Job Announcement

Exciting new position for a Peer Support Specialist with supervisory skills. This position will supervise a team of Peer Supporters working within the Fairfax County Justice Center (courts), and Adult Detention Center (jail). Under general supervision- plans, assigns, reviews, and manages the work and day-to-day activities of a group of peer support specialists. Ensures services are provided in a timely, accurate, courteous and effective manner. Monitors and in accordance with federal, state and local policies and procedures and peer support best practices provides direction, guidance, and training on policy and best practices for all programs. Supervises other support and administrative staff; and performs related work as required.

Note: To learn more about careers that make a difference, watch our video " CSB: Making a Difference in Our Community "

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.)

• As a member of the management team, collaborates with other supervisors and managers to ensure that staff, the community, and other human service providers work together to provide a holistic program of services;
• Provides day-to-day guidance, direction, and mentoring to a group of professional staff on case related issues, policies and procedures, agency initiatives, and professional development;
• Plans caseloads, assigns cases and reviews case records;
• Ensures all program timeframes and performance outcomes are met;
• Communicates performance expectations and monitors performance and accomplishments of staff and overall unit against the goals and objectives of the program;
• Regularly conducts individual conferences with staff to discuss specific case problems and monitors casework progress;
• Identifies crisis situations and provides crisis intervention as needed to address difficult or dangerous situations;
• Interviews job applicants and makes recommendations for hiring;
• Prepares and conducts formal and informal performance evaluations in a timely manner;
• Handles performance and discipline issues in a timely manner and in accordance with County personnel policy;
• Plans for and facilitates the professional growth of staff;
• Interprets, applies, and explains complex federal, state and County policies to applicants, service providers, the general public and other interested parties;
• Prepares appeal documents and may represent the agency in administrative appeals filed by clients;
• Participates in case staffings with other County staff or community organizations to assess needs of clients;
• Participates in inter and intra agency multidisciplinary work groups and teams;
• Makes public presentations on programs and services;
• Monitors and assures efficient, effective coordination of services provided to clients, identifies service delivery gaps and takes action to improve operations;
• Evaluates the effectiveness of policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations;
• May participate in the evaluation of service providers and provide feedback to program management staff;
• Researches available grants and business and community partnerships and determines feasibility of acquisition of funds and appropriate projects for funding;
• Writes and/or assists with writing grant applications, proposals for funding, and business plans;
• Prepares or oversees and presents narrative and statistical reports documenting the work of the unit and/or in relation to case activity.

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.)

• Thorough knowledge of complex federal, state and local laws governing public assistance and welfare reform;
• Knowledge of basic human behavior and social problems;
• Knowledge of social, economic, health and cultural factors which can serve as barriers to employment;
• Knowledge of best practices in workforce development and case management;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to make mathematical computations;
• Ability to schedule, organize, and manage workload of self and others sufficient to meet deadlines;
• Ability to read, interpret and apply program policies and procedures;
• Ability to use automated technology to conduct research, to establish and maintain case records, and to produce correspondence and reports;
• Ability to interpret and analyze data;
• Ability to handle multiple deadlines, high volume of client contact, high caseloads, and competing priorities;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers, other human service providers and the general public;
• Ability to work well with clients and coworkers from various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds;
• Ability to maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality of client information;
• Ability to work in a team environment;
• Ability to work effectively with people under stress;
• Ability to provide excellent customer service;
• Ability to identify clients in crisis and intervene to stabilize the situation;
• Ability to identify client issues requiring referral to other human service providers (e.g., substance abuse, spousal abuse);
• Ability to supervise the work of others effectively;
• Ability to provide ongoing, timely, and constructive feedback to staff regarding case work;
• Ability to develop, train, mentor, and motivate staff;
• Ability to review cases for consistency, best practice, timeliness, accuracy and appropriateness of action;
• Ability to accept changes in work assignments and environment;
• Ability to recognize and implement best proactive approaches to service delivery;
• Ability to make public presentations.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree plus four years of professional human services or related work experience. (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to").

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement.

• Driver's license
• Peer Support Specialist Certification (Required within 3 months)
• DBHDS Peer Recovery Specialist Supervisor Training (Required within 3 months)
• State and/or local workforce competencies certification may be required for some positions.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry, 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:

• Currently Certified Peer Support Specialist
• Current Forensic Peer Support Certification
• 4+ years' experience providing peer support services

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Visual acuity is required to read data on computer monitor. Ability to operate keyboard driven equipment; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; and drive a county vehicle. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include exercise

It is the policy of Fairfax County Government to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability 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.