Peer Recovery Specialist II

Fairfax County Government; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairfax County Government seeks a Peer Recovery Specialist II to support individuals in MOUD and behavioral health services within the detention or related settings. The role emphasizes using lived experience to build trust, provide recovery education, and promote engagement in treatment and recovery goals.

Responsibilities include leading groups, developing recovery plans, connecting clients to resources, and coordinating with Medical Branch staff and other teams.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED plus relevant human services experience or equivalent.
• Virginia CPRS or equivalent certification required within 6 months of hire.
• RPRS certification within 1 year; CPR/First Aid within 3 months.

Responsibilities

• Lead or co-facilitate peer support groups with a wellness or recovery focus.
• Assist individuals in developing self-directed recovery plans and RRW goals.
• Provide navigation to community resources and crisis supports.
• Collaborate with health staff, case managers, and other partners.
• Maintain records and engage in intake, outreach, and follow-up activities.

Skills

Peer recovery services

Group facilitation

One-on-one coaching

Communication skills

Caseload management

Recovery-focused education

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

The person in this position uses their personal recovery experience, peer support training, and passion for helping others to make a meaningful impact on individuals receiving Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) while incarcerated, as well as those receiving Medical Branch and Behavioral Health services.

In this role, you will build trust and connection through authentic peer support, provide recovery-focused education and group support, and encourage individuals to actively engage in treatment and work towards their recovery goals. Help individuals identify needs, develop future-focused goals, access harm reduction and basic needs resources, and establish community connections and reentry supports to promote continued recovery after release. Advocate for individual concerns, collect program data, and collaborate with Medical Branch staff, peer professionals, work groups, and other Sheriff’s Office teams.

This position is ideal for someone who is ready to turn lived experience into hope and positive change. Must bring personal recovery experience, formal peer support training, and the ability to use recovery journey appropriately and professionally to build trust, inspire hope, and model the possibility of long-term recovery.

Note: As a condition of employment, the Peer Recovery Specialist II is expected to serve as a credible role model for individuals in recovery. The Peer Recovery Specialist II acknowledges that sustained personal recovery is an essential qualification of this position. Throughout employment, the employee agrees to maintain sobriety from alcohol, illegal drugs, and the non-medical use of controlled substances, comply with all agency drug-free workplace policies, and remain eligible for any required peer recovery certification. The Peer Recovery Specialist II acknowledges they are subject to random substance screening and failure to maintain these requirements may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Leads, facilitates, or co-facilitates peer support groups or other education or support groups with a wellness or recovery focus, including preparing materials and developing curriculum;
• Assists individuals served in developing a self-directed recovery plan, (including Medicaid billable Recovery, Resiliency, and Wellness (RRW) plans) and enacting their plans;
• May collaborate with other service providers including Case Managers, Therapists, Nurses, Psychiatrists, and other partners;
• Service locations are varied and may include outpatient program sites, crisis programs, residential treatment programs, in the community, telehealth, and justice system settings;
• Provides navigation services for individuals, families, and other concerned persons, identifying and linking them to community resources that support the individual’s goals and interests, including navigating crisis systems of care;
• Collaborates as needed with other health care providers in providing coordinated services;
• Conducts outreach and engagement activities to connect with individuals that may benefit from behavioral health services;
• Provides follow-up support after mental health and/or substance use emergencies, assisting individuals to learn skills, access resources, and receive emotional support to avoid future crises.

• Knowledge of the principles, theories, and methods of peer recovery services;
• Knowledge of local resources, services, and support in the community relevant to the population;
• Knowledge of wellness and recovery terminology, theories, and best practices;
• Knowledge of basic clinical psychological, physiological and psychiatric terminology, theories, and practices;
• Ability to effectively relate one’s own lived experiences of wellness and recovery;
• Ability to provide one-on-one peer recovery services;
• Ability to provide group peer recovery services;
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with individuals served;
• Ability to facilitate development of wellness, recovery, and resiliency plans;
• Ability to assist individuals to access supports and services needed for recovery;
• Ability to collaborate with other behavioral health professionals;
• Ability to manage a caseload;
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, including consistent use of recovery-oriented language;
• Ability to maintain records and use evaluation and survey tools;
• Ability to recognize signs of distress and threats to safety in individuals served and in the environment;
• Ability to take appropriate action, consistent with scope of practice, to address distress and crisis.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from high school or a GED issued by a state department of education; plus, any combination of education and experience equivalent to 1 year of Human Services experience.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Virginia Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) through the Virginia Certification Board, or peer recovery certification by a member board of IC&RC through another state, or National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS) through NAADAC within 6 months of hire.
• Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS) through the Virginia Board of Counseling within 1 year.
• CPR/First Aid certification (Required within 3 months).

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, polygraph exam, psychological exam, and tuberculosis test to the satisfaction of the employer.

This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Personal experience/experience working with individuals with substance use disorder or mental health challenges.
• Two to three years of experience facilitating educational and support groups.
• One to two years of experience working in a corrections environment.
• Familiarity with multiple pathways to recovery.
• Community outreach experience.
• Virginia Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to input, access, and retrieve records from computer. Ability to lift up to 25 pounds. Ability to move self throughout Adult Detention Center. Ability to observe patient symptoms, communicate complex information to medical and confinement staff, in writing, and in person. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home - including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others. We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. [e-mail] EEO/AA/TTY.