Henrico

Henrico County is hiring a Peer Recovery Specialist to support individuals in our correctional facilities. You will use your own lived experience with recovery, whether personal or through a loved one, to serve as a mentor, advocate, and role model for inmates working toward lasting change. This is a chance to turn your own journey into someone else's turning point, in a setting where that support can make a lasting difference.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Serve as a mentor, role model, and advocate for inmates in recovery
• Provide direct outreach and support to individuals in a correctional setting
• Share your personal recovery story to build trust and connection
• Help participants recognize signs of distress, crisis, or relapse early
• Model self-advocacy as part of the recovery and wellness process
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while building genuine rapport
• Collaborate with internal staff, regulators, and community stakeholders
• Document and communicate accurately within agency policies and deadlines

WHAT YOU BRING

• Personal lived experience in your own recovery, or lived experience supporting a family member or loved one in recovery, and a willingness to share your story
• Completion of 72 hours in each of the four CPRS training domains: Advocacy, Ethical Responsibility, Mentoring and Education, and Recovery and Wellness Support
• A passing score on the IC&RC Peer Recovery Specialist competency exam
• 500 hours of supervised hands-on experience across the four CPRS domains
• Working knowledge of mental illness, substance use disorders, and crisis indicators
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed care, confidentiality law, and HIPAA
• Excellent communication, organization, and follow-through skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a flexible schedule or on-call rotation when needed

WORK LOCATION

Primary location is Jail East, with occasional work required at Jail West.

Expected hiring range will be at the beginning of the listed pay scale.

Important: Communications regarding your application will come from recruitment@henrico.gov and notifications@henrico.avature.net (our applicant tracking system). Please add both addresses to your safe sender list and check your spam or junk folder regularly.

Graduation from high school with coursework or degree in a relevant field and previous relevant work experience i s preferred; OR, a ny equivalent combination of education, experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Applicants considered for employment must successfully complete the following background investigations/tests:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal History Investigation
• State Police Criminal History Investigation
• Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigation (Dept. of Social Services, JRJDC, Juvenile Detention Home)