Peer Recovery Specialist

The City of Virginia Beach Department of Human Services is eagerly seeking to hire a Certified Peer Support Specialist to join our Adult Mobile Crisis team!

The ideal candidate will have completed the 72 hour Peer Recovery Specialist Training and has experience working with and providing peer support services to adults with substance use and or mental health disorders, developing a Recovery Plan by identifying individual’s goals, strengths, and steps, experience as a liaison between individuals with MH and or SUD disorders and other service providers such as Clinicians, case managers, documenting client’s progress in an electronic health record and working with and as a part of an interdisciplinary team.

And here's the exciting part - the selected candidate will qualify for a $3,000 hiring bonus!**

Responsibilities:

·         Work closely with local hospital emergency rooms, Emergency Service, and Crisis Stabilization staff to provide client perspective on a comprehensive assessment to determine individualized treatment preferences.

·         Assist clients in developing a Recovery Plan by identifying client’s goals, strengths, and steps toward recovery, to include needed supports.

·         Assist clients with general problem solving and development of skills in obtaining services and supports through coaching toward an increased sense of responsibility.

·         Educates clients about available community resources and advocates for services on behalf of clients as needed.

·         Assists in the development and facilitation of recovery-oriented groups, using educational tools and utilizing personal experiences with substance use disorders and mental illness.

·         Acts as a liaison between clients and other service providers (Emergency Service workers, case managers, counselors, etc.) to ensure that client preferences expressed in Recovery Plans are included in Individual Service Plans.

·         Maintains accurate documentation consistent with agency guidelines, grant requirements, and licensure standards.

·         Collaborates with multiple programs as part of a treatment team, community services providers, and significant others as necessary.

·         Attends staff meetings, case meetings, and staff training activities as required.

·         Utilizes SAMHSA’s Crisis Prevention Action Plan and other recovery-oriented peer support programs.

·         Assists clients with developing skills and strategies to prevent relapse of substance addiction and possible mental health symptoms, reconnecting them with their recovery goals.

The City offers a generous benefits package, which includes health, dental and life insurance, retirement and savings plans, maternity/paternity and parental leave, holidays and Paid-Time-Off.

**Hiring bonuses shall only be for new hires of original employment or reemployment as defined in Human Resources Policy No. 5.0.

·         $500 will be awarded in the first paycheck.

·         $1,000 will be awarded upon completing the six (6) month interim performance evaluation with an overall rating of “Meets Expectations”.

·         $1,500 will be awarded upon completing the employee’s one (1) year probationary period and a performance evaluation with an overall rating of “Meets Expectations”.