Peer Recovery Specialist (CD)

THE POSTION WILL NOT BE FILLED BEFORE April 2025 

RAFT House is a progressive, quality driven psychiatric rehabilitation program that is a part of Hanover Community Services Board. At RAFT House, we enthusiastically focus on recovery, acceptance, friendship, and teamwork. We are a healing community based on choice and unconditional acceptance where team efforts inspire individuals to recognize their own worth and the potential that they bring to the world.  

 

Our goal is to provide an atmosphere where the members are guaranteed the right to meaningful work and relationships, a place to belong, and a place to which they can return.  Program staff work side-by-side with members in running the program.  The following qualities for program staff allows the program to thrive daily:  flexibility, goal directed, compassionate, energetic, honesty, approachability, desire to share, accepting of diversity, and genuinely friendly.  

 

Our program schedule varies from day-to-day and our membership is voluntary.  Work hours Join the RAFT House team and become a part of making a difference with the individuals we serve daily.    

General Description: This is a paraprofessional position. The incumbent works on a team by providing outreach, daily living skills, support, education, transportation and other community support services to individuals served. Peer Recovery Specialists are engaged in a number of areas, including at RAFT House, Intensive Community Treatment, Emergency Services and Outpatient Services. The incumbent's unique contribution is the ability to utilize and share with individuals served his/her personal lived experience and knowledge around substance use disorder recovery and/or mental health recovery, empowering and inspiring individuals served to utilize their personal strengths and preferences in treatment services at the CSB.

Organization: The Peer Recovery Specialist reports to a Clinical Supervisor and supervises no staff. The Peer Recovery Specialist position is part of Hanover County's Career Development Program (CD). 

Essential Functions:  

• Provides intensive outreach of individuals in their homes and in the community.
• Assists individuals to understand illness and/or addiction, symptom identification and coping skills.
• Teaches social skills, appropriate hygiene and other daily living skills, including conflict resolution.
• Arranges transportation to medical/clinical appointments and other community activities.
• Assists individuals in accessing natural community supports.
• Participates as a full member of a team, consulting with other agency staff on treatment planning and program planning.
• Provides clinical and administrative documentation consistent with licensure, accreditation and Medicaid standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
   

Working Conditions:
A. Hazards

• Customers - Will work with individuals, who have a history of psychiatric behavior and/or substance use, and their families
• Conditions – May be exposed to places that are considered unsafe or unsanitary, often independently

B. Environment 

• Office
• Field

C. Physical Effort 

• Minimal
• See Special Conditions

D. Non-exempt
 
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Requires personal lived experience with substance use disorder and/or a mental health condition and willingness to share personal recovery experiences with individuals receiving services.  Knowledge of signs and symptoms of mental illness, substance use disorders, behavior management and early indicators of crises. Ability to identify and access needed services and resources in the community and effectively link individuals served. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and individuals served. Effective oral and written skills to complete documentation and lead individuals served in training activities.
 
Education, Experience and Training: High school diploma or equivalent required with a minimum of sixty (60) hours of classroom training in psychology, social work or related mental health field preferred. Requires personal experience with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder and own recovery. Any equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training sufficient to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities is acceptable. Must be eligible Peer Specialist designation; Peer Recovery Specialist certification preferred.
 
Special Conditions:

• Criminal Records Check, including fingerprinting
• Valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License
• CPS (Child Protective Services) Check
• TB Test
• Twelve-month probationary period
• Work beyond normal schedule, including nights and weekends
• Must be able to successfully pass CPR/First Aide training as well as behavior management as required by regulation, including but not limited to Title 12 of the Virginia Administrative Code. This training process includes a hands-on, in-person demonstration of first aid and CPR competency, for successful completion. This demonstration requires bending, lifting, and completing activities on the floor. 
   

Revision Date: March 2024  

Salary : $45,676 - $53,275