Peer Support Specialist - Youth & Family
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Peer Support Specialist - Youth & Family
Salary
$44,368.06 - $73,946.08 Annually
Location
FAIRFAX (HH12), VA
Job Type
FT Hourly W BN
Job Number
25-01193
Department
Community Services Board
Opening Date
06/21/2025
Closing Date
7/4/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade
S15
Posting Type
Open to General Public
Description
Benefits
Questions
Job Announcement
Works within the Youth & Family Division. This position will use recovery focused approaches to engage youth and young adults in the community following emergency response to a substance-related crisis, with priority response given to those who have overdosed on opiates.
Some duties include:
Provides peer-to-peer recovery-based psychoeducation, linkage, and referrals to supportive services in the community, supports informed decision-making, and advocates for individual choice.
Utilizes their lived experienced and own recovery journey to help engage and motivate individuals to explore avenues of change.
Provides support during service transitions as youth and young adults move through a treatment continuum or process. This includes an individual exiting the emergency department to a treatment program or crisis care or another program.
Provides one-on-one peer support, navigating to services, facilitating support groups, connecting youth and young adults to resources supporting recovery. Assist with the development and implementation of recovery plans.
Provides 3-5 hours weekly supporting the Entry, Assessment, and Referral Team.
Here are some of additional benefits CSB employees enjoy:
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 (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/demographics/fairfax-county-general-overview) ) 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.
The CSB provides clinical supervision for employees who are registered as licensed eligible mental health in one of the following areas: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
To find out more about the benefits of working with Fairfax County Government, please visit the CSB Careers Page (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/community-services-board/careers) .
Note: To learn more about careers that make a difference, watch our video "CSB Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Providing Care."
Illustrative Duties
(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.
Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
(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.
Employment Standards
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:
Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS) with the Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP) within six months of employment.
Valid Motor Vehicle Driver's license with fewer than six demerit points (or equivalent in another state) maintained throughout employment.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
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.
Additional Work Schedule Requirements: Some evenings until 8:00 pm and occasional weekend work as necessary.
This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Registration as a Virginia State Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Three or more years of experience working as a Peer Specialist within an acute care setting.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to stand, stoop, bend, stretch, walk, climb, sit, kneel, crouch, reach, crawl, lift and handle materials with manual dexterity. Ability to lift up to 15 lbs. Ability to input, access, and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to be physically active for three hours at a time. Ability to walk, negotiate or traverse property sites that may be undergoing construction or having terrain that is not level. Must be able to observe client behavior/appearance, and converse with clients & coworkers. Must be able to provide assistance with personal hygiene and personal care. Participate in outings and recreational activities. Review and write collaborative clinical notes and ongoing record keeping. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.
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