Join the Marion County Adult Behavioral Health peer team as a Peer Support Specialist and use your lived experience to support others! Come along side those in our community with severe and persistent mental illness and offer peer support as they travel on their mental health recovery journey. The Peer Support Specialist provides recovery-oriented supports in a one-on-one and group setting and helps individuals utilize their personal strengths to reach their goals. The Peer Support Specialist uses recovery tools, shares personal recovery stories, acts as an advocate, is an addition to clinical mental health staff, is open to unique aspects of one’s recovery journey, espouses SAMHSA’s recovery model, and utilizes understanding and respect when working with others.

Here is what Peer Support Specialists are saying about working for Marion County:

• I want to give back the support that was given to me and feel like I have a job that matters. -Trisha
• I have a passion for peer support, and I feel like I am in a space to support others with their mental health recovery journey now. – Jason
• I like meeting one on one with people and getting to know them - Geneva

• Health, dental & vision coverage for employee and their eligible family members 
• Oregon Public Retirement System (PERS) - Marion County pays 100% of PERS contribution (6% of salary) 
• Deferred compensation plans 
• Flexible spending account (FSA) 
• Competitive salary with seven steps of 5% increases; employees are eligible for a step increase at six months and annually thereafter. 
• 10 county observed holidays per year and 2 personal holidays per year.

Provide support, encouragement, and assistance to mental health individuals enrolled in Marion County Adult Behavioral Health (ABH), with the majority of services provided in the community (i.e., individual’s homes, licensed care, shelters, etc.). Services include:
 
Support and coaching to promote recovery and self-direction.

• Work with participants one-on-one regarding goal development.  Provide outreach to engage participants and assist them in overcoming barriers to participating in services. 
• Offer support to develop personal recovery and wellness goals, explore self-help strategies, review dimensions of wellness, engage in wellness strategies, act as a peer advocate.  Providing some skills training in daily living skills or other areas as indicated by the participant.
• Promote activities that foster recovery and empowerment by sharing personal experiences when appropriate, modeling self-help and wellness activities.  

• Facilitate and connect individuals to services and activities with a focus on building self-efficacy.
• Assist to link with peer and community resources to build natural support.
• Promote skills building activities in the local community to support personal wellness and ongoing recovery.
• Provide supportive navigation, information, and coaching while acquiring services related to medical, social, educational, transportation, housing, education, employment, and other applicable services.

• Provide expertise, experience, and consultation to the staff to promote a culture where individual points of view are recognized, respected, and integrated into treatment.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of clinical records in accordance with Federal, State, County, and treatment program requirements under the direction of the clinical supervisor. Meet performance expectations for time and billing standards.

• Participate fully as a member of the Marion County ABH team as a supportive, reliable, positive, collaborative, and professional team member during the development of individual treatment planning, team meetings, and crisis intervention.
• Work with a team and supervisor for clinical supervision, treatment planning, staff and departmental meetings, and training.
• Other duties as assigned by your supervisor.
• Response Level 2: In the event of an emergency, employee makes a reasonable effort to report to work. Employee may be required to perform duties outside of their regularly assigned duties. Employee may be requested to work an extended or flexible schedule. Staff at this response level must complete Incident Command System 100 and 700 on-line or in-person training.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING
As defined by OAR 309-019-0105 (81) "Peer Support Specialist" means an individual providing peer delivered services to an individual or family member with similar life experience under the supervision of a qualified clinical supervisor and a qualified peer delivered services supervisor as resources are made available.

1. A self-identified person currently or formerly receiving mental health services; OR, 
2. A self-identified person in recovery from an addiction disorder, who meets the abstinence requirements for recovering staff in alcohol and drug treatment programs; OR 
3. A self-identified individual in recovery from problem gambling; OR 
4. The family member of an individual currently or formerly receiving addictions or mental health services.

• Applicants will be asked to discuss recovering experiences during the interview process.
• Must successfully complete a Mental Health approved peer support training program within six (6) months of hire.
• Must possess a current driver's license in the applicant's state of residence and an acceptable driving history.  Marion County will obtain a copy of the driving record for all qualified applicants from Driver and Motor Vehicle Services and review the driving record according to the Marion County policy and procedure for Driving on County Business. The policy can be found at:  http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/.
• This position may be subject to the following: Must not be excluded from participation in the federal health care programs (Medicaid, Medicare and other federally funded programs that provide health benefits); AND must not be excluded from participating in federal procurement (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and non-procurement activities (Executive Order No. 12549). 
• The finalist for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this position.
• This is a safety sensitive/special needs position. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen, including testing for marijuana. The Marion County Drug and Alcohol Use and Testing Policy can be found at: http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/policy.aspx?p=policy&pid=518.
• This position is represented by a union.
• This assignment is represented by a union.
• This is a full-time position, which is eligible for overtime.
• Typical Work Schedule:  This position will work 40 hours with five 8-hour shifts, scheduled with flexibility depending upon the needs of the department and program.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Understanding of approaches to support others in recovery and resiliency and demonstrates efforts at self-directed recovery.
Knowledgeable of community resources and how to connect individuals to those resources.
Ability to understand and carry out directions and instructions; ability to maintain confidentiality; interest and skill in providing services to individuals; ability to speak, read and write English; ability to provide documentation consistent with department standards for quality and timeliness; willingness to work hours conducive to reaching the identified population; ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with individuals, coworkers, and other agencies.
Will be asked to discuss recovering experiences during interview process.  
 
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Operates a motor vehicle; sees using depth perception; stands; sits; moves about the work area; bends forward; reaches overhead; climbs 1 floor of stairs; lifts, pushes, pulls, moves carts and carries items weighing up to 5 lbs.; operates a keyboard; speaks with a clear and audible voice; reads a 12 pt. font; hears a normal speech level; on rare occasion, may work in client homes or other areas exposed to dust or second-hand smoke; may work in uneven areas.

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS
Marion County is a qualifying public employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.  Through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, full-time employees working at the County may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.  Questions about your loan eligibility should be directed to your loan servicer or the US Department of Education.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE
Applicants are eligible to use Veterans’ Preference when applying with Marion County in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230, and 408.235 and OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015.  Preference will be awarded only if the applicant meets the minimum requirements of the position and attaches the required documentation at the time of application.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR VETERANS’ PREFERENCE

• One of the following:
  • MEMBER COPY 4 of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215); OR
  • Letter from the US Department of Veterans Affairs indicating receipt of a non-service connected pension; OR
  • Certification that discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions will take place not later than 120 days after the submission of the certificate.

• In addition to one of the above documents, Disabled Veterans must also submit one of the following:
  • A copy of their Veterans disability preference letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs; OR
  • Certification that medical separation from active duty under honorable conditions will take place not later than 120 days after the submission of the certificate.

You can request copies of your military service record through the National Archives website at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

Marion County is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran and Disability employer committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce.