Peer Recovery Specialist - Emergency Services (Grant Funded)

Salary: $62,171.20 - $95,014.40 Annually
Location : Arlington, VA
Job Type: Full-Time Permanent
Job Number: 6735-24D-DHS-WJ
Department: Department of Human Services
Division: DHS BHC Client Services Entry
Opening Date: 03/08/2024
Closing Date: 4/4/2024 11:59 PM Eastern
Position Information
Arlington County's (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 Modelto 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
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).
Application, requirements and instructions can be found on the Virginia Department of Health Professions Webpage. https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/counseling_forms.htm
and
Substitution: Completion of coursework in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Special Education, Mental Health, or Counseling from an accredited college or university can substitute for the experience requirement.
Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates who have experience providing PEER recovery services and/or who have earned certification in one or more of the following areas:

• Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP); and/or
• Whole Health Action Management (WHAM).

Special Requirements
Completion of Virginia DBHDS 72-hour Peer Recovery Specialist training within ninety days of hire date.
Applicant must be able to provide proof of lived experience and having been the recipient of behavioral health services.
Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver license, or must have the ability to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite. The applicant must authorize Arlington County to obtain, or provide a copy of the applicant's official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.
A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. Applicant may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.
Applicant may be required to complete a pre-hire federal background check and State of Virginia Central Registry check.
Applicant must be able to provide proof of having lived experience related to the position.
Employment restrictions: To ensure that dual relationships are avoided and that employees who are also clients do not relate to their service provider as co-professionals, employees will not be hired by the County to provide or support services to the team or program in which they are current clients:

• You cannot concurrently receive behavioral health services from Arlington County Community Service Board (CSB) programs while employed in an Arlington County CSB program (exception Crisis Intervention services).
• At least 24 months must have passed between receipt of CSB services from Arlington County and employment in an Arlington County CSB program.

Additional Information
Work Hours: This is a 40 hour a week position in a 24-hour facility that requires shift work, including weekends, evenings, holidays and occasional overtime.
Please complete each section of the application. A resume may be attached, however, it will not substitute for the completed application. Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are required for this position. Please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
#LI-Onsite
Applicants who have questions or need assistance with the application may telephone (703) 228-3500 or visit the Human Resources Department. Our staff will be happy to work with you to enter your application into the system. Public access computers are available at all County Libraries, and in the Human Resources Department.
The examination process for this position may include: (1) training and experience evaluation; (2) written and oral examination; (3) personal interview; (4) performance test/work sample; and/or (5) physical examination.
Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process. Please call the ADA Coordinator at 703-228-3559 (voice) or email .
Eligibility for Arlington County Government employee benefits depends on your position type (permanent or temporary) and your status (full-time or part-time).
More detailed information on benefits and conditions of employment is available on the Arlington County Human Resources Department website: www.arlingtonva.us/pers.
Permanent, Full-Time Appointments
All jobs are permanent, full-time appointments unless otherwise stated in the announcement. The following benefits are available:
Paid Leave: Vacation leave is earned at the rate of five hours biweekly. Leave accrual increases gradually until eight hours of leave are earned biweekly for twelve or more years of service. Sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. Paid parental and family leave benefits are also offered. Leave is pro-rated for part-time employees.
Holidays: There are eleven paid fixed holidays each year, as well as two floating holidays. Initial allotment of floating holidays may vary based on when you are hired.
Health and Dental Insurance: Four group health insurance plans are offered - a health maintenance organization, two plans with in-network only coverage, and a high-deductible plan with in and out-of-network coveerage, along with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Group dental insurance is also offered, with two options for coverage. The County pays a significant portion of the premium for these plans for employees and their dependents. The County also contributes to the HSA.
Life Insurance: Basic life insurance is provided at no cost to employees. The benefit is one times annual salary. Additional life insurance may be purchased for yourself, spouse, and/or children.
Retirement: The County retirement program is made up of three parts: a defined benefit (pension) plan, a defined contribution plan (401(a)), and a deferred compensation plan (457). The defined benefit plan provides a monthly retirement benefit based on your final average salary and years of service with the County. You contribute a portion of your salary on a pre-tax basis to this plan. General employees contribute 4% of pay; uniformed public safety employees contribute 7.5% of pay. The County also contributes to this plan. Employees become vested in the plan at five years of service.
For general employees, the County also contributes 4.2% of pay to a defined contribution plan (401(a)). The 457 deferred compensation plan allows you to save for retirement on either a pre-tax (457b) or post-tax (457 Roth) basis up to the IRS annual limit. New employees are automatically enrolled with a pre-tax contribution equal to 2% of your pay. A variety of investment options are available for the 401(a) and 457 plans.
Other Benefits: The County also offers health care, dependent care, and parking flexible spending accounts; adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement; transit and walk/bike to work subsidies; a college savings plan; wellness programs; training opportunities; and a variety of other benefits.
Permanent, Part-Time Appointments:
Part-time employees who work ten or more hours per week receive paid leave and benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked per week.
Limited Term Appointments:
Benefits are the same as permanent appointments except that the employees do not achieve permanent status.
Temporary Regular Appointments:
Temporary regular employees who work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health, dental, and basic life insurance as described above. They are also eligible for vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.
Temporary Seasonal and Occasional Appointments:
Temporary employees who work on a seasonal basis or variable hours receive sick leave, but do not normally receive other paid leave or benefits. Exceptions are noted in individual announcements.
01
Please indicate your education and experience levels by checking all that apply:

• High School Diploma or higher
• At least one year of experience working with substance abuse disorders or individuals with co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorders (in a community-based, hospital, or residential treatment setting)
• Completion of Virginia DBHDS 72-hour Peer Recovery Specialist training and certification
• Credentialed as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in the Commonwealth of Virginia
• None of the above

02
Applicant must be able to provide proof of lived experience and having been the recipient of mental health services. Are you able to provide this documentation?

• Yes
• No

03
I understand that this is a 40 hour a week position in a 24-hour facility that requires shift work, including weekends, evenings, holidays and occasional overtime.

• Yes
• No

04
Please indicate if you have any of the following:

• Peer Recovery Specialist Certification
• WRAP Certification
• WHAM Certification
• Experience providing psychosocial rehabilitation services
• None of the above

05
Please describe your eligibility or credentialing as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in Virginia. If you do not have this certification please type N/A.
06
Please describe your years of full-time experience providing supportive services to adults with substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health disorders in a clinical setting (community-based, hospital, or shelter). Please include the names of the employees, dates of employment, and duties.
07
Please check if you have the following experience (Check ALL that apply):

• Working in a residential substance use disorder treatment program
• Providing Peer Recovery services in a community-based agency
• Providing Peer Recovery services in a hospital setting
• Providing Peer recovery services in a residential treatment setting
• None of the above

Required Question