Peer Support Specialist - Residential Treatment & Detox Services

Job Announcement

The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) is hiring a full-time merit (30 hours per week) Peer Support Specialist in a residential treatment facility supporting individuals diagnosed with substance use and mental health disorders.

Peer support services is a behavioral health model of care that provides community-based recovery services to individuals diagnosed with a mental illness, substance use disorder, or intellectual disability. Peer support services is an individualized approach that promotes the development of wellness self-management, personal recovery, natural supports, coping skills, and self-advocacy skills, and development of independent living skills for housing, employment, and full community inclusion. Peer support services are delivered by individuals who have lived experience with recovery from Mental Health and/or Substance Use Disorders and, utilize this experience in provision of services.

Under close clinical and administrative supervision, Peer Support Specialists perform a variety of limited duties in support of wellness and recovery. Responsibilities and tasks associated with this position may include, but is not limited to:

• Facilitates/co-facilitates peer-run psychoeducational groups, utilizing appropriate evidenced-based treatment models and interventions.
• Provides peer support services and skill-building to individuals served, including crisis intervention and de-escalation when needed.
• Participates in individual and group supervision meetings to discuss client population and presenting clinical challenges, while expanding knowledge, skills, abilities in working with co-occurring population.
• Completes comprehensive daily client documentation capturing observations and interventions, highlighting individual’s progress and/or evolving needs.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and CSB recognizes that staff competence speaking a variety of languages is necessary to meet client needs. We encourage candidate’s bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply. A foreign language skills stipend of up to $1,300/year (full-time) may be given for qualified bi-lingual employees.

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.)

• Facilitates wellness and recovery groups and teaches recovery principles one on one;
• Assists individuals to fully participate in the communities where they live and work by orienting individuals to community resources, educating how to access, and advocating for increased opportunities for involvement;
• Coaches individuals in developing wellness and recovery plans, following through with those plans, and overcoming obstacles.
• Facilitates communication and understanding between recipients and providers of services so that providers make better informed recommendations and recipients make better informed choices;
• Explains services and procedures to individuals being served, and anyone they want to be involved for their support, so they know what to expect;
• Assists individuals to articulate their needs and concerns to providers;
• Provides a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for individuals receiving services;
• Serves as advocate and liaison between individuals, families, clinical professionals, physicians, and others involved in the individual’s recovery;
• Assists other staff with supporting those being served and reviewing their progress and consults as necessary when individuals are in psychiatric crisis or appear to be at risk.

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.)

• Ability to use one's lived personal experience of mental illness and/or substance use experience with accessing different levels of care;
• Ability to use one's lived experience to further healthy, positive interactions with service recipients at differing levels of engagement and stages of change
• Knowledge of the principles, process and components of wellness and recovery;
• Knowledge of ethics and boundaries as they relate to the peer specialist practice;
• Knowledge of human services available from public, private and volunteer organizations;
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships and boundaries with individuals receiving services, staff, and the general public;
• Ability to retrieve, compose and save progress notes into the electronic health record;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of clinical, medical, and other sensitive records;
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from high school or a GED issued by a state department of education;
Plus 4 months of experience in providing peer/recovery support services.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS) with the Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP) within six months of employment.
• Valid Motor Vehicle Driver's license with fewer than six demerit points (or equivalent in another state) maintained throughout employment.
• Virginia State Peer Support Certification (Required within 12 months)
• Wellness of Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Certification (Required within 12 months)
• Wellness of Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Facilitator Certification (Required within 12 months)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, a 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.)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current certification as Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS) with Virginia Board of Counseling/Dept. of Health Professionals; or certification as Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) with Virginia Certification Board
• Experience with serious mental health and/or substance use disorders.
• Experience with residential treatment services.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to independently drive county vehicle, sit, walk, stand, bend & write as needed to complete duties of the job. Ability to observe client behavior/appearance, converse with individuals & coworkers, and provide assistance with personal hygiene and personal care. 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. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.

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