Registered Peer Recovery Specialist

We are looking for a Registered and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) for our Bristol location!

The Peer Recovery Specialist uses personal lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery to provide strengths-based, person-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally competent peer support to participants engaged in behavioral health treatment services. The PRS offers non-clinical support, models recovery, assists participants in setting goals, and helps them navigate systems of care and community resources.

Certified vs. Registered Peer Recovery Specialist: A Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) has completed the DBHDS 72-hour training and passed the IC&RC exam. A Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS) has taken the additional step of registering with the Virginia Board of Counseling. This position requires active RPRS registration.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

 • Build authentic, non-clinical, non-hierarchical relationships with participants based on mutuality, trust, shared lived experience, and respect.

• Utilize personal recovery story to provide hope, encouragement, and modeling of recovery and resiliency.

• Assist participants in developing individualized Recovery, Resiliency, and Wellness Plans (RRWPs).

• Provide structured, Medicaid-compliant Peer Recovery Support Services in accordance with DMAS requirements and 12VAC30-130-5160 through 5210.

• Maintain an active billable caseload of no more than 15 participants, meeting minimum engagement expectations through regular individual peer support contacts and facilitation of peer recovery groups, including collaborative co-facilitation alongside clinical staff; complete Recovery, Resiliency, and Wellness Plans (RRWPs) prior to billing services.

• Complete timely and accurate documentation in the electronic record in accordance with Medicaid standards as well as agency, and licensing requirements.

• Participate in warm handoffs, recovery planning, discharge support, and follow-up care coordination to support continuity of care.

• Support participant advocacy, self-determination, and meaningful goal-setting consistent with person-centered recovery principles.

• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings while maintaining appropriate Peer Recovery Specialist scope of practice.

• Maintain appropriate ethical boundaries and confidentiality at all times in accordance with peer support ethics and organizational policy.

• Assist participants in accessing recovery supports, community resources, and mutual aid opportunities that support ongoing recovery and stability.

• Provide occasional transportation of participants in a company vehicle to support access to recovery-related services, appointments, or community resources in accordance with agency policy.

• Represent the organization during outreach opportunities, community engagement activities, and recovery-oriented events that promote awareness of peer recovery support services and strengthen participant access to recovery resources.

• Attend all required supervision, training, and staff development activities in accordance with Medicaid and agency requirements.

Minimum Qualifications:  Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Must be a Registered Peer Recovery Specialist (RPRS) with the Virginia Board of Counseling at the time of hire

• Must have a minimum of one (1) year of experience working as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

• Must be eligible to provide Medicaid-billable Peer Recovery Support Services in accordance with 12VAC30-130-5160 through 5210

• Must demonstrate the ability to work independently within peer scope of practice while supporting residential program engagement across evening and weekend service hours

• Must demonstrate experience facilitating peer recovery groups and supporting individualized recovery planning

• Must be able to participate in required supervision in accordance with 12VAC30-130-5190

• Must possess strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary treatment teams

• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for travel between program sites as needed

• High school diploma or GED required to demonstrate foundational knowledge and ability to perform essential job duties.

We Offer: 

• Competitive pay, shift differentials for evening and weekend schedules
• Paid Time Off
• Health, dental, vision, life and other supplemental benefits
• Retirement plan available after preliminary period