Peer Specialist (Part Time)
Have you received treatment services for mental health or substance use issues and are looking for an opportunity to mentor others? This position is part time (20 hours/week) and the schedule is flexible, with most needs being Monday through Friday during business hours.
The Access Peer Recovery Specialist functions as a member of the Access team to help engage new clients coming in for intake, provide support to individuals experiencing a crisis, and encourage ongoing participation in services. This includes working with clients coming into the Burrell Center for intake assessment and, at times, working with clients in local hospital emergency rooms being prescreened for hospitalization. Duties include:
- Providing peer counseling and emotional support to individual clients and families during intake and crisis
- Helping to engage clients discharging from inpatient treatment in outpatient services.
- Assisting with telehealth intake set-up
- Providing a warm handoff from local hospital emergency rooms or psychiatric facilities to the Access Center or Crisis Stabilization Unit.
- Acting as a liaison with other BRBH programs and community resources
Requirements:
1. Knowledge & Skills:
Peer Recovery Specialist must have, at a minimum, qualifications that are documented or observable to include knowledge of:
- Have personally experienced a mental health or substance use disorder.
- Is or has been a recipient of treatment services for a mental health and/or substance use disorder, with good self-knowledge to manage their own recovery.
- Skills in assessment, service coordination, communication (oral and written), crisis intervention and basic computer usage.
- Knowledge of mental health, substance disorders, trauma-informed and community resources.
- Demonstrated interpersonal communication skills, ability to work with persons with mental health disorders (with or without co-occurring substance disorders) and ability to establish supportive trusting relationships.
- Possess ability to recognize and adjust practice and services to cultural and ethnic differences.
2. Education: High school diploma or GED required.
3. Experience: Minimum one (1) year recovery time. Having experienced a mental health disorder and/or substance use disorder with good self-knowledge to manage their disorder.
4. Licensure/Certifications: Completion of certification for Certified Peer Recovery Specialist preferred. Required to obtain this certification within one year of beginning employment.
5. Safe Driving Record: Candidates must have a valid Virginia driver's license with a safe driving record (no more than two moving violations in the last three years and no criminal violations in the last five years).
6. Background Check: Candidates who are offered a position are required to undergo a background check and drug screen.
Why work at BRBH?
- Time spent working with people in recovery: In this job you spend the majority of your day providing peer counseling.
- Great co-workers: Our staff work hard and support each other in a team atmosphere.
- Work/Life Balance: We have a great Paid Time Off policy - 29 days annually, which starts accruing on your first day.
- We offer great benefits, including VRS (Virginia Retirement System)! Click here for more information: http://www.brbh.org/benefits/
Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare (BRBH) is one of forty Community Services Boards established under the Code of Virginia to provide comprehensive services for individuals who have mental health disorders, developmental disability, or substance use disorders. BRBH provides multiple programs and services throughout the Roanoke Valley with over 400 employees working to provide quality care to our clients. We are proud to have served our community for over 50 years. BRBH maintains a drug-free workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. This position is located in Roanoke, VA.
BRBH follows CMS (Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services) guidelines, which require, if hired, proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or an approved medical or religious exemption.