CS Therapist I-ACT Peer Support Specialist

Therapist I Peer Support Specialist

Do you want to change another person's life for the better? Are you looking to give your life meaning and establish a productive career in the field of Mental Health? Come join the PW County Community Services ACT Team! Work alongside people who are committed to helping others improve their lives and recover from mental illness or co-occurring disorders. On the ACT team, you will use your knowledge, skills, and own experience to help others.

Our services are provided primarily in the community. We are seeking qualified applicants to fill our full-time Therapist I Peer Support Specialist position. Successful candidates will have lived experience and success in treatment and recovery. The candidate will have success in providing services to adults with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder, knowledge of recovery model practices, and best practices in peer recovery work.

The candidate in this position has the unique opportunity to be an influencer and change-maker on a team, conceptually viewed as a "hospital without walls." The candidate will bring and gain a wealth of experience in a supportive multidisciplinary and skilled team environment.

This position is within the Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACT). We serve adults who have a serious mental illness and work closely with a multidisciplinary team. The peer role is geared to promote recovery, healing, and independence. This position works on a multidisciplinary team approach, offering the peer's unique lens.

• Maintaining a caseload of clients who will be in services with other clinicians and physicians
• Implementing and documenting progress of clients
• Working closely with community partners such as Trillium
• Documenting all services, contacts, and attempted contacts with clients and collaterals
• Linking, monitoring, referring, coordinating, facilitating services needed by clients.
• Collaborating with other departments within the CS and the community
• Maintaining healthy boundaries with clients

Minimum Requirements:

• High school diploma or G.E.D.
• 5 years' experience providing substance use services in a human services environment
• Must have personal experience as a past recipient of substance use/co-occurring services and have been in recovery for a minimum of 2 years.
• Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in the state of Virginia

Preferences:

• Experience as a certified peer support specialist
• Experience working with serious mentally ill and/or co-occurring adults
• Experience providing person-centered, strength-based support services
• Experience assessing client needs and providing access to appropriate services
• Experience providing case management activities for clients
• Experience providing clinical documentation necessary to maintain client records including treatment planning/wellness recovery plan, progress notes, quarterly reviews, and annual assessments
• Experience facilitating peer-led recovery groups

Special Requirements:

• Possession of a valid driver's license; Must pass DMV record check;
• Must pass TB Test;
• Certification in First Aid and Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation, as required.
• Offer of employment is contingent upon the candidate passing a fingerprint based National Criminal History Record Check. Not eligible for employment with barrier crime history
• Child Protective Services Requirements: Effective 1999, mandated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services 12VA35-105-400 rules and Regulations for Licensing Providers by the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services related to Criminal Registry Checks, a search of the registry of founded complaints of child abuse and neglected maintained by the Department of Social Services.
• Certified Peer Recovery Specialist or in the process of obtaining training with Virginia DBHDS to be completed within six months of employment.
• Lived personal experiences of mental illness, justice/legal involvement or experience, and/or substance use disorders.

Work Schedule:

This full-time position works Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.; plus one evening shift until 8 p.m.

Starting Salary Range:

$70,921.50 - $84,444.75