Peer Recovery Specialist - Full-Time, Day Shift

Universal Health Services; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 33,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Paid Time Off

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and

401(K) with company match

Tuition Reimbursement and Student Loan

Job summary

The Psychiatric Institute of Washington, part of Universal Health Services, seeks a compassionate Peer Recovery Specialist to support patients in substance use treatment. You will identify needs, deliver recovery-oriented brief interventions, and link patients to community programs while coordinating with a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities include group sessions, post-discharge outreach, and maintaining accurate EMR records to promote engagement and long-term wellness.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Entry-level related experience (0-1 year).
• CPR/BLS Certification through the American Heart Association (AHA).
• Current state or national certification as a Peer Recovery Specialist, or the ability to obtain certification within six months of employment.
• Knowledge of substance use disorders, recovery principles, relapse prevention, and available community treatment resources.
• Ability to communicate effectively, establish rapport with patients, and navigate challenging situations using verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, data entry, and accurate documentation.

Responsibilities

• Build supportive relationships with patients in substance use treatment and identify recovery goals.
• Provide individualized recovery support and brief interventions.
• Facilitate recovery-focused group sessions and document in EMR.
• Educate patients about community recovery programs and resources.
• Collaborate with nurses, counselors, therapists, and agencies for referrals and aftercare planning.
• Conduct post-discharge outreach for high-risk patients to encourage ongoing care.
• Communicate patient information to the multidisciplinary team with professionalism and confidentiality.

Skills

Effective communication

De-escalation techniques

Rapport building

Documentation

Interpersonal skills

Emergency response awareness

Education

High school diploma or GED

CPR/BLS Certification

Peer Recovery Specialist certification

Associate degree

Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Responsibilities

Make a Meaningful Impact on Behavioral Healthcare

Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW) is seeking a compassionate and dedicated Peer Recovery Specialist to join our team. In this role, you'll provide individualized recovery support to patients experiencing substance use challenges, helping them identify their needs, develop recovery goals, and connect with resources that support long-term wellness.

This opportunity is ideal for someone who is passionate about recovery, values meaningful patient relationships, and wants to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals navigating their recovery journeys.

What You Will Do

As a Peer Recovery Specialist, you'll play an important role in supporting recovery, promoting continued engagement in treatment, and connecting patients with resources that encourage long-term success. You will:

• Build supportive relationships with patients receiving substance use treatment, identifying their individual needs, recovery goals, and readiness for change.
• Provide individualized recovery support and brief interventions to help patients navigate challenges and explore treatment options.
• Facilitate assigned recovery-focused group sessions and maintain timely, accurate documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR).
• Educate patients about community-based recovery programs, treatment services, and resources that support continued care.
• Collaborate with nurses, counselors, therapists, and community agencies to coordinate referrals, aftercare planning, and warm handoffs.
• Conduct post-discharge outreach with patients identified as being at high risk for opioid or stimulant relapse, encouraging continued engagement in recovery services.
• Communicate relevant patient information to the multidisciplinary treatment team while maintaining professionalism, accuracy, and confidentiality.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Entry-level related experience (0-1 year)
• CPR/BLS Certification through the American Heart Association (AHA)
• Current state or national certification as a Peer Recovery Specialist, or the ability to obtain certification within six months of employment.
• Knowledge of substance use disorders, recovery principles, relapse prevention, and available community treatment resources.
• Ability to communicate effectively, establish rapport with patients, and navigate challenging situations using verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, data entry, and accurate documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional education, including vocational or technical training, an associate degree, or a bachelor's degree.
• One to five years of related experience in substance use recovery, behavioral healthcare, peer support, or a related setting.
• Experience facilitating recovery-focused groups, support meetings, or psychoeducational sessions.
• Familiarity with recovery support programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), SMART Recovery, and other community-based resources.

What Will Help You Succeed

Success in this role comes from compassion, strong interpersonal skills, and a genuine commitment to supporting individuals throughout their recovery journeys. You'll thrive by building trusting relationships, communicating effectively with multidisciplinary teams, and remaining calm in challenging situations. Respect for each individual's unique experiences and recovery path is essential.

About The Psychiatric Institute of Washington

For nearly 50 years, The Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW) has provided behavioral healthcare to children, adolescents, and adults throughout the Washington, D.C. community. Our 130-bed facility offers inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs designed to help patients find hope, stability, and a path toward a healthier future.

At PIW, our team brings together professionals from across clinical, administrative, operational, and support disciplines who share a commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care.

About Us | Mental Health | Psychiatric Institute of Washington

Why Choose PIW?

At PIW, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful work that positively impacts patients, families, and the broader community. As our Peer Recovery Specialist, you'll help individuals strengthen their recovery skills, access continued care, and work toward healthier, more stable futures.

Benefits & Rewards

We believe a rewarding career should support your life both inside and outside of work. As a full-time Peer Recovery Specialist, you may be eligible for a variety of benefits that support your health, well-being, and professional growth, including:

• Challenging and rewarding work environment
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plans
• Additional insurance coverage (such as life insurance, disability insurance, and pet insurance)
• Pre-tax Metro SmartTrip Benefits
• 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
• Tuition Reimbursement and Student Loan Repayment Program
• SoFi Student Loan Refinancing Program
• Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries!
• More information is available on our Benefits Guest Website: benefits.uhsguest.com

Eligibility for benefits and programs may vary based on employment status, scheduled hours, position, location, and applicable plan requirements. Benefit information provided in this posting is a summary and is subject to the terms of the applicable plans and policies.

About Universal Health Services

Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) is one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services. Since our founding in 1979, UHS has grown steadily into a premier Fortune 500 corporation perennially recognized by multiple esteemed national rating entities. Through its subsidiaries, UHS operates inpatient acute care facilities, inpatient behavioral health facilities, outpatient and other facilities, nationwide virtual behavioral health services, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services with physical locations in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Ireland and United Kingdom. www.uhs.com.

EEO Statement

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

We believe that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success.