Peer Recovery Specialist- EmPATH

Inova Fairfax Hospital Behavioral Health Center for Recovery has a full-time Specialist opportunity. Peers will support the Inova EmPATH Unit located at the Fairfax Hospital campus. EmPATH is described as an "Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment & Healing unit," which offers immediate short term psychiatric care in a healing environment. The program is an Inova hospital-based service which can promptly accept all adult, medically appropriate patients experiencing a psychiatric crisis. The EmPATH unit will offer treatment inclusive of medication management, therapeutic services and case management to ensure stabilization and connection to care.

The Peer Recovery Specialist provides non-clinical services and support the screening and follow up process intended to aid patients in establishing recovery from high risk of dependent alcohol and drug use problems. As a member of Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment & Healing unit, team, you will provide peer support and to engage and encourage patients who are seeking treatment for alcohol or drug dependency and addiction issues.

Benefits and Perks:

• Health, Vision, and Dental Coverage
• Retirement Matching
• Amazing Paid Time Off: Accrue PTO hours on your very first day of work

Shift: Full Time

Hours: Monday-Friday Days

Location: Fairfax Hospital, VA

Job Responsibilities:

• Provides motivational support to educate and encourage use of prevention and intervention method addressing emerging substance risk for persons who may not yet need treatment.
• Participates as an interdisciplinary team member to assist in completing referrals to treatment services and developing service plans promoting successful linkage to treatment services.
• Responds to Emergency Psychiatric Assessment in a timely manner, completes secondary screens to evaluate patient needs, and conducts brief interventions to patients that screen positive for alcohol and/or drug use.
• Identifies patient's history of drug/alcohol use, treatment history, motivation to change behavior and other needs for community support services.
• Engages patients chair-side and conducts motivational interviewing to understand patient barriers and support with providing referrals to treatment of care upon discharge.
• Assists patients and families with understanding how to utilize these community services and provides them with recovery support materials.
• Provides recovery coaching to clients regarding their symptoms and the effects of trauma and trauma history and helps them to develop positive coping skills and linkages to obtain and stay in treatment.
• Works with EmPATH and Behavioral Health team to identify community support services. Links patients to community support services and substance treatment services including securing appointment and transportation.
• Provides outreach services as requested to educate the community on addiction and how to access treatment.
• Peer Recovery Specialists serve people in the recovery process by supporting them in accessing community-based resources, implementing self-directed recovery/wellness plans, and navigating state and local systems (including substance use and mental health treatment systems). They encourage individuals to develop a strong foundation in recovery (e.g., establishing support systems, self-care, independence/self-sufficiency, healthy copping skills) that support long-term wellness and recovery.

Requirements for Consideration:

• High School or GED
• Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (DBHDS-CPRS). Basic Life Support - American Heart Association within three (3) months of hire. Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) within six (6) months of hire.

Role/Duties:

• General: The role of the CPRS reflects a collaborative and strength-based approach, with the primary goal being to assist individuals and family members in achieving sustained recovery from the effects of substance use and/or mental health issues. Services provided by the CPRS are a critical component of services that will substantially improve an individual's ability to sustain recovery and wellness.