Job Announcement

Opportunity to provide trauma-informed peer recovery support services and other assistance to adults, adolescents, and children with co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorders in crisis in a behavioral health emergency services setting. Under direction of a program supervisor, this position utilizes personal, lived experience, and professional training to assist individuals in stabilizing crisis, meeting their goals and develop recovery and coping skills. Position works collaboratively with staff and emergency personnel to provide support and meet the needs of individuals and their supports. Observes individual's behavior/appearance for signs of acute distress or dangerous behavior. Provides support to calm, normalize and stabilize crisis (crisis management). Establishes rapport with individuals through personal disclosure and maintains relationships based on respect, mutuality, and appropriate boundaries. Educates individuals and their supports on the key recovery concepts and resources. Provides education on evidence based recovery support services to staff.

Note: To learn more about careers that make a difference, watch our video "CSB Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Providing Care."

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Learns, applies, explains and interprets federal, state, and local policies to clients, service providers, attorneys, the public, and other interested parties;
• Conducts in-depth interviews of clients to determine and reassess eligibility of clients for financial, publicly supported medical services and/or medical public assistance programs;
• Performs client needs assessments in order to make appropriate referrals and connections to other services;
• Works with clients to assist with gathering the information required to establish eligibility;
• Compiles and maintains data and documents and may prepare written narratives to support eligibility determinations;
• Ensures timely processing of applications to meet client needs and program policy mandates;
• Authorizes public assistance (e.g., medical aid, financial assistance, food stamps), based on client circumstances and public assistance program requirements;
• Uses automated technology to document, obtain and verify information to generate reports and authorize benefits and services for clients;
• Assists clients in obtaining the resources necessary to meet emergency needs;
• Assists clients in obtaining services and coordinates these with other service providers as needed;
• Coordinates and manages clients' participation in a variety of services;
• Participates in case staffing with other county staff or community organizations to assess and address needs of clients;
• Prepares appeal documents and may represent the agency in administrative appeals filed by clients;
• Assists with operation of an employment resource center.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of basic human behavior and social problems;
• Ability to read, interpret and apply program policies and procedures;
• Ability to understand and apply federal, state and local laws governing public assistance and welfare reform;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to make mathematical computations;
• Ability to schedule, organize and manage workload sufficiently to meet deadlines;
• Ability to use automated technology to establish and maintain case records;
• Ability to handle multiple deadlines, computer systems, high volume of client contact,
• high caseloads, and competing priorities;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers and other human service providers;
• Ability to work effectively with people under stress and those from various socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds;
• Ability to maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality of client information;
• Ability to provide excellent customer service;
• Ability to work in a team environment;
• Ability to maintain flexibility.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to") Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• National or Virginia Peer Support Certification (Required)
• Driver's License (Required)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, driving record check, and sanction screening to the satisfaction of the employer. A TB screening upon hire and annually thereafter.

This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.)

All newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks after the last required dose) as a condition of employment or obtain approval of a medical or religious exemption prior to their start date. Proof of an exemption or vaccination status will be required during the pre-employment onboarding process. New employees who obtain an exemption from the vaccine mandate for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs may be subject to a weekly testing requirement. Vaccinated employees and employees with a medical or religious exemption will complete the attestation online on their first day of employment or shortly thereafter.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least one year of experience in advocacy, mentoring/education, and recovery/wellness support.
• Experience with and training in mindfulness, and/or emotion regulation and/or dialectical behavioral therapy. Along with ethical responsibility.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to read data on computer monitor(s); operate keyboard driven equipment; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; and lift up to 15 lbs. Ability to transport clients in a county vehicle. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel Interview and may include a practical exercise.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.