PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST

The Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) is responsible for providing peer-to-peer support services to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. The PRS performs a variety of paraprofessional duties in support of wellness and recovery by utilizing their lived experiences of recovery and mental health disorders. The PRS offers emotional support, shares knowledge, teaches skills, provides practical assistance, and connects individuals with resources, opportunities, communities of support and other people. Services are non-clinical, person-centered, strengths-based, wellness focused, and trauma-informed. Peer support services help to ensure the individual’s wellness-recovery plan reveals the needs and preferences of the individuals being served.

• High School Diploma or GED
• Registered as a Registered Virginia Peer Recovery Specialist.
• Certified as a Virginia Peer Recovery Specialist within (1) year of hire
• Minimum of one year working with individuals with substance use and mental health challenges.

• Certified & Registered as a Registered Virginia Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS)
• Minimum of two years of experience working with individuals with substance use and mental health challenges.

• Ability to positively interact with patients with mental illness, substance use disorders, their family members, hospital staff and outside agencies.
• Ability to provide active listening, education and assistive support to patients and family members.
• Good personal management skills – time management, organization, dependability, and independence
• General knowledge and understanding of substance use and mental illness
• Knowledge of the local mental health/substance use services available in the community including public, private, and volunteer organizations
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to share recovery experience
• Aware of limitations and readily seeks supervision
• Computer literacy and ability to type
• Patient confidentiality

Augusta Health is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit, community health system located in Fishersville Virginia in Virginia’s scenic Shenandoah Valley. Augusta Health offers a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient which includes Augusta Medical Center a 255-bed inpatient facility and Augusta Medical Group which is comprised of 40 practice locations and four urgent care locations.

Augusta Health recruits, hires and promotes qualified candidates for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran or military discharge status, and family medical or genetic information.