Title: Health Counselor-Peer Recovery Specialist- MR027

State Role Title: Counselor II

Hiring Range: $43,335-$51,097

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: MT ROGERS HQ

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Mount Rogers Health District is looking for a Health Counselor-Peer Recovery Specialist to join our team at the Smyth County Health Department.

Responsible for independently identifying and contacting persons known or suspected of being exposed to or at high risk of exposure to a communicable disease such as tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, and others. Duties include alerting persons to their health risks, behavior changes needed to reduce risks to the individual or to others, resources and methods available to treat and control the disease as well as to contain further transmission of disease. Follows up on contacts to determine if they have received treatment, changed their behavior to reduce health risk, and procured other available services as necessary to insure improved health care.

Essential job functions include but are not limited to:
• Gathers information necessary for case management, analysis and problem solving
• Uses motivational interview skills/techniques to identify and locate persons (i.e partners/social contacts) that may be transmitting infections or have been exposed to a communicable disease, including high risk individuals
• Educates patients and contacts about communicable disease(s) symptoms and risk reduction behaviors
• Refers patients to the appropriate medical and social support services
• Thoroughly and accurately documents information on appropriate case management forms
• Analyzes medical and epidemiological information to identify disease intervention or prevention opportunities
• Communicates with clients, contacts and health care professionals in a confidential, timely and professional manner
• Completes and submits morbidity reports, Interview Records, Field Records & other epidemiological forms or reports within established timeframes
• Contacts medical providers, laboratories and other service providers to obtain information about patients or to refer patients or partners for examination and/or treatment
• Offers client centered counseling to assist infected patients and high risk clients in identifying high risk behaviors and adopting safer practices
• Provides information to clients about medical facilities, community based and social services programs and organizations (shelters, drug rehabilitation programs, mental health, and food pantries) to assist patients with various psychosocial needs
• Assesses patient's need for care and initiate the referral process for newly diagnosed patients and for those who are lost to care
• Provides harm reduction services, including syringe exchange, safer-use education, and distribution of relevant supplies. Completes necessary documentation and adheres to program protocols.
• Educates individuals on harm reduction methodologies, including comprehensive disease testing, overdose prevention strategies, and safer sex practices.
• Completes required training to effectively deliver Comprehensive Harm Reduction and other Population Health Team services.
• May serve as a Peer Recovery Specialist within the Comprehensive Harm Reduction Program, contingent upon completion of necessary training and education.
• Conducts field visits to confidentially locate and notify persons infected with, exposed to, or at high risk for reportable conditions
• Ensures appropriate follow-up in accordance with CDC treatment guidelines
• Prioritizes and documents all investigative activities according to VDH program protocols
• May perform phlebotomy
• Community Support & Training
• Provides and assists in educational presentations to medical and health care personnel, schools, community groups and the general public
• Responds to community partners' requests for communicable disease education or training
• Fosters professional relationship with pharmacy testing partners to enhance referral process for confirmatory testing
• Maintains relationships with community partners to enhance service delivery; encourages community entities to participate in distribution activities; and participates in community outreach events as directed by local program policy
• Completes required VDH sponsored and any additional trainings and maintains TRAIN account according to agency policy
• Attends continuing education programs in accordance with development plan

Surveillance & Outbreak Control Efforts
• Reviews, processes and initiates follow-up on reports received from medical providers, laboratories and testing facilities
• Performs record searches to ascertain patient history
• Conducts medical provider visitation to encourage timely, thorough, and accurate reporting
• Actively participates in outbreak response activities
May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor. May be required by VDH to adjust work hours, location, and job duties and participate in training to meet public health business needs, including emergencies. If this position is designated as a mobile worker, this includes both working in the field and teleworking at an alternate location when not in the field or during an emergency closing. You may be required to periodically come into your assigned office to attend meetings or training.

The Virginia Department of Health offers 13 state paid holidays (additional days or hours maybe granted by the Governor), medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave.

**This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by the Peer Recovery Specialist SOR DBHDS grant for a year period ending September 30, 2026. The availability of funding is scheduled for review before the grant expiration date and periodically thereafter. Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds.**


Special Assignments:

May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor. May be required by VDH to adjust work hours, location, and job duties and participate in training to meet public health business needs, including emergencies. If this position is designated as a mobile worker, this includes both working in the field and teleworking at an alternate location when not in the field or during an emergency closing. You may be required to periodically come into your assigned office to attend meetings or training

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of and/or experience in public health practices, HIV, STIs (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis), HBV/HCV, and other communicable diseases; experience performing phlebotomy
• Effective oral and written communication, organizational and decision-making skills
• Ability to listen, understand and empathize in a culturally sensitive manner, and use motivational skills to build rapport with clients and engagement in disease intervention services; ability to work with diverse populations in diverse settings; develop and make presentations
• Ability to recognize, analyze and solve problems; perform basic mathematical calculations; conduct accurate data entry; maintain confidentiality; comply with program and data security policies and procedures; and work independently during various hours and settings (e.g., field, non-clinical and clinical, office)
• Experience working under pressure (e.g., meeting deadlines, managing competing priorities)
• Possess skill or knowledge of case management; basic computer knowledge/skills, including word processing, electronic mail and data base management
• Effective oral and written communication; organizational; and decision-making skills; bilingual skills are beneficial

Additional Considerations

• Experience working in a social service, public health, or healthcare environment

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.

VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position. Supplemental questions are encouraged to be answered in a comprehensive manner and reference any pertinent knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as any previous experience that relates to the position.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!

Contact Information

Name: Jessica Bennett

Phone: N/A

Email: jessica.bennett@vdh.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.