Peer Recovery Specialist or CPRS - NEW Crisis Receiving Center

HORIZON BEHAVIORAL SERVICES, LLC • Lynchburg, VA

61d

About The Position

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) provides compassionate, person-centered support to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises by drawing from their own lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery. Th PSS works collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team within the Crisis Receiving Center to assist clients in achieving stabilization and accessing ongoing support and resources.

Requirements

• High School Diploma / GED
• At least one continuous year of sustained recovery for persons having lived experience with mental illness or substance use.
• CPRS or similar peer support credential preferred, or ability to obtain certification within 6 months of hire.
• Knowledge of local behavioral health systems, resources, and recovery communities.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and active listening skills.
• Ability to remain calm in high-stress situations and to support others in de-escalation.
• Commitment to recovery principles, person-first language, and trauma-informed care.
• Basic computer proficiency for documentation and communication.
• Knowledge of services and systems available in the community, including primary health care, support services, and generic community resources; knowledge of the nature of the recovery process, including the use of established standardized mental health, substance use, and co-occurring processes; knowledge of basic problem-solving strategies to support individuals in self-directed recovery.
• Ability to identify and document an individual's need for resources, services, and other supports; ability to develop recovery, resiliency, and wellness plans by integrating information obtained from informal assessments, evaluations, observations, and interviews; ability to promote services, supports, and strategies for the recovery process; ability to utilize personal experience to support others in recovery; ability to work as a member of a team, maintaining effective, professional working relationships with individuals within the agency as well as those in the community.
• Willing and available to work modified schedules (weekends, holidays, etc.) as required.
• Ability to drive and must possess a valid driver's license.
• May be called upon to travel to any Horizon worksite; transport clients, provide services to clients at other locations.
• Ability to participate in and successfully pass behavioral intervention training; includes both verbal de-escalation skills and physical skills techniques to be utilized with consumers as needed.

Benefits

• Quality behavior health training with Central Virginia company in operation for 50+ years
• Retirement plan through Virginia State Retirement System (VRS)
• Generous paid vacation time
• Participation in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) is exclusively for public service workers in Virginia, while several options exist for life, health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Emphasis on work-life balance means a generous annual leave policy ensuring time for wellness with separate time allocated for sick leave and additionally for paid holidays.
• Stay active with Horizon's annual wellness programs and various opportunities to interact with the community through the year.
• Horizon's clinical sites are NHSC/HRSA approved for clinical student loan repayment, and qualify for both the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and the Behavioral Health State Loan Repayment (BHLRP) programs.
• If you are interested in continuing your education, working at Horizon qualifies you to receive discounts at some local universities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Hospitals
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees