Peer Recovery Specialist

This position is located at 369 Battlefield Blvd, Chesapeake, VA.

Are you a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist looking for an exciting opportunity to be a part of a new, year-round Recovery School program serving Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Suffolk Public School students? Harbor Hope Center provides a comprehensive blend of supportive educational and recovery-oriented services in a structured environment to youth who have received treatment for and are in recovery from substance use disorders as they progress towards earning a high school diploma. The Youth Support Partner at the Harbor Hope Center uses their lived experience with mental illness and substance use and recovery to model wellness, recovery and resilience while providing quality, evidenced-based, recovery-oriented supports and related services to students and families.

This position is primarily stationed at the Harbor Hope Center and provides direct services to students in the program. This position supports youth in their mental health and substance use recovery by modeling personal responsibility, self-advocacy, and wellness via telling their recovery story; assisting them in identifying personal recovery goals; and developing and utilizing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals. Youth Support Partners leverage their unique perspectives and experiences to build stronger, more supportive relationships.

Please note: The position is funded for five years by a grant, and available for renewal in year five.

Typical Tasks:

• Focuses on engagement in or barriers to resiliency and recovery, return to use prevention, career options, health and wellness and prosocial behaviors, and possible family involvement.
• Assists individuals in identifying personal recovery goals through the use of individual and group sessions.
• Provides recovery support with the community treatment team
• Provides peer services consistent with the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Code of Ethics and responsibilities
• Provides community outreach and education on the role of a Youth Support Partner and recovery principles.
• Provides recovery support during service transitions as youth and young adults move through a treatment continuum or process. The YSP will work to assure seamless transitions that include recovery supports and provide information about additional community-based services.
• Promotes a social network of support by partnering with agencies, providers, family members and friends if identified by the individual in a wellness or recovery plan.
• Explores alternatives to reduce substance use or other addictive behaviors as identified by the individual in a wellness or recovery plan.
• Utilizes domains of wellness to support the individual in self-identified goals specific to recovery which may include health and wellness.
• Assists individuals in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups, as well as means of locating and joining existing groups
• Completion of professional documentation in a thorough and timely manner. Provides appropriate referrals and correspondence with outside contacts
• Maintains records for area of responsibility in accordance with departmental, state and federal regulations, laws, policies and procedures; processes daily paperwork including personnel information, service recipients' progress notes, daily time sheets and service logs
• Reads, comprehends and adheres to the Corporate Compliance and HIPAA policies and procedures. Reports any violations, inconsistencies or discrepancies with regard to the Corporate Compliance policies and procedures or the HIPAA policies and procedures to the supervisor or appropriate authority.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

The City of Chesapeake offers an exceptional range of benefits. Please browse our Benefits Brochure, for a full list of benefits and employee perks.

Required Qualifications

Vocational/Educational Requirement: Requires any combination of education and experience equivalent to an associate's degree in Psychology, Sociology, or related field.

Experience: In addition to satisfying the vocational/education standards, this job class requires a minimum of one year of related, full-time equivalent experience.

Special Certifications and Licenses: Must possess a current Certified Peer Recovery Specialist ( CPRS ) certification in the Commonwealth of Virginia and have completed the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services ( DBHDS ) Peer Recovery Specialist Training prior to hire. Must maintain a valid driver's license and a driving record in compliance with City driving standards .

Special Requirement(s): Employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies. Emergency operations support work and work locations may be outside of normal job duties.

Preferred Qualifications
The Youth Support Partner ( YSP ) should have lived substance use experience starting in childhood/adolescence, and within the past ten years, with a youth serving system such as behavioral health services, foster care, juvenile justice, or substance use challenges empowering them to assist others facing similar challenges.
** Candidates must be a trained Youth Support Partner to be considered for this role