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SalaryVCSB is looking for our next CITAC (Crisis Intervention Team Assessment Center) Peer Recovery Specialist! A Peer is a partner who provides support to individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges. As part of the Adult Mental Health Services team, the Peer plays a vital part in an individual's road to recovery by acting as a bridge between the individual and their treatment providers.
The CITAC Peer Recovery Specialist is an entry-level position that provides trauma-informed peer support and other recovery assistance to adults, adolescents, and children with co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorders in crisis in a behavioral health emergency service setting and/or emergency department setting. Responsibilities may include answering phones, assisting program staff with meeting the needs of individuals, and operating of the program. The Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) utilizes their personal experiences and professional training to provide information on the recovery process and to promote opportunities for participants to move into recovery. This position is responsible for working alongside the individual to support them in their own treatment planning and recovery process. The PRS will provide advocacy and peer support to individuals in order to help them achieve their recovery goals and empower them to increase self-advocacy during their recovery journey. The PRS will demonstrate an ability to observe individuals’ behavior/ appearance for signs of acute distress or dangerous behavior. The position will provide support to calm, normalize, and stabilize (crisis management) individuals and their support partners. The PRS will demonstrate and ability to establish rapport with individuals through personal recovery disclosure and maintain relationships based on respect, mutuality, and appropriate boundaries. The PRS will educate individuals and their supporters on evidence-based recovery-support services, key recovery concepts, and resources. The position collaborates with other treatment team members including clinicians, law enforcement professionals, and psychiatrists, as well as other professionals deemed pertinent to an individual’s treatment.
Benefits:
- Flexible work schedule.
- Salary starting at $17.15/hour
- Hybrid work environment.
- Incentive pay available.
- Health insurance as low as $21.16/month for individuals. Family and dependent plans are also available.
- Sign-on bonus of $1,500, included in full with the first paycheck.
- Eleven paid holidays.
- Accrue up to 20 days of paid time off (PTO) per year from year one. PTO is immediately available upon accrual.
- Participation in the Virginia Retirement System.
- Professional development assistance provided at no cost.
Essential Functions:
- Provide peer counseling and support to individuals to enhance their quality of life, instill hope, and promote recovery.
- Identify community and natural supports and assist individuals with accessing and participating in such activities and events.
- Demonstrate the ability to assist individuals with developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy.
- Model and promote skills required for functional success.
- Model and promote skills required for communication and independent living.
- Assist individuals to navigate the mental health system.
- Assist individuals in crisis to be safe and help them to resolve issues related to the crisis.
- Offer personal insight and education on the process of recovery to CITAC teammates.
- Assist in maintaining safe operation of the program and service delivery.
- Assist individuals in identifying their needs and environmental, family, and socio-economic stressors and provides education on resources, as well as assists with linkage to those resources.
- Assists with transportation plans as needed.
- Provides a distinct advocacy role for people with mental health and/or substance use challenges that are experiencing a crisis.
Minimum Qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED
- Ability to become Registered Peer Recovery Specialist
- Personal, lived experience with mental health interventions to include the ECO/ TDO process.
Preferred Qualifications:
- For this position, the most competitive candidates will possess:
- Registered Peer Recovery Specialist with Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Counseling
- Fastidious detail management and organizational skills are strongly preferred.
- An appreciation for and support of diversity in all its forms, and a demonstrated ability to interact with or serve individuals with diverse backgrounds, including clients, coworkers, and members of the community.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate with others and successfully overcome interpersonal obstacles in a professional manner.
- An eagerness to invest in one’s community through service.
