Peer Recovery Specialist

Salary: $24.85 - $31.99 Hourly
Location : Portsmouth, VA
Job Type: Part-Time Regular
Job Number: FY2025-01429
Department: Behavioral Healthcare Services
Opening Date: 06/29/2026
Closing Date: 7/13/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


General Statement of the Job & Essential Functions
GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
Under limited supervision, this position provides support services to adults with substance abuse disorders. Reports to the Program Administrator.


ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Performs screenings, conducts recovery oriented service planning, and individual goal implementation to include training/coaching in daily living skills, facilitating social/recreational activities, recovery education, and fostering client advocacy and responsibility.


Assists clients in developing a Recovery Plan by identifying client goals, strengths, and steps toward recovery, to include needed support services. Assists clients with general problem solving and development of skills in obtaining services and support through coaching toward an increased sense of responsibility. Assists clients with developing skills and strategies to prevent relapse of substance addiction and possible mental health symptoms, reconnecting them with their recovery goals.


Works closely with local hospital emergency room, Emergency Service program, Recovery Houses and Crisis Stabilization staff to provide client perspective on a comprehensive assessment to determine individualized treatment preferences.


Assists staff in the development and facilitation of recovery-oriented groups, using educational tools and utilizing personal experiences with substance use disorders and mental illness. Educates clients about available community resources and advocates for services on behalf of clients as needed.


Acts as a liaison between clients and other service providers (Emergency Service workers, case managers, counselors, etc.) to ensure that client preferences expressed in Recovery Plans are included in Individual Service Plans. Collaborates with multiple programs as part of a treatment team, community service providers, and others.


Utilizes SAMHSA's Crisis Prevention Action Plan and other recovery-oriented peer support programs.


Maintains accurate and timely documentation consistent with agency guidelines, grant requirements, and licensure standards.


Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Knowledge of Job : Has general knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of recovery intervention, case management, crisis prevention, and substance abuse issues. Is skilled in promoting the integration of services for clients among a variety of service agencies. Is skilled in assisting, coordinating, and supervising the activities of substance abuse consumers. Is able to use standard office equipment, including a telephone, calculator, copier, facsimile, etc. Is able to compile information from a variety of sources and prepare clear and concise reports. Is able to respond quickly and effectively in a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations. Is able to effectively express ideas orally and in writing. Is able to exercise considerable discretion in handling confidential files and cases. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.


Quality of Work : Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with co-workers, consumers and the general public.


Quantity of Work : Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under
"Essential Functions."


Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.


Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.


Initiative and Enthusiasm : Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a general level of supervision and instruction.


Judgment : Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.


Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with policy or procedures, etc.


Relationships with Others : Shares knowledge with supervisor for mutual benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all consumers and employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, to project a good image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the department and surrounding regions. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, program consumers, supervisors, professionals and the general public.


Coordination of Work : Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.


Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the department and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.

Education, Experience & Special Requirements
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Requires a high school diploma or GED with 1 to 2 years of related experience and experience with a substance abuse/mental health service system. A Bachelor's degree in a human service or related field is preferred.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Requires a comprehensive background investigation to include a local, state and federal criminal history check; and a sex offender registry check.


A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
Must have lived experience.


Individuals in this position cannot be listed as having a founded child abuse or neglect complaint.


In the event of a declared emergency in the city of Portsmouth, individuals in this position are required to work shelter duty and may be called on to perform duties as required to provide for the safety and care of the citizens of the community.



Physical Demands
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements : Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office equipment which includes telephones, calculators, copiers, computer terminals, facsimile, etc. Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds force occasionally and up to 50 pounds to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects or resisting individuals.


Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.


Interpersonal Communications : Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to unit members, volunteers or assistants. Includes receiving instructions from immediate supervisor.


Language Ability: Requires the ability to read and write a variety of correspondence, reports, documents, evaluations, assessments, summaries, forms, charts, etc. Requires the ability to prepare consumer records, reports, charts, and reviews, treatment plans, using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to interact with individuals and groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.


Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems and emergencies, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret a variety of technical or medical instructions in verbal or written form.


Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of medical or professional languages, including counseling terminology.


Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide.


Form/Spatial Aptitude : Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.


Motor Coordination : Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.


Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.


Sensory Discrimination : Does not require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.


Interpersonal Temperament : Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with persons acting under stress.


Physical Communication : Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
01


Please select the highest level of education completed.

• Less than High School
• High School Diploma or GED
• Some College
• Associates/Vocational/Technical
• Bachelor's Degree or Higher
• Master's Degree

02


Do you have a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record?

• Yes
• No

03


For this position you must have lived experience. Please describe in detail your lived experience.
04


In the event of a declared emergency in the city of Portsmouth, individuals in this position are required to work shelter duty and may be called on to perform duties as required to provide for the safety and care of the citizens of the community.Do you understand and agree to the statement above?

• Yes
• No

Required Question