Peer Recovery Specialist

Provides peer to peer support services to individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorder (SUD) who are enrolled in Northwestern Community Services Board (NWCSB). Performs a variety of paraprofessional duties in support of wellness and recovery by utilizing their lived experiences of recovery and mental illness and/or substance use disorder plus skills learned in formal training to provide non-clinical group and individual sessions with the individuals served to promote their recovery and resiliency. Peer Recovery Specialists offer emotional support, share knowledge, teach skills, provide practical assistance and connect individuals with resources, opportunities, communities of support and other people. Services are non-clinical, person centered, strengths based, wellness focused, and trauma informed. Peer support services help to ensure the individual’s wellness-recovery plan reveals the needs and preferences of the individuals being served to complete their measurable and personalized goals.

This job description is based upon an evaluation of agency requirements at the time this description was written. This job description will change as the position is developed further, or in response to organizational or technological changes.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides face to face interactions that support an individual achieving their self-identified level of recovery, wellness, independence or personal strengths.
• Serves as a role model of recovery and wellness and self-advocacy.
• Assist an individual or family receiving services with writing and communicating their personal recovery-wellness plans and to identify ways to reach those goals using a person-centered, individual recovery-wellness plan.
• Provides trained peer-to-peer support in groups encouraging and supporting participation and self-directed participation, such as WRAP, Dual Recovery, etc.
• Facilitates non-clinical peer to peer recovery education and wellness coaching through group activities in topics such as health leisure activities, community involvement strategies, etc.
• Mentors community integration activities by providing community networking and linkage with social, recreational, spiritual, volunteer, educational or vocational resources. Assist the person in identifying community-based supports that sustain a healthy lifestyle.
• Supports, encourages, and enhances the development of natural support systems.
• Provides emotional support during the acquisition, exploration and sustaining of employment and/or educational services.
• Attends treatment team and program development meetings. Participates in regular group supervision and individual supervision as a means of enhancing professional growth, reviewing the provision of clinical services, and addressing administrative issues.
• Coordinates with the consumer’s clinical team and other supports to arrange services or resources to help achieve their goals.
• Promotes the use of self-directed recovery and wellness tools in individualized treatment planning.
• Shares his or her unique perspective on recovery from mental illness or substance use disorder with non-peer staff.
• Provides supportive level counseling throughout the prescreening process if needed by staff.
• Participates in Northwestern Community Services trainings on peer support topics and services, including boundaries, confidentiality, safety, human rights, and ethics.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School diploma or GED required.
• At least one year experience in behavioral health services or with behavioral health populations, whether through previous employment or participation in services, is required.
• Lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or substance use disorder with at least 1 year of psychiatric stability and/or sobriety.
• Completion of Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services 72-hour peer-support training required.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, good driving record and the ability to provide personal transportation as necessary to perform job duties.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• May be exposed to allergenic environments from client’s homes, including extreme heat, humidity, dust, smoke, pet contamination, cleaning supplies, etc.
• May be exposed to clients with infectious diseases.
• Must be able to drive for long periods of time to visit clients in and out of the catchment area as needed.
• Must be able to walk distances, climb and descend stairs, maneuver in and out of agency vehicles.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift/push/pull up to 25 pounds at times.

SALARY: $36,882

POSITION: ID207

RETIREMENT: NWCSB participates in Virginia Retirement System.

DISCLAIMER: All full-time employees are eligible for a complete benefits package that includes enrollment in Virginia Retirement System. For more information about benefits and a complete list of current job openings, please visit our website, Positions remain open and advertised until filled.

If you need assistance or an accommodation to apply or interview, contact Human Resources at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Northwestern Community Services Board provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.