PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION / PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST
Under supervision of the Virginia House Supervisor, this position is responsible for providing education and training to adults with serious mental illness aimed at developing problem solving skills, enhancing self-esteem, improving social and relationship skills and facilitating enhanced community integration and recovery within a psychosocial rehabilitation setting. Virginia House is a day program providing opportunities for consumers with serious mental illness to gain independence through group and individual educational programing, including outings to engage with other programs and the community. Advocating for persons with mental illness within the service sector and the community at large is a major component of this position.
JOB EXPECTATIONS AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Provide psycho-educational activities (anger management, team building, conflict
resolution, coping skills, and personal space relationships) and conduct groups to
teach consumers about mental health, wellness, self-help and appropriate medication
to avoid complications and relapse.
• Provide opportunities to consumers to learn and use independent living skills, and to
enhance social and interpersonal skills within a supportive and normalizing program
structure and environment.
• Participate in and monitor unit activities by consumers.
• Model and encourage good work skills and appropriate social skills for consumers.
• Develop and sustain healthy, positive working relationships with consumers.
• Complete documentation according to agency policy and Medicaid and Licensure
regulations including service documentation and development and review of
psychosocial rehabilitation plans in the required time requirements with entry into the
Electronic Health Record.
• Ensure that documentation reflects progress toward Individual Service Plan goals or
identify barriers to the achievement, in a specific, clear concise language.
• Coordinate services with other agency staff and private providers.
• Attend in-service training sessions, conferences, workshops, seminars related to the
provision of developmental services for professional and program development.
• To perform other assigned duties as necessary within established policy and procedures.
REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION
Bachelor Degree in Human Services field of study (example include Social Work,
Counseling or Psychology)
EXPERIENCE
Two years related psychosocial rehabilitation services experience.
LICENSE(S)
Qualified Mental Health Professional-Adult Designation
Position will be required to possess a valid Virginia driver's license
PRE-EMPLOYMENT
Must submit to pre-hire criminal background check
Must submit pre-hire drug screening
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
• Knowledge of behavioral health and serious mental illness population.
• Knowledge of human personality, growth, and development theories.
• Knowledge of assessments, theories, delivery systems and techniques of psychosocial
rehabilitation services.
• Knowledge of educational and training needs of people dealing with serious mental
illness and with knowledge in instructional training, and teaching techniques.
• Knowledge of psychotropic medications.
• Knowledge of consumers with serious mental illness and the impact on individuals,
families, and the community and related behavioral situations.
• Knowledge of community services and resources available to mental illness consumers.
• Knowledge of individual, group, and family counseling techniques.
• Knowledge of emergency services and crisis intervention techniques.
• Knowledge of mental health licensing requirements.
• Knowledge of Individual Service Plans and documentation of services standards.
• Knowledge of licensed kitchen operations, snack shop operations, and routine
housekeeping activities.
• Knowledge of Goochland Powhatan Community Services policies and procedures.
• Ability to assist consumers in meeting identified goals and objectives.
• Ability to safely operate a vehicle in transporting consumers in agency vehicles to
community activities as required.
• Ability to provide educational and training in social skills, health and wellness.
• Ability to ensure safe practices in all house programming.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, and demonstrate resourcefulness in problem
solving and conflict resolution.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and make emergency judgments.
• Ability to handle emergency situations without direct supervision.
• Ability to effectively work and communicate with all types/levels of persons.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing,
• Ability to complete required training including Crisis Intervention/Emergency Behavior
Support and in-service First Aid and CPR training.
• Ability to work under pressure; meet inflexible deadlines; set priorities; and deal
diplomatically with difficult individuals.
• Ability to access internet and use appropriate applications including Microsoft Word and
Excel.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of consumer’s information.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the
essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known
limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer
undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Work environment will typically be working in a clinical home setting. This includes
working in a kitchen environment with exposures to sharp objects, hot items, and
cleaning supplies. Work environment will also include working in the community (inside and
outside activities) and will include exposure to road hazards usually experience in driving in
rural, county surroundings, interstate highway driving, including exposure to weather and
temperature extremes that may affect driving conditions as well as walking to assist
passengers. May involve exposure to aggressive verbal and physical behavior, and
exposure to infectious diseases from others. Sitting: 10%; Standing/Walking 70%; Driving:
20% Average Weight Required to lift or carry at any one time: 50 pounds for brief periods of
time.