Peer Support Specialist (Peer Recovery Specialist II)

Peer Support Specialist (Peer Recovery Specialist II)

Salary

$45,255.39 - $75,424.96 Annually

Location

COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD - MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, VA

Job Type

FT Hourly W BN

Job Number

26-00952

Department

Community Services Board

Opening Date

06/27/2026

Closing Date

7/10/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Pay Grade

S15

Posting Type

Open to General Public

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Announcement

Under supervision, this position provides peer support to individuals served through The Peer Journey to Hope Program in the CSB Division of Recovery Services. Services provided may include group peer support, individual peer support, recovery planning, and services navigation. Services may be provided in collaboration with the CSB's Behavioral Health Outpatient Programs (BHOP), CSB Entry Assessment and Referral, and/or other programs. Collaborates as needed with other staff and partners including case managers, therapists, nurses, and psychiatrists.

Primary office location is the Chantilly Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, with other service locations at multiple program sites, virtually and in-person, and/or in the community. Populations served are individuals with mental health challenges.

Note: To learn more about careers that make a difference, watch our video "CSB Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Providing Care."

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Leads, facilitates, or co-facilitates peer support groups or other education or support groups with a wellness or recovery focus, including preparing materials and developing curriculum;
• Assists individuals served in developing a self-directed recovery plan, (including Medicaid billable Recovery, Resiliency, and Wellness (RRW) plans) and enacting their plans;
• May collaborate with other service providers including Case Managers, Therapists, Nurses, Psychiatrists, and other partners;
• Service locations are varied and may include outpatient program sites, crisis programs, residential treatment programs, in the community, telehealth, and justice system settings;
• Provides navigation services for individuals, families, and other concerned persons, identifying and linking them to community resources that support the individual's goals and interests, including navigating crisis systems of care;
• Collaborates as needed with other health care providers in providing coordinated services;
• Conducts outreach and engagement activities to connect with individuals that may benefit from behavioral health services;
• Provides follow-up support after mental health and/or substance use emergencies, assisting individuals to learn skills, access resources, and receive emotional support to avoid future crises.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of the principles, theories, and methods of peer recovery services;
• Knowledge of local resources, services, and support in the community relevant to the population;
• Knowledge of wellness and recovery terminology, theories, and best practices;
• Knowledge of basic clinical psychological, physiological and psychiatric terminology, theories, and practices;
• Ability to effectively relate one's own lived experiences of wellness and recovery;
• Ability to provide one-on-one peer recovery services;
• Ability to provide group peer recovery services;
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with individuals served;
• Ability to facilitate development of wellness, recovery, and resiliency plans;
• Ability to assist individuals to access supports and services needed for recovery;
• Ability to collaborate with other behavioral health professionals;
• Ability to manage a caseload;
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, including consistent use of recovery-oriented language;
• Ability to maintain records and use evaluation and survey tools;
• Ability to recognize signs of distress and threats to safety in individuals served and in the environment;
• Ability to take appropriate action, consistent with scope of practice, to address distress and crisis.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from high school or a GED issued by a state department of education; plus, any combination of education and experience equivalent to 1 year of Human Services experience.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Virginia Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) through the Virginia Certification Board, or peer recovery certification by a member board of IC&RC through another state, or National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS) through NAADAC within 6 months of hire.
• Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS) through the Virginia Board of Counseling within 6 months of hire.
• Valid Motor Vehicle Drivers license with fewer than six demerit points (or equivalent in another state) maintained throughout employment.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, a driving record check, and sanction screening to the satisfaction of the employer. A TB screening upon hire.

This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with and knowledge of community resources in Fairfax County.
• At least 1 year of experience working with mental health population.
• Experience providing direct peer support services to adults in a mental health setting.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to transport clients in agency vehicle(s), observe/monitor/document client behavior, perform CPR/First aid, climb stairs, lift up to 20 lbs, participate in recreational activities, prepare meals, review/write clinical notes in records and use computer. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:

Panel Interview and may include a practical exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home - including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others. We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

#LI-AP1

Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click here for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program: Public Service Loan Forgiveness | Federal Student Aid

For additional details please visit the Countys benefits webpage.

Non-Merit Positions

• Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage

• Flexible Spending Program

• Deferred Compensation

• Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.

• No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associates degree
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Psychology
• Social work
• Nursing
• Counseling
• Human Services
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".

05

How many full-time equivalent years of human services experience do you have?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

06

Do you currently possess a valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

07

Please indicate which of the following license(s) and certifications you possess in the Commonwealth of Virginia. (Check all that apply.)

• Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS)
• Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS)
• Clinical Psychologist/LMFT/LPC/LCSW
• Other Peer Specialist Certifications and trainings
• None of the above

08

If you indicate "other" in the previous question. Please specify. If not applicable, please enter N/A.

09

How many full-time equivalent years of experience do you have in providing direct peer support services to adults in mental health settings?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

10

How many full-time equivalent years of experience do you have providing direct peer support services to adults with mental health challenges?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

11

How many full-time equivalent years of experience do you have providing any form of direct peer support services in any setting, or any populations?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

12

Check each of the following functions you have at least four months experience performing. (Check all that apply)

• Engaging with individuals during a mental health or substance use disorder crisis.
• Providing information and referrals to additional community-based recovery services.
• Providing information and support to involved family members and other supportive individuals.
• Sharing your own experience to help individuals in their recovery.
• Collecting and reporting data on individuals receiving community-based services.
• Assisting individuals to develop and articulate goals.
• Teaching problem-solving and coping techniques to individuals to manage crises and/or distress.
• Supporting individuals to develop social skills that will enhance job acquisition and development of support in the community.
• Utilizing Wellness Recovery Action Plans to help individuals.
• Facilitating recovery oriented recreational, social, or therapeutic group events.
• Working collaboratively with staff, health providers, medical staff, community supports, self-help providers and others to assure successful interventions with individuals and partners.
• None of the above
• Working in a paid role to support individuals through their involvement in the justice system.
• Working in a forensic setting (e.g. Jails, Courts, Probation).

Required Question

Employer Fairfax County

Address 12000 Government Center Pkwy. Suite 270

Fairfax, Virginia, 22035

Phone 703-324-3311

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/fairfaxcounty/default.cfm