Peer Recovery Specialist

Salary: $46,360.73 - $55,000.00 Annually
Location : Ashland, VA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 202500245
Department: CSB- MH, SUD & Prevention
Opening Date: 10/14/2025
Closing Date: Continuous

Description
Hanover Community Services Board is seeking a Peer Recovery Specialist for the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team. The ACT Team is an Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) designed to provide comprehensive treatment and support services to individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness who need a higher level of care. ACT uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide individuals support in their homes and in the community to improve their quality of life as well as reduce hospitalizations, incarcerations, and periods of homelessness. The ACT Peer Specialist will provide outreach, support, assistance with daily living skills, education, transportation, and other community support services to individuals served and will assist those individuals with reaching collaboratively established goals.

The Peer Specialist's unique contribution is the ability to utilize and share with individuals served his/her personal lived experience and knowledge around mental health recovery and/or substance use disorder recovery, empowering and inspiring individuals served to utilize their personal strengths and preferences in treatment services at the CSB.

The preferred candidate will be required to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) within the first year of employment if not currently certified.
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 Aide 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.

SUMMARY OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Hanover County is proud to provide our employees with the following comprehensive benefits package. Hanover provides a benefit package that provides for you in times of need, they offer an ongoing level of financial security, peace-of-mind, and healthy work-life balance. This is part of our goal to make Hanover County an attractive place to work. To see exactly what you will find with our offerings, click the link below:This is an overview and does not provide all provisions, limitations, and exclusions. If there is a contradiction between this and the official plan documents, the plan documents will prevail. The Pamunkey Regional Jail and Library share some of the County benefits, please visit their website for more details.
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Are you currently a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist or currently working towards certification?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

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