Hanover County Government
PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST (CD)
Hanover County Government, Ashland, Virginia, United States, 23005
Overview
Be part of something meaningful from the ground up.
Join a developing peer program where your lived experience, voice, and leadership will help shape services that truly meet people where they are. As a Peer Recovery Specialist, you won’t just support recovery—you’ll help build a program rooted in hope, connection, and real-world understanding.
At Hanover County Community Services Board (CSB), you’ll be part of one of the region’s top employers, known for excellent benefits, stability, and a supportive work culture. Hanover County CSB is deeply committed to serving the community with compassion, innovation, and integrity, and to investing in employees who want to grow, lead, and make a lasting impact. Here, your work truly matters—to the individuals you serve and the community you help strengthen.
General Description This is a paraprofessional position. The incumbent works on a team by providing outreach, daily living skills, support, education, transportation and other community support services to individuals served. Peer Recovery Specialists are engaged in a number of areas, including at RAFT House, Intensive Community Treatment, Emergency Services and Outpatient Services. The incumbent's unique contribution is the ability to utilize and share with individuals served his/her personal lived experience and knowledge around substance use disorder recovery and/or mental health recovery, empowering and inspiring individuals served to utilize their personal strengths and preferences in treatment services at the CSB.
Organization The Peer Recovery Specialist reports to a Clinical Supervisor and supervises no staff. The Peer Recovery Specialist position is part of Hanover County's Career Development Program (CD).
Essential Functions
Provides intensive outreach of individuals in their homes and in the community.
Assists individuals to understand illness and/or addiction, symptom identification and coping skills.
Teaches social skills, appropriate hygiene and other daily living skills, including conflict resolution.
Arranges transportation to medical/clinical appointments and other community activities.
Assists individuals in accessing natural community supports.
Participates as a full member of a team, consulting with other agency staff on treatment planning and program planning.
Provides clinical and administrative documentation consistent with licensure, accreditation and Medicaid standards.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Working Conditions A. Hazards
Customers – Will work with individuals, who have a history of psychiatric behavior and/or substance use, and their families
Conditions – May be exposed to places that are considered unsafe or unsanitary, often independently
B. Environment
Office
Field
C. Physical Effort
Minimal
See Special Conditions
D. Non-exempt
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Requires personal lived experience with substance use disorder and/or a mental health condition and willingness to share personal recovery experiences with individuals receiving services. Knowledge of signs and symptoms of mental illness, substance use disorders, behavior management and early indicators of crises. Ability to identify and access needed services and resources in the community and effectively link individuals served. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and individuals served. Effective oral and written skills to complete documentation and lead individuals served in training activities.
Education, Experience and Training High school diploma or equivalent required with a minimum of sixty (60) hours of classroom training in psychology, social work or related mental health field preferred. Requires personal experience with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder and own recovery. Any equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training sufficient to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities is acceptable. Must be eligible Peer Specialist designation; Peer Recovery Specialist certification preferred.
Special Conditions
Criminal Records Check, including fingerprinting
Valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License
CPS (Child Protective Services) Check
TB Test
Twelve-month probationary period
Work beyond normal schedule, including nights and weekends
Must be able to successfully pass CPR/First Aid training as well as behavior management as required by regulation, including but not limited to Title 12 of the Virginia Administrative Code. This training process includes a hands-on, in-person demonstration of first aid and CPR competency, for successful completion. This demonstration requires bending, lifting, and completing activities on the floor.
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Join a developing peer program where your lived experience, voice, and leadership will help shape services that truly meet people where they are. As a Peer Recovery Specialist, you won’t just support recovery—you’ll help build a program rooted in hope, connection, and real-world understanding.
At Hanover County Community Services Board (CSB), you’ll be part of one of the region’s top employers, known for excellent benefits, stability, and a supportive work culture. Hanover County CSB is deeply committed to serving the community with compassion, innovation, and integrity, and to investing in employees who want to grow, lead, and make a lasting impact. Here, your work truly matters—to the individuals you serve and the community you help strengthen.
General Description This is a paraprofessional position. The incumbent works on a team by providing outreach, daily living skills, support, education, transportation and other community support services to individuals served. Peer Recovery Specialists are engaged in a number of areas, including at RAFT House, Intensive Community Treatment, Emergency Services and Outpatient Services. The incumbent's unique contribution is the ability to utilize and share with individuals served his/her personal lived experience and knowledge around substance use disorder recovery and/or mental health recovery, empowering and inspiring individuals served to utilize their personal strengths and preferences in treatment services at the CSB.
Organization The Peer Recovery Specialist reports to a Clinical Supervisor and supervises no staff. The Peer Recovery Specialist position is part of Hanover County's Career Development Program (CD).
Essential Functions
Provides intensive outreach of individuals in their homes and in the community.
Assists individuals to understand illness and/or addiction, symptom identification and coping skills.
Teaches social skills, appropriate hygiene and other daily living skills, including conflict resolution.
Arranges transportation to medical/clinical appointments and other community activities.
Assists individuals in accessing natural community supports.
Participates as a full member of a team, consulting with other agency staff on treatment planning and program planning.
Provides clinical and administrative documentation consistent with licensure, accreditation and Medicaid standards.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Working Conditions A. Hazards
Customers – Will work with individuals, who have a history of psychiatric behavior and/or substance use, and their families
Conditions – May be exposed to places that are considered unsafe or unsanitary, often independently
B. Environment
Office
Field
C. Physical Effort
Minimal
See Special Conditions
D. Non-exempt
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Requires personal lived experience with substance use disorder and/or a mental health condition and willingness to share personal recovery experiences with individuals receiving services. Knowledge of signs and symptoms of mental illness, substance use disorders, behavior management and early indicators of crises. Ability to identify and access needed services and resources in the community and effectively link individuals served. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and individuals served. Effective oral and written skills to complete documentation and lead individuals served in training activities.
Education, Experience and Training High school diploma or equivalent required with a minimum of sixty (60) hours of classroom training in psychology, social work or related mental health field preferred. Requires personal experience with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder and own recovery. Any equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training sufficient to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities is acceptable. Must be eligible Peer Specialist designation; Peer Recovery Specialist certification preferred.
Special Conditions
Criminal Records Check, including fingerprinting
Valid Commonwealth of Virginia Driver's License
CPS (Child Protective Services) Check
TB Test
Twelve-month probationary period
Work beyond normal schedule, including nights and weekends
Must be able to successfully pass CPR/First Aid training as well as behavior management as required by regulation, including but not limited to Title 12 of the Virginia Administrative Code. This training process includes a hands-on, in-person demonstration of first aid and CPR competency, for successful completion. This demonstration requires bending, lifting, and completing activities on the floor.
#J-18808-Ljbffr