Peer support specialist Jobs in Portland, OR

Job Title : Peer Support Specialist

Department : Social Services

Reports to : Community Programs Manager

Hours : Full Time (40 hours / week), generally between 8-5 M-F (occasional evening and weekend work)

Location : Gresham Women's Shelter / Chestnut Tree

Shelter (East Multnomah)

Compensation : $20.62 / hour to $23.98 / hour, depending on experience

Benefits : Medical, dental, short and long term disability and AD&D insurance, holidays and paid leave

Want to help make a difference? Our Just Future counters the forces that keep people and communities in poverty by building relationships and assets that create opportunity - today and for future generations.

We partnerwith people and communities impacted by poverty so they can achieve long-term housing and economic security. We invest in affordable housing and community assets that contribute to strong, inclusive neighborhoods. We advocatewith our community for policies and investments that expand housing and economic opportunity, eliminate wealth inequality and end povertyEast Portland / East Multnomah County, Oregon is our home and the heart of our investments, advocacy and programs.

Our Just Future envisions vibrant, healthy neighborhoods where all people can share in the security, hopes and advantages of a thriving, supportive community. Our Just Future operates as a nimble, financially strong organization driven by our passion, strategic goals and guiding principles.

Diversity, inclusion and equity are fundamental values for Our Just Future, both internally and externally. HSI has an Anti-Oppression Diversity Committee, which serves as a sounding board for new internal policies and procedures to make sure that we're taking into account diversity and inclusion. It also helps with diversity-related projects, such as coordinating staff diversity trainings and providing ongoing input into our equity work.

Our Just Future is working to end homelessness and poverty in our community because everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

What Our Just Future Can Offer You : We offer a comprehensive array of benefits in support of your physical, emotional and financial well-being. A few highlights :

• Employer paid premiums for employee health insurance.
• Generous paid time off, 13 paid holidays, a floating birthday holiday and the ability to maintain a great work / life balance.
• Employer paid premiums for short-term and long-term disability insurance and life insurance.
• Access to an employee assistance program.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and for dependent care.
• Professional development opportunities, including employee driven committees and monthly optional staff workshops.
• Access to wellness initiatives and resources including things such as walking groups, yoga classes, workshops on stress management, self-care and healthy living.
• Opportunity to contribute to a 401k retirement plan with a 2% employer match after three months of employment.
• Six weeks of sabbatical leave for every seven years of consecutive employment with the agency.

SUMMARY

The Peer Support Specialist will deliver services within the framework of Assertive Engagement and Trauma Informed Care while working in collaboration with Participants to develop and maintain the implementation of a holistic goal plan aimed at addressing various life domains - Housing, Income, Education, Wellness & Health, and Social Capital. Many participants have aspirations and face multiple challenging issues that may be barriers for them. These positions are part of the Adult Shelter Housing Placement Team, which consists of Housing Specialists, a Retention Worker and Peer Support Specialists. The shelters participants are single adults who identify as female and this team works closely with the shelter staff members.

The Peer Support Specialist will provide strengths-based advocacy alongside individuals who may be homeless, at risk of becoming homeless or in need of other supportive services. Many participants have aspirations for themselves and face multiple challenging issues that may be barriers for them. The Peer will work in collaboration with the individual and the Adult Shelter Housing Placement Team and / or Shelter staff to develop and maintain the implementation of a holistic goal plan aimed at addressing each individual's needs, especially as they relate to mental health and / or addiction treatment

The Peer Support Specialist must meet the qualification criteria adopted under ORS 414.665. Please refer to the qualifications section below for more details.

The Retention Work is approximately 20% part of this positon and will provide strengths-based advocacy and retention supportive services with participants who have been recently homeless and have secured permanent housing. The work includes, but limited to, helping participants identify their natural supports, work towards securing income should they have zero, and complete apartment housing inspections to pass, as well as, build working and collaborative relationships with agencies in the community to facilitate viable and appropriate resources for participants.

DUTIES & RESPONSBILITIES

Essential

Secondary

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge and abilities required.

Knowledge of :

Ability to :

EDUCATION and / or EXPERIENCE

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and / or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and / or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and distance vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

TRANSPORTATION

Possession of a valid driver's license, clean driving record and reliable transportation required. Vehicle insurance coverage limits must be $100,000 bodily injury liability for one person, $300,000 bodily injury liability for all people in an accident and $100,000 property damage liability.