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Peer Recovery Specialist

Job Announcement

This is an exciting opportunity for Peer Recovery Specialists to support individuals who are incarcerated to engage in a program of recovery from substance use disorder. This position delivers services in the Striving to Achieve Recovery (STAR) program within the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (ADC). Taking place in a specialized men’s unit in the ADC, STAR is a peer-centered program that engages individuals with groups, activities, and individual peer support. You will join a dynamic peer recovery specialist team all dedicated to supporting individuals to change their lives. There is close collaboration with Sheriff’s Office staff, including sworn deputies and civilian staff. This position facilitates multiple groups per week on a wide variety of recovery topics and activities. Individual peer recovery services focus on recovery planning, building recovery capital, learning accountability, problem-solving challenging relationships, and learning a new way of living.

While primarily providing services in the STAR housing unit, this position may facilitate groups or provide individual peer support to other populations housed in the ADC.

Learn more about the award-winning STAR program at the below sources:

Note: The salary offer will not exceed the mid-point of the salary range, $57,996.43.

To find out about the benefits of working with Fairfax County Government, please visit the CSB Careers Page.

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.
Integrated Forensic Peer Recovery (IFPRS) certification within 1 year of employment.

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

Experience with Substance Use Disorders
Forensic Peer Support Training

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to observe/monitor/document client behavior, climb stairs, lift up to 20 lbs., participate in recreational activities, review/write notes in records and use computer. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel Interview and may include a practical exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

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.