Peer Recovery Specialist II - Youth & Family

Fairfax County • Fairfax (Hh12), VA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position works within our Youth & Family Division and will use recovery-focused approaches to engage youth and young adults in the community following emergency response to a substance-related crisis, with priority response given to those who have overdosed on opiates. Duties include: Provides peer-to-peer recovery-based psychoeducation, linkage, and referrals to supportive services in the community, supports informed decision-making, and advocates for individual choice. Utilizes their lived experience and own recovery journey to help engage and motivate individuals to explore avenues of change. Provides support during service transitions as youth and young adults move through a treatment continuum or process. This includes an individual exiting the emergency department to a treatment program or crisis care or another program. Provides one-on-one peer support, navigating to services, facilitating support groups, connecting youth and young adults to resources supporting recovery. Assist with the development and implementation of recovery plans. Provides peer support services to individuals with Opioid Use disorder participating in our OBAT program.

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or a GED issued by a state department of education.
• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to 1 year of Human Services experience.
• Virginia Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) through the Virginia Certification Board, or peer recovery certification by a member board of IC&RC through another state, or National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS) through NAADAC within 6 months of hire.
• Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS) through the Virginia Board of Counseling within 1 year.
• Valid Motor Vehicle Driver's license with fewer than six demerit points (or equivalent in another state) maintained throughout employment.
• Ability to effectively relate one’s own lived experiences of wellness and recovery.
• Ability to provide one-on-one peer recovery services.
• Ability to provide group peer recovery services.
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with individuals served.
• Ability to facilitate development of wellness, recovery, and resiliency plans.
• Ability to assist individuals to access supports and services needed for recovery.
• Ability to collaborate with other behavioral health professionals.
• Ability to manage a caseload.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, including consistent use of recovery-oriented language.
• Ability to maintain records and use evaluation and survey tools.
• Ability to recognize signs of distress and threats to safety in individuals served and in the environment.
• Ability to take appropriate action, consistent with scope of practice, to address distress and crisis.
• Ability to lift up to 15 lbs.
• Ability to observe, process, and document clinical information and execute appropriate support.
• Ability to read data on computer monitor; operate keyboard driven equipment; and input, access, and retrieve information from a computer.
• Ability to observe client's symptoms, and communicate complex information by phone, in writing, and in person.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual in English and another language.
• Registration as a Virginia State Certified Peer Recovery Specialist.
• Three or more years of experience working as a Peer Specialist within an acute care setting.
• Experience working with individuals with an opiate use diagnosis.
• Experience using electronic records to input data and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Provides peer-to-peer recovery-based psychoeducation, linkage, and referrals to supportive services in the community.
• Supports informed decision-making, and advocates for individual choice.
• Utilizes their lived experience and own recovery journey to help engage and motivate individuals to explore avenues of change.
• Provides support during service transitions as youth and young adults move through a treatment continuum or process.
• Provides one-on-one peer support, navigating to services, facilitating support groups, connecting youth and young adults to resources supporting recovery.
• Assist with the development and implementation of recovery plans.
• Provides peer support services to individuals with Opioid Use disorder participating in our OBAT program.
• Leads, facilitates, or co-facilitates peer support groups or other education or support groups with a wellness or recovery focus, including preparing materials and developing curriculum.
• Assists individuals served in developing a self-directed recovery plan, (including Medicaid billable Recovery, Resiliency, and Wellness (RRW) plans) and enacting their plans.
• May collaborate with other service providers including Case Managers, Therapists, Nurses, Psychiatrists, and other partners.
• Provides navigation services for individuals, families, and other concerned persons, identifying and linking them to community resources that support the individual’s goals and interests, including navigating crisis systems of care.
• Collaborates as needed with other health care providers in providing coordinated services.
• Conducts outreach and engagement activities to connect with individuals that may benefit from behavioral health services.
• Provides follow-up support after mental health and/or substance use emergencies, assisting individuals to learn skills, access resources, and receive emotional support to avoid future crises.

Benefits

• Foreign language skills stipend of up to $1600/year (full-time) may be given for qualified bi-lingual employees.
• Clinical supervision for employees who are registered as licensed eligible mental health in one of the following areas: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
• License/Certification Reimbursement - Reimbursement for job related licenses and/or certifications once per year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED