Blue Ridge Health is currently seeking a Peer Support Specialist to support our perpetrator rehabilitation focused Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) and Recovery Education Center (REC) Behavioral Health Teams.

• A competitive benefits plan, including Medical, Dental and Vision
• Company sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage
• 403(b) retirement account with company matching
• Supplemental accident insurance available
• 9 paid holidays per year
• PTO and Personal Day accrual, starting day 1 - (We value a work-life balance!)
• Flexible Work Schedules Considered
• Needs Accommodations Programs
• Mental Health Resources
• Telework Opportunities Considered
• Tuition Reimbursement Program

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) plays a unique and vital role in supporting each individual in his or her journey of recovery. The PSS is responsible for providing an array of support services and interventions designed to inspire hope, support personal responsibility, offer education and promote self-advocacy and self-determination. In the DVIP program, the PSS acts as a bridge between formal treatment and community recovery, engaging individuals to reduce barriers to care. This role also involves outreach, treatment engagement, group facilitation, and collaboration with local human-service agencies to support the consumer’s goals. Responsibilities include:

• Utilizing outreach and engagement skills with each individual that are respectful of their stage of change
• Promoting each individual’s self care by modeling and mentoring recovery values, attitudes, beliefs, and personal actions in order to encourage wellness and resilience.
• Making supportive and encouraging statements regarding each individual’s recovery using self disclosure and unconditional acceptance in order to instill hope.
• Demonstrating skill building techniques with each individual by modeling and/or teaching in order to assist each individual in making progress towards his or her goals and improve the quality of his or her life.  
• Teaching harm reduction strategies through discussion of safety and risk taking with each individual in order to enhance healthy decision making.
• Protecting each individual from harm during a crisis in accordance with trauma-informed practices and workable crisis plans. Exploring alternatives to prevent hospitalization and to support the individual in the community whenever possible.
• Promoting self advocacy by facilitating each individual’s learning about his or her human and legal rights and supporting the individual while exercising those rights in order to empower the individual.
• Supporting each individual in accessing community resources by facilitating familiarity with and connection to the local community in order to achieve desired integration.
• Supporting each individual in creating informal support networks which are capable of contributing to the individual’s recovery process.  
• Domestic violence intervention related responsibilities, including assessment of appropriateness for, community partner and victim contact follow-ups, task force participation, treatment planning, and co-facilitating DVIP groups using the Duluth treatment model.

• High school diploma or equivalent (required)
• Certification from a Peer Support Training Program
• Excellent communication skills
• Valid Driver's license and acceptable driving history

At Blue Ridge Health our mission is to improve Health, inspire Hope, and advance Healing through access to Compassionate, Affordable, and Quality Care. We are seeking individuals with a passion for creating an exceptional patient and client care experience to join our team! We are a nonprofit system of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that works closely with communities to meet the ever-changing medical and behavioral healthcare needs of individuals throughout WNC.

Blue Ridge Health Services promotes a supportive and inclusive culture, sensitive to the diversity of the individuals we serve and our workforce. Challenging unconscious bias, inviting a culture of individual expression, and ongoing sensitivity to organizational practices are fundamental of staff expectations. This focus contributes to the importance of Blue Ridge Health’s investment to advance as a culturally competent organization.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.