Peer Recovery Specialist

City of Portsmouth • Portsmouth, VA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, assists with crisis intervention, service coordination, screening and assessments for mentally ill, substance use and co-occurring individuals. Work involves assisting individuals by identifying individual needs; assist with crisis counseling to individuals and families experiencing a psychiatric emergency. Employee participates in case management discussions. Work involves ensuring the physical, mental, medical, and social well-being of the individuals. Employee documents clients’ progress and maintains records in accordance with program policies and procedures. Employee may transport individuals. Reports to the Program Administrator.

Requirements

• Graduation from a college or university with a degree in Social Work, Psychology or related human services field and requires 1-3 years related experience or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Must possess Red Cross First Aid and CPR certifications or have the ability to obtain certifications within 90 days from date of hire and maintain them as a condition of employment.
• An acceptable general background check to include a local, state, and federal criminal history check and sex offender registry check.
• A valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
• Individuals in this position cannot be listed as having a founded child abuse or neglect complaint.
• Subject to pre-employment substance abuse testing.
• Must have lived experience.
• Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office equipment which includes telephones, calculators, copiers, computer terminals, facsimile, etc.
• Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds force occasionally and up to 50 pounds to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects or resisting individuals.
• Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to unit members, volunteers or assistants. Includes receiving instructions from immediate supervisor.
• Requires the ability to read and write a variety of correspondence, reports, documents, evaluations, assessments, summaries, forms, charts, etc.
• Requires the ability to prepare consumer records, reports, charts, reviews, treatment plans, using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
• Requires the ability to interact with individuals and groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.
• Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems and emergencies, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret a variety of technical or medical instructions in verbal or written form.
• Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of medical or professional languages, including counseling terminology.
• Requires the ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide.
• Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
• Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.
• Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
• Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with persons acting under stress.
• Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.

Responsibilities

• Provides peer-to-peer supportive counseling to individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis.
• Provides consultation to individuals and their families to assess their social, health, and vocational needs; assist clients’ in obtaining information regarding appropriate community service programs.
• Assists Clinical Therapist in providing crisis intervention to individuals and their families that are experiencing a psychiatric emergency at the Safe Harbor location.
• Provides staff coverage at the Safe Harbor location.
• Implements goals and objectives by linking individuals to appropriate services, transport individuals in pursuit of employment, living arrangements, and educational opportunities.
• Assists in the development of treatment plans and determination of consumers' goals.
• Ensures safety of consumers and security of facility.
• Follows policies and procedures during medical, behavioral, and fire emergencies.
• Ensures that departmental policies and procedures are followed.
• Maintains accurate and complete records, files according to program policies and procedures.
• Provides outreach services to locate and re-engage consumers.
• Consults with clinical staff regarding continuity of individual’s care.
• Participates in staff meetings and case reviews to ensure team approach.
• Transports individuals to and from assigned locations.
• Attends related training/workshops.
• Performs routine administrative duties (answer phone, take messages, etc.).
• Performs other related work as required.
• Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level