Peer Recovery Specialist, Outpatient Counseling Services

Company Summary

At Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare, Hope is Spoken Here. Our mission is to provide quality, community-based services that prevent and address mental health disorders, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders.

We put people first-ensuring every individual is treated with dignity and respect while providing flexible, affordable, and timely services.

Join us in making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve as a Peer Recovery Specialist.

Position Summary/Responsibilities

The Peer Recovery Specialist functions as a member of the team to provide expertise about the recovery process, symptom management, and the persistence required by clients to have a satisfying life. Duties include:

  • Collaborates to promote a team culture that recognizes, understands and respects each client's point of view, experiences, and preferences.
  • Responsible for maximizing client choice, self-determination, and decision-making in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of treatment.
  • Provides peer counseling and consultation to individual clients, families and team staff; acts as a liaison with other BRBH programs and community resources; carries out rehabilitation and support functions; and assists in mental health/substance use treatment, education, support, and consultation to families, and crisis intervention under the clinical supervision of staff.
  • Responsibilities of the Warm Line include answering the phone M-F (9-5), returning voicemails from after hours calls within 24hrs, proper and accurate documentation on Warm Line tracking sheet.

Hiring Range

The anticipated base salary for this position is $38,563.20 to $40,705.60. Actual compensation offered within this range will be determined based on the candidate's experience, education, qualifications (knowledge, skills, and abilities), geographic location, complexity of role, and other relevant business considerations. We kindly ask that candidates do not discuss compensation until after an offer of employment is extended.

Requirements

  • Knowledge & Skills:
    • Peer Recovery Specialist must have, at a minimum, qualifications that are documented or observable to include knowledge of:
      • Have personally experienced a substance use disorder.
      • The Peer Recovery Specialist assists the other team members to understand the client's perspective and subjective experience. Is or has been a recipient of substance related disorder services, and has acquired and uses the skills for chronic disease management.
      • Communication skills (oral and written), crisis intervention and basic computer usage
      • Knowledge of substance related disorders, trauma-informed approaches to services, and community resources
      • Demonstrated interpersonal communication skills, ability to work with persons with severe and persistent mental illness and ability to establish supportive trusting relationships
      • Possess ability to recognize and adjust practice and services to cultural and ethnic differences.
  • Education: High school diploma or GED required.
  • Experience: Minimum of 12 months in sustained recovery from alcohol and other drugs; personnel experience in working a 12-step recovery program; experience in employment or other activities that have developed good interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Licenses/Certifications: Completion of certification of Certified Peer Recovery Specialist preferred. Required to obtain this certification and register with the Board of Counseling within one year of beginning employment.
  • Background Check: Fingerprints, State and FBI criminal record reports, drug test, and central registry report will be required upon selection.
  • Safe Driving Record: This position requires transporting clients or driving agency vehicles. Candidates must have a good driving record, which is defined as no more than two moving violations in the last three years and no criminal moving violations in the last five years.

Special Work Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, use of hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, controls, and reach with arms and hands. The employee frequently lifts and or moves up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Travel up to 10%. Travel is local.

Why work at BRBH?

  • Team atmosphere: Our small team works hard to change lives.
  • Work/Life Balance: We have a great Paid Time Off policy - 21 days annually, which starts accruing on your first day, plus 10 paid holidays.
  • We offer great benefits, including VRS (Virginia Retirement System)! Click here for more information: https://www.brbh.org/careers/
  • Stable Employer: BRBH provides multiple programs and services throughout the Roanoke Valley with over 350 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.

EOE Statement

Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation general identify or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Categories: Human Services/ Social Work/ Sociology/ Psychology/ Non-Profit/ Healthcare/ Social Services/ Counseling/ MSW/ BSW