Peer Support Specialist-FT

Colonial Behavioral Health provides opportunities for recovery to individuals and their family members in the areas of mental illness, substance use disorder, and developmental disabilities. Colonial Behavioral Health serves the citizens of James City County, City of Poquoson, City of Williamsburg, and York County.

Colonial Behavioral Health (CBH) is currently recruiting for a Peer Support Specialist position for our Marcus Alert Co-Responder Team. The position works with individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.   This position works in close conjunction with first responders and a variety of public and private service agencies to de-escalate situations and ensure linkage to care and appropriate follow up is made.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as a role model for recovery and wellness and self-advocacy.
• Assist in gaining/regaining control of their lives through recovery and/or wellness-based activities, concepts, and understandings.
• Clarify and enhance self-advocacy skills.  Encourage peers to develop independent behavior that is based on informed choice, assisting peers in developing empowerment skills through self-advocacy.
• Assist individuals with crisis resolution and general problem solving
• Interact and support community stakeholders to include but not limited to law enforcement, Fire/EMS, local outpatient providers and public/private facilities with resource collaboration
• Document encounters consistent with agency policy and state/Federal regulatory guidelines
• Directly support other programs under the CBH Crisis Services Division

• Other duties assigned. 

Hours for this position will vary and may include days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays based on program needs.

Skills and Qualifications

• Requires demonstrated knowledge of behavioral health issues, theories and resources available to help individuals with serious emotional and developmental disabilities, including individuals with co-occurring disorders (MH/DD, MH/SA, and MH/DD/SA), and their families/care givers in the community.
• Basic knowledge of human rights, ethical, and legal concerns as they relate to providing clinical and residential services
• Ability and willingness to work closely with other members of a multi-disciplinary treatment team
• High School Diploma or GED required
• At least one year experience in behavioral health services or with behavioral health populations, whether through previous employment of participation in services, is required.  
• At least two years of psychiatric stability and/or sobriety and completion of peer based, recovery specialized training required; training available, if needed.
• Valid Driver's License required

• Competitive compensation
• Virginia Retirement System
• Health, Dental, Vision, & Life Insurance
• Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Accounts
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer