Peer Support Specialist – YACC

Encompass Community Supports, formerly known as Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services (RRCS) is hiring a Young Adult Coordinated Care (YACC)-Peer Support Specialist.

Encompass Community Supports is a Virginia State community services organization that improves the quality of life in Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock Counties by providing comprehensive mental health, substance use, developmental disability, housing, children, and aging services. As an organization of almost 400 employees and more than 80 programs, we lead with integrity and excellence and embrace diversity, collaboration, accountability, and innovation to respond to the ever-changing needs of our community.

Our benefits are highly competitive and include:

• Low employee cost Medical, Dental and Vision Insurances
• 13 paid holidays annually
• 17 PTO days
• Enrollment in VA State pension and retirement plan
• Employee training and educational opportunities
• Paid Life Insurance
• Health Savings Plan
• Flexible Savings Plan
• Employee Assistance Program

At Encompass Community Supports, our full-time employees work 37.5 hours weekly.

The Young Adult Coordinated Care (YACC)-Peer Support Specialist identifies as a person in sustained mental health recovery and possesses lived experience with psychosis and/or serious mental health diagnosis, a willingness to work on an integrated multidisciplinary team, and have a positive attitude towards exploring multiple pathways of recovery. YACC Peer Specialist works collaboratively with clients experiencing symptoms and effects of first episode psychosis (FEP) as well as their families and community partners to develop and execute plans which promote individual growth and healing. The Peer Support Specialist functions as a role model to program peers, exhibiting competency in personal recovery, use of coping skills, and serving as a client advocate. The Peer Support Specialist performs a diverse range of tasks to assist individuals in regaining independence and mastery over their own recovery.

SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide non-clinical, person-centered, strengths-based, wellness-focused, and trauma-informed support while helping to ensure the individual’s wellness plan is aligned with a person’s individual wellness goals.
• Assists clients in articulating personal goals for recovery using one-on-one and group sessions by supporting clients in identifying and creating measurable goals, developing strength-based recovery plans, and identifying supports and resources to aid them in achieving these goals.
• Assists client with working collaboratively with their support coordinator and clinician/treatment team in determining steps necessary in achieving recovery.
• Assists clients in setting up and maintaining a network of mutual-aid support groups, as well as identifying currently existing groups in the community.
• Utilizes tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) or APPR (Action planning for Prevention and Recovery), as well as booklets, videos, pamphlets, and other written material to assist clients in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans. Utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups.
• Incorporates personal experiences regarding the skills, strengths, supports, and resources used in personal recovery.
• Models ways to overcome negative self-talk and fears by providing an open forum conducive to the sharing of experiences.
• Supports clients’ vocational choices by working collaboratively with the support coordinator and placement specialist in identifying jobs that match clients’ strengths.
• Assists clients in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure.
• Assists clients in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School diploma or equivalent
• 1 year of experience with supporting individuals with mental health challenges (preferably young adults) and/or equivalent professional, occupational, and/or educational experience.
• Personal lived experience with and sustained recovery related to mental health challenges and psychosis.
• Valid Virginia driver’s license
• Employment with Encompass Community Supports is contingent upon the successful completion of our background check process.

PREFERED QUALIFICATIONS

• Successful completion of 72-hour Virginia PRS (peer recovery specialist) training curriculum and trained as a WRAP (Wellness and Recovery Action Plan) or APPR (Action Planning for Prevention and Recovery) facilitator.
• Spanish speaking is a plus.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of principles of peer support, mental health and/or co-occurring recovery, and the value of shared lived experience in supporting individuals with first-episode psychosis.
• Knowledge of services and systems available in the community including primary health care, support services, and generic community resources.
• 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.
• Work independently, as well as a part of a diverse team.
• Maintaining effective, professional working relationships with individuals within the agency as well as those in the community.
• Ability to work perform the duties of the position under general supervision.
• Engage in and sustain ongoing, professional relationships with individuals receiving services through appropriate boundary setting.
• Ability to obtain and/or maintain Certification (CPRS) and Registration (RPRS) as a Peer Recovery Specialist in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Encompass Community Supports is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person