Peer Recovery Specialist (Chester House)

Peer Recovery Specialist (Chester House)

Mental Health Support Services

Hiring Range: $58,180 - $68,362

Deadline: 11:59 p.m. April 6, 2025

Who We Are:
Chester House is a psychosocial rehabilitation program with services intended to help people diagnosed with a serious mental illness return to their best functional level in order to maintain community tenure. This position provides peer support and advocacy services for consumers of mental health services and their families and other caregivers as an integral team member of Chester House. The Peer Specialist will provide training, both in groups and individually, to support members in the development of social skills, independent living skills, crisis management skills, and other skills that promote integration into the community. This role will and must be comfortable working alongside members (clients) of a psychosocial rehabilitation program daily and is in a unique position to support members in the development of empowerment skills through self-advocacy and stigma busting. If this is your passion, then come join our team!
 
Minimum Education and Experience:

High school diploma or GED; bachelor's degree or training as a peer advocate preferred; one year of experience in providing peer/recovery support services or in related behavioral health work; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Bilingual (Spanish-speaking) preferred; experience providing peer recovery support in a psychiatric setting preferred; experience working with adults with serious mental illness preferred; experience with an electronic health records system preferred.
 
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Working knowledge of assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Ability to support others in recovery and demonstrate efforts at self-directed recovery; to effectively represent and advocate for the consumer perspective within the community and the mental health system; to operate a personal computer and related software and other standard office equipment; to communicate effectively orally and in writing; to develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers.
 
Additional Requirements:
 • Licensed or license eligible Peer Recovery Specialist with Virginia Board of Health Professionals through completion of a certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training Program preferred.
 • Must be a self-identified current or former recipient of mental health services for a severe and persistent mental illness.

Current valid driver’s license and good driving record required. Based on the Virginia DMV point system, record must not reflect a total of six or more demerit points within the twenty-four months preceding the anticipated hire date, or one major violation of six demerit points within the preceding thirty-six months. Out of state driving records must be obtained by applicant and presented at time of interview. Records must reflect at least three years of history and be dated within thirty days of interview date.

Pre-employment drug testing, FBI criminal background check, and education/degree verification required.

This position is considered Safety Sensitive and is subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:
 
 • Provides individualized guidance, coaching and support to members of Chester House both in groups and individually to support members in behavioral symptom management techniques, basic living skills, recovery, and medication management;
 • Serves as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for effective recovery-based services; assists consumers in accessing services by educating about community and natural supports and how to utilize these in the recovery process;
 • Maintains working knowledge of current trends and developments in the mental health field, as well as serve as a recovery agent by advocating for effective recovery-based services;
 • Addresses physical and dental health, use of drugs or alcohol, as well as education and employment;
 • Functions as a part of a multidisciplinary team to review cases, treatment approaches, clinical issues, client progress and treatment recommendations, and to promote a recovery perspective;
 • Monitors and assesses consumer progress and makes recommendations or modifications to treatment; prepares and maintains casework documentation as required in the delivery of services (e.g. case histories, assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, correspondence);
 • Leads and/or co-leads recovery classes; collaborate with peer recovery specialists throughout the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services program and other agency programs; and
 • Performs other work as required.

A Chesterfield County application is required and must be submitted online by deadline. Visit chesterfield.gov/careers to view instructions and to complete and submit an application. (804) 748-1551.

An Equal Opportunity Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion