Job Overview
- The Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking an experienced Peer Recovery Specialist to be a part of the Behavioral Healthcare Division’s First Episode Psychosis Team (FEP). The Specialist assists young adults with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders experiencing their first episode of psychosis with achieving sustained recovery. Incumbents are individuals who are in successful and ongoing recovery from mental illness and use their lived experience to support the recovery journey of others. Specific duties include:
- Providing best practices-based care coordination and peer-to-peer recovery support to clients engaged in treatment for serious mental illness, substance abuse disorders or co-occurring disorders.
- Assisting clients with navigating and obtaining services and care including medical, addiction and mental health treatment services;
- Facilitating or leading recovery-oriented group activities;
- Supporting clients physical and mental well-being with a holistic approach, focusing on recovery;
- Completing documentation and performing administrative duties to ensure compliance with policies, procedures, and regulations; and
- Performing other related duties as assigned by supervisor such as client transportation, public information and education, outreach and engagement of current or new clients and families.
The ideal candidate will have the following:
- Experience understanding how to engage and educate typically hard-to engage clients;
- Strategies in dealing with often distressed families;
- Knowledge of how and when to link individuals to community resources;
- Knowledge of when to use and the limits in using personal experience with mental illness in supporting the client; and
- Ability to work under pressure, perform as a team player, possess strong documentation skills and use recovery principles, and person-centered care.
About DHS Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged, and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity, and awareness of factors that impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs.
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Selection Criteria
- Minimum:
- Completion of the requirements for graduation from High school or GED program;
- Completion of Virginia DBHDS 72-hour Peer Recovery Specialist training within ninety (90) days of hire date; and
- One year of mental health or substance use recovery.
Substitution: Completion of coursework in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Special Education, Mental Health, or Counseling from an accredited college or university can substitute for the experience requirement. Licenses/Certifications:
- Certification as a Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) and Registration as a Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS) in Virginia within six months of hire (may be extended to one year for part-time positions). Application, requirements and instructions can be found on the Virginia Department of Health Professions Webpage. https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/counseling_forms.htm and https://www.vacertboard.org/.
Desirables: Preference may be given to candidates who possess experience and/or certification in one or more of the following:
- Providing peer services to seriously mentally ill young adults in an outpatient setting;
- Providing peer services to individuals with co-existing mental disorders (dually diagnosed with mental illness and substance abuse); and/or
- WHAM (Whole Health Action Management) or WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Certification
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Special Requirements
- Applicant must possess, or obtain by the time of appointment, a valid motor vehicle operator’s license from the applicant’s place of residence or the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite. If the applicant possesses or acquires a license, the applicant must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of the applicant’s official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent on a favorable review of the applicant’s driving record. A pre-hire background check will be made on all candidates who are selected for employment. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information. Completion of a State of Virginia Central Registry Check. Employment restrictions: To ensure that dual relationships are avoided and that employees who are also clients do not relate to their service provider as co-professionals, employees will not be hired by the County to provide or support services to the team or program in which they are current clients:
- You cannot concurrently receive behavioral health services from Arlington County Community Service Board (CSB) programs while employed in an Arlington County CSB program (exception Crisis Intervention services).
- At least 24 months must have passed between receipt of CSB services from Arlington County and employment in an Arlington County CSB program.
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Additional Information
- Work Hours: Hours will be within the schedule of Monday through Friday 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Some flexibility required. Telework is available, contingent upon workload and supervisor approval. Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are considered part of the selection process and are required for this position. Please do not give “see resume” as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Applicants who have questions or need assistance with the application may telephone (703) 228-3500 or visit the Human Resources Department. Our staff will be happy to work with you to enter your application into the system. Public access computers are available at all County Libraries, and in the Human Resources Department. The examination process for this position may include: (1) training and experience evaluation; (2) written and oral examination; (3) personal interview; (4) performance test/work sample; and/or (5) physical examination. Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process. Please call the ADA Coordinator at 703-228-3559 (voice) or email pers@arlingtonva.us.
More Information
- Salary Offers $29.89 - $45.68 Hourly
- Experience Level Junior
- Total Years Experience 0-5
- Text Area field To apply click on this link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/arlington/jobs/4335390/peer-recovery-specialist-first-episode-psychosis-team-part-time?page=3&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs
- Remote Work No remote work