Peer Recovery Specialist | Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) Behavioral Healthcare Division (BHD)

Peer Recovery Specialist
Location: Arlington, VA
Job Number: 6735-24D-DHS-WJ
Salary: $62,171.20 - $95,014.40
Closing Date: April 4, 2024

Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) Behavioral Healthcare Division (BHD) is hiring a Peer Recovery Specialist for the Residential and Specialized Clinical Services Bureau. This position will assist clinical staff with casework and program delivery for individuals receiving treatment services on the Emergency Services Team. The Specialist works as an integral part of the Emergency Services Team in their mission to apply evidence-based tools to empower and develop the potential for successful community reintegration, enhancement of public safety, and providing a multidisciplinary approach in addressing justice-involved individuals who struggle with serious mental illness (SMI) or dual diagnosis (DD).
 
This program utilizes the Sequential Intercept Model to intercede with SMI/DD individuals at a number of junctures within the criminal justice system in order to provide community-based services in lieu of continued incarceration.

Specific duties include:

• Empowering clients through their own lived experience and become a model of recovery for clients, their families and the community;
• Assessing clients' needs to provide referrals, when appropriate; training and educating clients, families and collaborating with criminal justice and community partners regarding client needs;
• Monitoring, implementing and facilitating opportunities for individual growth and development and documenting progress; 
• Facilitating various groups (i.e., WRAP, WHAM) for Emergency Services clients and therapeutic recreation activities;
• Meeting with clients in jail, shelters, residential facilities, the community and/or in offices;
• Organizing and presenting workshops related to recovery;
• Attending specialized meetings with criminal justice and community partners regarding coordination of care for individuals served on the Emergency Services Team; and
• Assisting clients with follow-up appointment to include transporting or accompanying clients to meetings and appointments with referred agencies and physicians. 

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 which 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.
 
To learn more about the BHD, please visit our website here.

Selection Criteria

Minimum:
Education: High School Diploma/GED or equivalent.

Experience: One year of mental health or substance use recovery.

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).