Peer Recovery Specialist

Requisition ID: 43853 Work Location: Human Services - Municipal Center Pay Range: G.20, $43,359.40 - $67,207.07 Starting Salary: Depending upon Qualifications Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 3:30 pm Part Time Hours/Wk: Job Open Date: 2/24/25 Application Deadline: 3/26/25

Job Duties:

The City of Virginia Beach Department of Human Services is eagerly seeking to hire a Certified Peer Support Specialist to join our Discharge Assistance Planning team! Adult Correctional Services assists offenders with behavioral health or co-occurring disorders to access educational and discharge planning services while in the custody of the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office. ACS services increase treatment compliance both in the jail and in the community, provides intensive re-entry services, reduces recidivism, and fosters a commitment to a drug-free, violence free, crime free lifestyle; reducing the need for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, all while allowing individuals to live in the community with the highest degree of independence.

A $3,000 hiring bonus is being offered for this position. Hiring bonuses shall only be for new hires of original employment or reemployment as defined in Human Resources Policy No. 5.0.

• $500 will be awarded in the first paycheck.

• $1,000 will be awarded upon completion of the six (6) month interim performance evaluation with an overall rating of “Meets Expectations”.

• $1,500 will be awarded upon completion of the employee’s one (1) year probationary period and a performance evaluation with an overall rating of “Meets Expectations”.

The ideal candidate will be a Certified Peer Support Specialist and have experience working with and providing peer support services to incarcerated adults with substance use and or mental health disorders, developing a Recovery Plan by identifying individual’s goals, strengths, and steps, experience as a liaison between individuals with MH and or SUD disorders and other service providers such as Clinicians, case managers, jail mental health providers and same day access services, documenting client’s progress in an electronic health record and working with and as a part of an interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities:

• Provides recovery-based peer support services and outreach to clients transitioning from Virginia Beach Correctional Center (VBCC) to the community.
• Assists consumers in regaining control over their own lives and over their own recovery process through accompanying clients to appointments, linking them to needed resources, assisting clients with understanding, and developing treatment goals and plans, develop coping strategies and self-care routines; and helping them maintain accurate records.
• Role models competency in recovery, ongoing coping skills and goal setting in discharge planning.
• Promotes independence and empowerment by reinforcing personal strengths and decision-making.
• Offers emotional support and encouragement to individuals navigating mental health recovery.
• Meets with individual consumers in VBCC to provide input into the treatment/recovery plan in support of mental health/substance use staff and other treatment team members.
• Assists and accompany individuals to appointments on the day of release when necessary for successful reintegration into the community.
• Advises and informs consumers on community resources, including housing, employment, education, transportation, recreation, health, and other resources to meet consumer goals, objectives, and needs.
• Assists consumers with developing wellness and recovery plans (WRAP) in both individual and group settings.
• Attends integrated treatment team meetings for the purpose of supporting the consumer.
• Advocates for consumers, provides input and speaks on personal experiences regarding mental health/substance use issues to inspire hope and promote self-advocacy.

• Upholds confidentiality and ethical guidelines while fostering a safe and inclusive environment.

  The City offers a generous benefits package, which includes health, dental and life insurance, retirement and savings plans, maternity/paternity and parental leave, holidays and Paid-Time-Off.

Official City Job Description:

https://virginia-beach-departments-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/city/job-descriptions-pay-plans/Peer-Recovery-Specialist-03302.pdf

Working Conditions:

https://workingcondition-summary-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/G.007622.1.pdf

Minimum Requirements:

MINIMUMS: Requires any combination of education (above the high school level) and/or experience equivalent to one (1) year in fields utilizing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities OR eligibility for certification as a Peer Recovery Specialist with Virginia DBHDS. Must have a current and valid driver’s license.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies. Must be eligible to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) in Virginia. If not obtained prior to hire, the peer counselor will receive Peer Certification Recovery Services training.

Additional Requirements:

DMV Transcript: Required
CDL: Not Required
DOT History: Not Required
CPS Check: Required
Physical: Not Required
Respirator: Not Required
Polygraph Review: Not Required
Psychological Screening: Not Required

Attachments Required: Resume

Preferences:

Experience providing peer support services to incarcerated adults with substance use and or mental health disorders.
At least two (2) years experience working with individuals with a mental illness and/or and substance use disorders.
Experience with assisting individuals in developing a Recovery Plan by identifying individual’s goals, strengths, and steps.
Experience as a liaison between individuals with MH and or SUD disorders and other service providers (Clinicians, case managers, jail mental health providers and same day access services).
Experience providing support through sharing personal life experience of recovery from a substance use or mental health disorder by offering resources, personal experiences, support, advocacy, education, and coaching.
Experience documenting client’s progress in an electronic health record.
Experience working with and as a part of an interdisciplinary team.

Special Instructions:

Selected Candidate must be able to pass the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Department Unescorted Access Background Check and Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Background Check and Course.

PLEASE NOTE this position has AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS as specified below:
o Applicants with a felony conviction
o Applicants wanted for a crime in state or out of state.
o Applicants with a Class 1 or 2 misdemeanor conviction (s), excluding those set forth in Title 46.2 of the VA Code or 1 offense of DUI. These crimes are characterized as involving moral turpitude (lying, cheating, stealing) or gross misconduct (generally crimes against a person and crimes involving drugs or other controlled substances).
o Applicants found not guilty of any crime by reason of mental illness.
o Applicants with prior serious abuses / violations of NCIC/VCIN systems.
o Applicants listed on the Terror Watch List or Violent Gang File.

Please note this position is Grant-funded with no established end date. Accordingly, the following information relates to this position. You will be required to sign a Condition of Employment letter upon hire.

1. The position is subject to the continuation of CIP, grant or Non-Profit Foundation funding.
2. Expiration of the grant or discontinuation of CIP or Non-Profit Foundation-funding for the position shall result in its elimination; at which time,
you will be separated from employment. The City will provide as much advance notice as possible to you.
3. The City’s Reduction in Force Policy (6.11) does not apply to your employment.
4. All remaining policies, appropriate to your employment status, are extended to you with your compliance being mandatory.

• Please complete the application in its entirety and include your resume if required by the posting.
• Your responses to any "Supplemental Questions", if attached to this requisition, must be supported by the information you provide on your application and/or resume; or otherwise demonstrated during the hiring process.
• You will not be able to access the details of this job ad once the closing date has passed. If you would like to retain this information, please take a screen shot or print using your browser's printing capability.

VRS Contribution: All full-time employees are required to contribute 5% of annual salary toward their retirement account; in accordance with VRS retirement provisions. This will be handled through a pre-tax payroll deduction.

Drug Free Workplace: The City of Virginia Beach maintains a drug free workplace.