Peer Support Specialist (Peer Recovery Spec II) - BHOP Turning Point

This position works within our Behavioral Health Outpatient Services - Turning Point Team. As a Peer Support Specialist and under the direct clinical and administrative supervision of the Behavioral Health Supervisor, you will use recovery-focused approaches to engage youth and young adults in the community following development of psychotic-like experiences (hearing voices, seeing things others do not see, bizarre or odd thinking). Individuals enrolled in the program may have experienced hospitalization, legal challenges, or had decline in functioning at home, school, or work. You will provide peer‑to‑peer recovery‑based psychoeducation, linkage, and referrals to supportive services in the community, support informed decision‑making, and advocate for individual choice. You will utilize lived experience and your own recovery journey to help engage and motivate individuals to explore avenues of change. Further, you will support individuals with transitions to other treatment and recovery support as appropriate, collect data and maintain records of calls to evaluate and improve programming, and work collaboratively with emergency personnel, hospital staff, treatment providers, supervisor, and team members. Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population. We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity. A foreign language skills stipend of up to $1600/year (full‑time) may be given for qualified bi‑lingual employees. Note: This position is located in the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health, 8221 Williow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA. Responsibilities Lead, facilitate, or co‑facilitate peer support groups or other education or support groups with a wellness or recovery focus, including preparing materials and developing curriculum; Assist individuals served in developing a self‑directed recovery plan, (including Medicaid billable Recovery, Resiliency, and Wellness (RRW) plans) and enacting their plans; May collaborate with other service providers including Case Managers, Therapists, Nurses, Psychiatrists, and other partners; Service locations are varied and may include outpatient program sites, crisis programs, residential treatment programs, in the community, telehealth, and justice system settings; Provide navigation services for individuals, families, and other concerned persons, identifying and linking them to community resources that support the individual’s goals and interests, including navigating crisis systems of care; Collaborate as needed with other health care providers in providing coordinated services; Conduct outreach and engagement activities to connect with individuals that may benefit from behavioral health services; Provide follow‑up support after mental health and/or substance use emergencies, assisting individuals to learn skills, access resources, and receive emotional support to avoid future crises. Knowledge and Skills Knowledge of the principles, theories, and methods of peer recovery services; Knowledge of local resources, services, and support in the community relevant to the population; Knowledge of wellness and recovery terminology, theories, and best practices; Knowledge of basic clinical psychological, physiological and psychiatric terminology, theories, and practices; Ability to effectively relate one’s own lived experiences of wellness and recovery; Ability to provide one‑on‑one peer recovery services; Ability to provide group peer recovery services; Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with individuals served; Ability to facilitate development of wellness, recovery, and resiliency plans; Ability to assist individuals to access supports and services needed for recovery; Ability to collaborate with other behavioral health professionals; Ability to manage a caseload; Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, including consistent use of recovery‑oriented language; Ability to maintain records and use evaluation and survey tools; Ability to recognize signs of distress and threats to safety in individuals served and in the environment; Ability to take appropriate action, consistent with scope of practice, to address distress and crisis. Minimum Qualifications Graduation from high school or a GED issued by a state department of education; plus, any combination of education and experience equivalent to 1 year of Human Services experience. Certificates and Licenses Required Virginia Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) through the Virginia Certification Board, or peer recovery certification by a member board of IC&RC through another state, or National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS) through NAADAC – within six months of hire. Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS) with the Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP) – within six months of hire. Valid motor vehicle driver’s license with fewer than six demerit points (or equivalent in another state) maintained throughout employment. Necessary Special Requirements The appointee must complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, a driving record check, and sanction screening to the satisfaction of the employer. A TB screening upon hire and annually thereafter. Requires a National Provider Identifier. Additional work schedule requirements: Some evenings until 8:00 pm and occasional weekend work as necessary. This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.) Preferred Qualifications Current certification as a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPRS) or a Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS) within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Experience with mental health and substance use challenges. Experience with documenting in an Electronic Health Record. Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite applications. Physical Requirements Ability to travel to various sites. Ability to observe client’s symptoms, communicate complex information by phone, in writing, and in person. Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations. Selection Procedure Panel Interview and may include a practical exercise. EEO Statement Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce. Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY View phone number on click.appcast.io. View email address on click.appcast.io. EEO/AA/TTY. #J-18808-Ljbffr Fairfax County