escalation by clients and to effectively respond and mitigate these issues when they emerge. Ability to simultaneously talk, type data into an electronic record, and look at various screens to locate client information. Additional Qualifications Certified Peer Support Specialist by Oregon Health Authority or comparable jurisdiction. Valid state driver’s license and acceptable driving record. Certified Peer Wellness Specialist by Oregon Health Authority or comparable jurisdiction –Or– MHACBO Certified Recovery Mentor certification. One year of community‑based experience providing advocacy and support which has included significant public contact. Personal lived experience with mental health, substance use, and/or houselessness/housing insecurity (must have two or more years of continuous sobriety and/or active recovery). Bi‑lingual fluency. Experience in on‑call, crisis, or emergency response. Equal Opportunity Employer An Equal Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr City of Portland