Peer Support Specialist - Peer Ally with Permanent Supportive Housing

This is an exciting opportunity to work with a new expansion program, supporting Permanent Supportive Housing units in the community of Fairfax. The team consists of dedicated professionals, including engagement staff and critical time intervention workers, who are passionate about helping others navigate their recovery journey related to their housing. The Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) position is specifically designed for engaging with individuals transitioning into housing from hospitals, jails, and other community settings who are in recovery and motivated to maintain newly acquired housing units. As a PRS, you will play a vital role in providing trauma-informed peer support, recovery support services, and assistance to individuals with behavioral health challenges while they are transitioning into housing. Under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Supervisor or designee, you will utilize your personal experience and professional training to promote opportunities for participants in recovery as they acquire housing units.

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 CSB recognizes that staff competence speaking a variety of languages is necessary to meet client needs. We encourage candidate's bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply. A foreign language skills stipend of up to $1,300/year (full-time) may be given for qualified bi-lingual employees.

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

Note: To learn more about careers that make a difference, watch our video "CSB Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Providing Care."

(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.

(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.

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:

• Valid Driver's License (Required)
• Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS) with the Virginia Department of Counseling within six (6) months of employment.

• The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, a driving record check, and sanction screening to the satisfaction of the employer. A TB screening upon hire and annually thereafter.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.

• Registration as a Virginia State Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
• Three or more years' experience working as a Peer Specialist within an acute care setting
• Current Registration and State Certification as a Peer Recovery Specialist.
• Strong commitment to supporting individuals in crisis and promoting recovery.
• Experience with and ability to provide trauma-informed peer support and maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience with electronic health record documentation preferred.
• Military veteran with lived experience in recovery.