Peer Recovery Specialist

Encompass Community Supports, formerly known as Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services (RRCS) is hiring a Peer Recovery Specialist to work in our Culpeper office. Encompass Community Supports is a Virginia State community services organization that improves the quality of life in Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock Counties by providing comprehensive mental health, substance use, developmental disability, housing, children’s and aging services. As an organization of almost 400 employees and more than 80 programs, we lead with integrity and excellence and embrace diversity, collaboration, accountability, and innovation to respond to the ever-changing needs of our community.

Our benefits are highly competitive and include:

• Low employee cost Medical, Dental and Vision Insurances
• 13 paid holidays annually
• 17 PTO days
• Enrollment in VA State pension and retirement plan
• Employee training and educational opportunities
• Paid Life Insurance
• Health Savings Plan
• Flexible Savings Plan
• Employee Assistance Program

Our full-time employees work 37.5 hours weekly.

GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK: FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK: FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Works collaboratively with program participants on their path of recovery, their families, and community partners to develop and execute plans which promote individual growth and healing. The peer recovery specialist will function as a role model to peers, exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills, serving as a participant advocate, and supporting the participant in establishing and maintaining their pathway of recovery. The peer specialist will perform a diverse range of tasks to assist peers in regaining independence and mastery over their own recovery. Work is performed under regular supervision.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Assists participants in articulating personal goals for recovery through the use of one-on-one and group sessions by supporting participants in identifying and creating measurable goals, developing strength-based recovery plans, and identifying supports and resources to aid them in achieving these goals within themselves, their support network, and broader community.
• Assists participant with working collaboratively with their partners in recovery in determining steps necessary in achieving recovery.
• Assists participants in setting up and maintaining mutual support groups as well as identifying currently existing groups in the community.
• Utilizes tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) Recovery, booklets, tapes, pamphlets, and other written material to assist participants in creating their own individual recovery, resiliency, and wellness plans. Utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups.
• Incorporates personal experiences regarding the skills, strengths, supports, and resources used in personal recovery.
• Educates participants with methods of how to identify and address negative self-talk and overcome fears by providing an open forum conducive to the sharing of experiences.
• Supports participants’ vocational choices by working collaboratively with employment supports in identifying jobs that match clients’ strengths.
• Assists participants in relationship building and the development of social skills using a community inclusion framework that will enhance job acquisition and tenure.
• Completes documentation within 24 hours of service delivery using an electronic health system.
• Educates and role model the value of every individual’s recovery experience while demonstrating effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Assists participants in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy.
• Works collaboratively with members of the assigned program team to support coordinated treatment planning to ensure consistency of care (i.e. within an integrated behavioral health team) or to develop individual recovery, resiliency, and wellness planning within a programmatic framework, (i.e. within a jail-based service setting).
• Develop a network of community partnerships and supports to promote a positive transition from systems of care to community inclusion for program participants.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
• Participates in community partner meetings, team meetings, supervision, and group supervision.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of services and systems available in the community including primary health care, support services, and generic community resources; Nature of the Recovery process including the use of established standardized mental health, substance use, and co-occurring processes; Basic problem solving strategies to support individuals in self-directed recovery; thorough knowledge and understanding of multiple pathways to recovery; Signs and symptoms of mental health and/or substance use challenges and strategies to address these symptoms; Applicable federal, state, and local laws as well as governing codes of conduct surrounding the profession; Knowledge and Understanding of the code of ethics, core competencies, and scope of practice guiding the work of the profession; Ability to identify and document an individual’s need for resources, services, and other supports; Ability to develop recovery, resiliency, and wellness plans by integrating information obtained from informal assessments, evaluations, observations, and interviews; establishing and documenting how resources, both natural and formal, can be utilized to promote goal achievement; coordinate services with diverse public and private providers; Ability to utilize personal experience to support others in recovery; Work as the member of a team, maintaining effective, professional working relationships with individuals within the agency as well as those in the community; Ability to work independently performing the duties of the position under general supervision; Engage in and sustain ongoing, professional relationships with individuals receiving services through appropriate boundary setting; knowledge surrounding the operation and care of computer equipment and cellular devices; knowledge of MS Office, to include Word and Excel.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

High School diploma or equivalent and at least one year of personal experience living in recovery with mental health/substance use challenges or the family member/supporter of a person who experienced mental health/substance use challenges; at least one year experience with supporting individuals in recovery from mental health/substance use challenges and/or successful completion of a DBHDS approved peer recovery specialist training program and/or Virginia Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and/or Certified WRAP (Wellness and Recovery Action Plan) facilitator and/or certified SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) Recovery facilitator, preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This work requires little or no physical effort or exertion. Working conditions are good; it may involve occasional exposure to some disagreeable elements; accidents are improbable other than minor injuries; health hazards negligible; some mental effort and stress may be involved resulting in inconvenience and frustration. The worker may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Valid Virginia driver’s license; attends training and maintains certifications as required by the Agency and regulatory guidelines.

Employment with Encompass Community Supports is contingent upon the successful completion of our background check process.

Encompass Community Supports is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Ability to Relocate:

• Culpeper, VA 22701: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person