Title: Peer Recovery Specialist
State Role Title: 49053
Hiring Range: $33,828.00 to $51,572.00 - Commensurate with experience.
Pay Band: 3
Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop
Location: Central State Hospital
Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/csh/
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
Central State Hospital (CSH) is a 277 bed Joint Commission accredited psychiatric inpatient facility located in Petersburg, Virginia. CSH has proudly been serving citizens of the Commonwealth since 1870, when we opened our doors as the first psychiatric hospital in the country dedicated to the treatment of African Americans. A new and modern CSH is currently under construction on the same property, with a scheduled completion date of 2027.
CSH maintains the only maximum-security treatment facility in the state (111 beds). We also have 166 beds available for individuals in the community who need inpatient care, as well as individuals in the criminal justice system. We believe that treatment should be holistic and focused on the person’s individual needs, recognizing that recovery is not linear or the same for every person. Treatment modalities may include medication, evidence-based group and individual therapy, peer support, psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational training, preparation for court, and treatment for substance use.
Central State Hospital is recruiting for a Peer Recovery Specialist who has completed peer specialist training. The Peer Recovery Specialist will co-facilitate therapeutic interventions while assisting facilitators in the learning process of the client. The Peer Recovery Specialist will function as a role model to peers; exhibit competence in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serve as a consumer advocate, providing information and peer support for patients.
Duties include but are not limited to:
Recovery Support System
- Assist patients in articulating personal goals for recovery through the use of one to one and group sessions. During these sessions will support patients in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving those goals.
- Assist patients in working with their treatment team in determining the steps he/she needs to take in order to achieve these goals and self – directed recovery.
- Teach and role model the value of every individual’s recovery experience.
- Support patient’s vocational choices and assist them in choosing a job that matches their strengths, overcoming job related anxiety by reviewing job applications and providing interview tips.
- Plan and conduct recovery-based staff training for treatment teams and employees as indicated
- Provide direct contact in the form of peer support with patients and/or family members to assist identified patients with development and improvement of living skills based on empowerment.
- Perform a wide range of tasks to assist patients in mastery over their own recovery process.
- Provide recovery resources such as booklets, pamphlets and other written materials to patients.
- Displays respect and empathy when engaged with others.
- Encourages persons served to have hope and positive expectations for their recovery.
- Validates feelings, preferences, and facilitates choices of persons served whenever possible, within appropriate legal constraints and hospital policy guidelines.
- Assist with planning and implementation of hospital wide recovery events.
- Ensure all certifications are up to date.
Patient Advisory Council
- Ensure that working relationship with clients, effective communication, respect, compromise, support, and active listening.
- Follow established hospital policies and procedures.
- Analyze and assist with problem identification and resolution in the facility
- Plans and implements monthly Patient Advisory Council meetings in buildings 39, 94 and 95.
- Documents meeting minutes in a timely manner.
- Contacts via email appropriate departments/person on behalf of the Patient
- Advisory Council to resolve any issues discussed during the meetings.
- Provides reports regarding the status of Patient Advisory Council quarterly to the Clinical Leadership Committee.
Active Treatment, Work Program, Documentation
- Plan and implement up to 15 hours of active treatment services including treatment groups and work program for patients that are appropriate, meet the patient’s assessed needs and are in accordance with active treatment program descriptions.
- Ensure that the patient’s interventions are integrated with the plans established by the treatment teams and are carried over to the patient’s active treatment program.
- Ensure that attendance and punctuality to work supports active treatment and service delivery.
- Ensure that all treatment activities and work program are covered and fully inform supervisor regarding coverage of treatment activities and/or work program.
- Transcriptions are grammatically correct and logical.
- Ensure timely and accurate information is entered daily into the hospital’s electronic health record.
- Ensure that medical record documentation done in assigned patient medical record is current and meets hospital standards for content and timeliness.
- Demonstrate an attitude of respect and empowerment to the patients and staff
- Demonstrates good negotiation skills in deescalating problematic patient behaviors.
- Encourage the use of other alternative coping strategies to avoid seclusion and restraint episodes.
- Minimizes the use of verbal interactions indicating a need to "control" patients.
- Demonstrates a willing attitude in the use of least restrictive interventions per hospital policy.
- Demonstrates an awareness of and respect for coworkers, clients, and individual’s cultural background.
Administrative Tasks
- Attend and contribute to all scheduled meetings including those related to the client’s treatment process.
- Assess the need for and obtain equipment, tools, materials and supplies to implement all activities and groups.
- Ensure that proper equipment maintenance and accountability (i.e., group supplies) is completed.
- Schedule and attend all mandatory updates and training to maintain compliance.
- Submit timekeeping/KRONOS related paperwork (leave slips/coverage, schedule change forms, and time clock adjustment forms) to supervisor in timely manner.
Minimum Qualifications
- Basic Computer Skills Required
- Valid Virginia Driver's License Required.
Additional Considerations
- WRAP and Peer Specialist Training and Certification Preferred.
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Central State Hospital only accepts online applications via RMS. Resumes and other documents may accompany the application but will not serve as a substitute for an application. Faxed, e-mailed, or mailed applications will not be accepted. Please refer to your RMS account for the status of your application and this position. This posting will remain open for a minimum of five (5) business days.
An extensive criminal history background investigation, not limited to employment references, drug testing and E-Verify will be conducted.
Central State Hospital offers a comprehensive benefit package to include your choice of four health insurance plans, paid life insurance and retirement plans, 12 paid holidays, annual and sick leave.
Applicants must list all relevant experience that you wish to be considered for this position. Applicants will be provided confirmation of receipt when your application and/or resume is submitted. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position. A fingerprint-based criminal history check and reference checks are required for the selected candidate for this position. Under Virginia Code §37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is prohibited from employing or using as volunteers, persons who have been convicted of specific “barrier” crimes or persons who may be the subject of pending “barrier” charges.
DBHDS facilities are no longer required to ensure that all staff members are vaccinated against COVID-19. However, facilities encourage and educate staff on the benefits, and continue to offer COVID-19 vaccination programs to staff, residents/clients. Employees may be required to disclose immunization status for purposes of infection prevention and/or management of outbreaks. Upon acceptance of a job offer, new recruits will be asked to disclose their vaccination status (and for those fully vaccinated, proof of vaccination) during the pre-employment process. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Human Resources.
Commonwealth’s Alternate Hiring Process: In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS, to get their Certificate of Disability. To obtain a Certificate of Disability go to: https://www.vadars.org/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx, or call DARS at 800-552-5019.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview process per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact Human Resources at
(804) 524-7111 for assistance.
DBHDS is an equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities are open to all regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability. Minorities, Individuals with Disabilities, Veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/TTY
Contact Information
Name: Human Resources
Phone: 804-524-7111
Email: CSHRecruitment@dbhds.virginia.gov
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.