Peer Recovery Specialist II
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Peer Recovery Specialist II
Salary
$45,255.39 - $75,424.96 Annually
Location
FAIRFAX (FJ23), VA
Job Type
FT Hourly W BN
Job Number
26-00028
Department
Sheriff
Opening Date
12/27/2025
Closing Date
1/9/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade
S15
Posting Type
Open to General Public
Description
Benefits
Questions
Job Announcement
The person in this position uses their personal recovery experience and training, connects with individuals offering peer support, engagement, and education to individuals receiving Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) while incarcerated and to others receiving services through the medical branch and behavioral health services. Serves as a staff member of the Medical Branch and participates in the team working environment. Encourages individuals toward active participation in services, supporting recovery goals, reentry supports, and works to motivate ongoing engagement. Provides education and support to individuals and in a group setting. Identifies specific needs and offers future-focused goals and to support ongoing recovery and engagement, harm reduction, basic needs, safety, and community linkages after release. Provides advocacy for individual concerns. Collects data for program evaluation. Participates in Medical branch team meetings, multi-organizational peer staff meetings, work groups, and other Sheriff's Office activities as required.
This position is ideal for someone who brings lived experience in recovery, formal peer support training, and a strong commitment to supporting others through engagement, education, and recovery-oriented services. The Peer Recovery Specialist II uses their personal recovery journey when appropriate and in a professional manner to build trust, instill hope, and model long-term recovery.
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.)
Leads, facilitates, or co-facilitates peer support groups or other education or support groups with a wellness or recovery focus, including preparing materials and developing curriculum;
Assists individuals served in developing a self-directed recovery plan, (including Medicaid billable Recovery, Resiliency, and Wellness (RRW) plans) and enacting their plans;
May collaborate with other service providers including Case Managers, Therapists, Nurses, Psychiatrists, and other partners;
Service locations are varied and may include outpatient program sites, crisis programs, residential treatment programs, in the community, telehealth, and justice system settings;
Provides navigation services for individuals, families, and other concerned persons, identifying and linking them to community resources that support the individual's goals and interests, including navigating crisis systems of care;
Collaborates as needed with other health care providers in providing coordinated services;
Conducts outreach and engagement activities to connect with individuals that may benefit from behavioral health services;
Provides follow-up support after mental health and/or substance use emergencies, assisting individuals to learn skills, access resources, and receive emotional support to avoid future crises.
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.)
Knowledge of the principles, theories, and methods of peer recovery services;
Knowledge of local resources, services, and support in the community relevant to the population;
Knowledge of wellness and recovery terminology, theories, and best practices;
Knowledge of basic clinical psychological, physiological, and psychiatric terminology, theories, and practices;
Ability to effectively relate one's own lived experiences of wellness and recovery;
Ability to provide one-on-one peer recovery services;
Ability to provide group peer recovery services;
Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with individuals served;
Ability to facilitate development of wellness, recovery, and resiliency plans;
Ability to assist individuals to access supports and services needed for recovery;
Ability to collaborate with other behavioral health professionals;
Ability to manage a caseload;
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, including consistent use of recovery-oriented language;
Ability to maintain records and use evaluation and survey tools;
Ability to recognize signs of distress and threats to safety in individuals served and in the environment;
Ability to take appropriate action, consistent with scope of practice, to address distress and crisis.
Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from high school or a GED issued by a state department of education; plus, any combination of education and experience equivalent to 1 year of Human Services experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Personal experience with substance use disorder or mental health challenges.
Two to three years of experience facilitating educational and support groups.
One to two years of experience working in a corrections environment.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
CPR and/or First Aid (Required within 3 months)
Virginia certification as Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) or ability to obtain it within 1 year of employment.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, polygraph exam, psychological exam and tuberculosis test to the satisfaction of the employer.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to input, access, and retrieve records from computer. Ability to lift up to 25 pounds. Ability to move self throughout Adult Detention Center. Ability to observe patient symptoms, communicate complex information to medical and confinement staff, in writing, and in person. All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include exercise.
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.
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.govEEO/AA/TTY.
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