PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST (CD)

Peer Recovery Specialist

Be part of something meaningful from the ground up. Join a developing peer program where your lived experience, voice, and leadership will help shape services that truly meet people where they are. As a Peer Recovery Specialist, you won't just support recovery—you'll help build a program rooted in hope, connection, and real-world understanding.

At Hanover County Community Services Board (CSB), you'll be part of one of the region's top employers, known for excellent benefits, stability, and a supportive work culture. Hanover County CSB is deeply committed to serving the community with compassion, innovation, and integrity, and to investing in employees who want to grow, lead, and make a lasting impact. Here, your work truly matters—to the individuals you serve and the community you help strengthen.

General Description: This is a paraprofessional position. The incumbent works on a team by providing outreach, daily living skills, support, education, transportation and other community support services to individuals served. Peer Recovery Specialists are engaged in a number of areas, including at RAFT House, Intensive Community Treatment, Emergency Services and Outpatient Services. The incumbent's unique contribution is the ability to utilize and share with individuals served his/her personal lived experience and knowledge around substance use disorder recovery and/or mental health recovery, empowering and inspiring individuals served to utilize their personal strengths and preferences in treatment services at the CSB.

Organization: The Peer Recovery Specialist reports to a Clinical Supervisor and supervises no staff. The Peer Recovery Specialist position is part of Hanover County's Career Development Program (CD).

Essential Functions:

• Provides intensive outreach of individuals in their homes and in the community.
• Assists individuals to understand illness and/or addiction, symptom identification and coping skills.
• Teaches social skills, appropriate hygiene and other daily living skills, including conflict resolution.
• Arranges transportation to medical/clinical appointments and other community activities.
• Assists individuals in accessing natural community supports.
• Participates as a full member of a team, consulting with other agency staff on treatment planning and program planning.
• Provides clinical and administrative documentation consistent with licensure, accreditation and Medicaid standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

A. Hazards

• Customers - Will work with individuals, who have a history of psychiatric behavior and/or substance use, and their families
• Conditions – May be exposed to places that are considered unsafe or unsanitary, often independently

B. Environment

• Office
• Field

C. Physical Effort

• Minimal
• See Special Conditions

D. Non-exempt

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Requires personal lived experience with substance use disorder and/or a mental health condition and willingness to share personal recovery experiences with individuals receiving services. Knowledge of signs and symptoms of mental illness, substance use disorders, behavior management and early indicators of crises. Ability to identify and access needed services and resources in the community and effectively link individuals served. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and individuals served. Effective oral and written skills to complete documentation and lead individuals served in training activities.

Education, Experience and Training: High school diploma or equivalent required with a minimum of sixty (60) hours of classroom training in psychology, social work or related mental health field preferred. Requires personal experience with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder and own recovery. Any equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training sufficient to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities is acceptable. Must be eligible Peer Specialist designation; Peer Recovery Specialist certification preferred.

Special Conditions:

• Criminal Records Check, including fingerprinting
• Valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License
• CPS (Child Protective Services) Check
• TB Test
• Twelve-month probationary period
• Work beyond normal schedule, including nights and weekends
• Must be able to successfully pass CPR/First Aide training as well as behavior management as required by regulation, including but not limited to Title 12 of the Virginia Administrative Code. This training process includes a hands-on, in-person demonstration of first aid and CPR competency, for successful completion. This demonstration requires bending, lifting, and completing activities on the floor.

Special Instructions to Applicants: Individuals who have been convicted of certain barrier crimes are eligible to apply for this position through the Screening and Assessment Process administered by The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). To be eligible for the screening process, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Has completed all prison or jail terms
• Is not under any probation or parole supervision
• Has no pending charges in any locality
• Has been free of parole or probation for at least five years for all convictions
• The criminal behavior was substantially related to his or her substance abuse or mental illness

Should you have questions or need additional information, contact: Department of Behavioral Health & Disability Services, Background Investigations Unit.