What are the responsibilities and job description for the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist position at Augusta Health Brand?
The Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) is responsible for providing peer-to-peer support services to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The PRS performs a variety of paraprofessional duties in support of wellness and recovery by utilizing their lived experiences of recovery and mental health disorders. The PRS offers emotional support, shares knowledge, teaches skills, provides practical assistance, and connects individuals with resources, opportunities, communities of support and other people. Services are non-clinical, person-centered, strengths-based, wellness focused, and trauma-informed. Peer support services help to ensure the individual’s wellness-recovery plan reveals the needs and preferences of the individuals being served.
*This position pays a flat rate of $19.23/hr for certified candidates and $18.73 for uncertified candidates. Grant funded through September 30, 2025. While efforts will be made to sustain this role, it is not guaranteed.
Education
- High School Diploma or GED
Licensure/Certification
- Preferred: Registered Virginia Peer Recovery Specialist.
- Certified as a Virginia Peer Recovery Specialist within (1) year of hire, which will include the following:
- Complete the 72-hour DBHDS Peer Recovery Specialist Training
- Have 500 hours of peer support experience
- Pass the IC& RC Examination for Peer Recovery Specialists
- Agree to abide by a code of ethics
- Once certified, register with the Department of Health Professionals Board of Counseling to become a Registered Peer Recovery Specialist in Virginia
- Certification Renewal Requirements include 20 hours of continuing education hours every two years, six of which need to be in ethics.
Experience
- Minimum of one year working with individuals with substance use and mental health challenges
Skills
- Ability to positively interact with patients with mental illness, substance use disorders, their family members, hospital staff and outside agencies.
- Ability to provide active listening, education and assistive supports to patients and family members.
- Good personal management skills – time management, organization, dependability, and independence
- General knowledge and understanding of substance use and mental illness
- Knowledge of the local mental health/substance use services available in the community including public, private, and volunteer organizations
- Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to share recovery experience
- Aware of limitations and readily seeks supervision
- Computer literacy and ability to type
- Patient confidentiality
Some benefits of working at Augusta Health include:
- Generous paid time off to promote work life balance
- Free onsite parking
- Shift and weekend differentials
- Tuition reimbursement
- Onsite child care
Company Information
Augusta Health is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit, community health system located in Fishersville Virginia in Virginia’s scenic Shenandoah Valley. Augusta Health offers a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient which includes Augusta Medical Center a 255-bed inpatient facility and Augusta Medical Group which is comprised of 40 practice locations and four urgent care locations.
Equal Opportunity
Augusta Health recruits, hires and promotes qualified candidates for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran or military discharge status, and family medical or genetic information.
Salary : $19
