At Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, we welcome diversity; we encourage, uplift, and are honored to serve people who have been historically underrepresented and underserved. Our mission is to provide high-quality, culturally appropriate healthcare to low-income residents of Washington and Yamhill Counties, with a special emphasis on seasonal and migrant farm workers and others with barriers to receiving healthcare. We strive to provide an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we employ and serve.

Job Summary: The Certified Recovery Mentor/Peer Support Specialist (CRM/PSS) works as a member of an interdisciplinary to provide peer recovery support to individuals with substance abuse and mental health disorders and/or gambling addictions, while supporting a Trauma Informed Care perspective. This position participates in and implements program goals and objectives by providing a set of non-clinical activities that will promote a strengths-based, wellness-informed, client-centered approach to achieving person-driven goals. The CRM/PSS advocates for the individual and supports them to pursue their personal goals and individual wellness journey.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

· Act as a positive role model for individuals being served, showing a recovery and healthful lifestyle orientation.

· Share own recovery story with individuals being served, when appropriate.

· Connect participants to various models of recovery support and community resources and assist with developing a support network.

· Support clients with learning how to navigate community resources including, but not limited to, the recovery community, housing, and mass transit.

· Reflect positive peer values that include non-hierarchy and mutuality.

· Comply with and implement the regulations, policies, and procedures that pertain to peer-delivered service goals and protocol.

· Facilitate transfer to higher levels of care as assessed and appropriate.

· Provide relapse prevention support services and planning, following up immediately and regularly with patients who are struggling with relapse and/or have a high relapse potential.

· Participate in regular clinical and task supervisions.

· Attend clinical case conferences and staff meetings as indicated to gain knowledge, communicate program goals, and advocate for the needs of individuals.

· Assist in crisis situations as appropriate, following emergency protocols/procedures and coordinating with the treatment team with interventions which support a trauma informed environment for program participants and staff.

· Prevent escalation, avoiding crisis situations or neutralizing crises in progress utilizing training, policies and procedures in place.

· Administer outcome measurement tools with individuals and participate in data collection.

· Document and maintain electronic health record (EHR) and ancillary records in a manner that assures compliance with all agency policies, program procedures, and local, state, and federal regulations.

· Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation associated with billing, assessment, treatment, program participant's progress, and other activities, as required.

· Provide input into the therapeutic treatment at the program in collaboration with individual being served and case manager.

· Actively support team members and other managerial and/or volunteer staff.

· Respect and honor client rights and responsibilities and demonstrate professional boundaries and ethics.

· Provide management of care for patients, ensuring individualized quality care in conjunction with medical care team, as needed.

· Ensure appropriate procedures are developed and followed regarding community-based and clinic safety protocols.

· Promote agency initiatives and focus of patient sub-populations as determined by agency executive team.

· Attend agency and community meetings as appropriate and determined in collaboration with supervisor.

· Initiate and participate in patient care inter- and multi-disciplinary case conferences and educational and program service programs.

Perform other duties as assigned.
Handle protected health information (PHI) in a manner consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

HIPAA Requirements:

The Certified Recovery Mentor/Peer Support Specialist will have access to PHI during the course of their work activities. They will use the information to provide individual patient assessments to be used in the development comprehensive integrated medical care services. Applying the minimum necessary standard of HIPAA, the designated record sets to which this position will have access include: all sections of the medical record, patient demographic information in the practice management system, incoming records, reports, results, consultations, etc. This position is required to read the content of these records only to the extent needed to accomplish the assigned tasks.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· Must self-disclose, as appropriate, as a person in active recovery from substance use/mental health and must have personal experience with recovery services.

· Basic knowledge of methods of behavioral medicine and evidence-based treatments for medical, mental and substance use conditions.

· Knowledge of the problems and dynamics in treating medically underserved populations.

· Knowledge of community health, welfare, and social agencies.

· An understanding of the effects of trauma on health, coping, and other aspects of the lives of those we serve.

· Demonstrate responsibility for safety of program participants, staff, and property.

· Ability to apply age-specific principles of growth and development and life stages to meet each patient's needs, commensurate with educational preparation.

· Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint) required. Prior EHR experience preferred.

· Ability to organize and prioritize tasks, work under pressure and meet deadlines.

· Strong analytical, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills.

· Ability to work successfully as a primary health care team member.

· Excellent collaborative/cooperative working, oral, and written communication skills.

· Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, safe driving record and active auto insurance coverage.

· Bilingual English/Spanish language skills (speaking, reading and writing) preferred.

Education and Experience:

· Two years' experience as a Recovery Mentor working with youth or adults with Substance Use Disorders preferred.

· Completion and certification of a Recovery Mentor and/or Peer Support Specialist training approved by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) within six (6) months of hire.

· Experience consulting with interdisciplinary teams.

· Experience with youth or adults using patient-centered, trauma informed care practices.

· Experience working in a multi-cultural, diverse environment preferred

· Experience in community health care working with indigent populations preferred.

· Experience with Medication Supported Recovery (MSR), also known as Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT), is preferred.

Behavioral Competencies:

Accountability: Role model VG's mission, vision, and shared values

Customer-Focus: Listen to the voice of the customer and strive to delight them by exceeding their expectations

Teamwork: If someone needs help, help them

Initiative: Be innovative, apply fresh ideas, and continuously improve how you do your work

Confidentiality: Maintain strict confidentiality and respect the privacy of others

Ethical: Demonstrate integrity, honesty, and stewardship in all encounters at work

Respect: Demonstrate consideration and appreciation for co-workers and patients

Communication: Demonstrate the ability to convey thoughts and ideas as well as understand perspective of others

Physical Requirements:

Percentage of time spent

· Computer use: up to 25%

· Standing/Walking: up to 20%

· Sitting: up to 90%

· Lifting/Carrying: less than 5%; may occasionally lift up to 20 lbs.

· Travel to multiple locations within Washington and Yamhill counties.

Working Environment/Physical Hazards:

· Work in well-lighted, ventilated office environment.

Potential exposure to blood borne pathogens and hazardous chemicals.

Office equipment Used:

· Computer

· Telephone, fax, copier, scanner, printer

Immunization:
Staff members must meet immunization requirements as stated in VGMHC's immunization policy and state and federal guidelines.

Job descriptions represent a general outline of the essential and major job duties, functions and qualifications required. They cannot be all-inclusive and comprehensive due to the dynamic nature of work performed to accomplish VGMHC's Mission.

VGMHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from consideration for employment because of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, veteran status, marital status, or physical challenges. The policy applies not only to recruitment and hiring practices, but also includes affirmative action in placement, promotion, transfer, rate of pay, and termination.

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