Certified Peer Specialist- Public Health

Certified Peer Specialist- Public Health

Salary

$40,394.64 Annually

Location

Rockingham County, NC

Job Type

Full Time Regular

Job Number

01790

Department

Public Health

Opening Date

05/07/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits

Summary

Rockingham County is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with federal and state statutes regarding discrimination in employment.

This posting is continuous and will remain posted to fill vacancies as they become available. Applicants that apply to this posting will be considered for any vacancies of this type and will only need to apply once.

• Paid Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance
• Onsite wellness/medical clinic
• Onsite fitness center
• Retirement
• Flexible Spending
• Paid Vacation, Sick & Holidays
• Bereavement
• Community Service Leave
• Weekends Off (varies by position)
• Flexible Work Schedules & Telework Options (varies by position)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 401-K & 457 Plans with county match up to 1% of base salary

General Definition of Work

The Peer Specialist (PS) is an active member of the Local Health Department and provides peer support services to clients with reentry goals post incarceration. The Peer Specialist will function as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serve as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for clients in outpatient and inpatient settings. The PS performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers of all ages, from young adult to old age, in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own reentry process.

The North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Program coordinates with existing state and local resources to assist formerly incarcerated individuals suffering from chronic disease with all aspects of successful reentry, focusing on linkages to essential medical services. Primary responsibilities will include connecting people who have been recently released from incarceration with chronic disease, mental illness and/or substance use disorder to appropriate health care services and help put together a comprehensive reentry plan working with local reentry partners. Work will be provided under the supervision of the Director of Nursing.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Examples of Duties

Examples of Duties

• The Peer Specialist will work with the clients and other treatment team staff to develop a treatment/reentry plan based on each client's identified goals.
• The PS will document the following on the client's treatment/reentry plan: a. identified person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, and reentry goals b. interventions to assist the client with reaching their goals for reentry.
• The PS will maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the mental health field by reading books, journals, and other relevant materials.
• Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist clients in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.
• Utilize the PS models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Serve as a reentry agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery services that will aid the client in daily living.
• Support clients' vocational choices and assist them in choosing a job that matches their strengths, overcoming job-related anxiety by reviewing job applications, and providing interview tips.
• Assist the client in obtaining decent and affordable housing of his/her choice in the most integrated, independent, and least intrusive or restrictive environment by taking them out to view housing, either driving them or riding with them on public transportation.
• Assist clients in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure utilizing their recovery experience, the Peer Support Specialist will teach and serve as a role model the value of every individual's reentry experience.
• The Peer Specialist will serve as an advocate in the community by attending relevant community meetings related to reentry support, mental health, and/or chronic disease management. Collaboration with Public Health team to ensure services meet the needs of those working through a reentry plan.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• General knowledge of County and Department policies and procedures.
• General knowledge of community services and facilities available for reentry program participants.
• General knowledge of applicable State laws, rules, and regulations.
• Thorough knowledge of preparing reports and other types of correspondence.
• General knowledge of the use of standard office equipment and associated software.
• Ability to make arithmetic computations, compute rates, ratios, and percentages.
• Ability to develop care and treatment plans for individuals post incarceration.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with individuals post incarceration, other employees, officials, and the General public.

Physical Activities, Visual Acuity, and Working Conditions for this Position

• Stooping - Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles

• Kneeling - Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees

• Crouching - Bending the body downward and forward by bending legs and spine

• Crawling - Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet

• Reaching - Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction

• Standing - Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time

• Walking - Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another

• Pushing - Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward, or outward

• Pulling - Using upper extremities to exert force to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion

• Lifting - Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of the upper extremities and back muscles

• Fingering - Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling

• Grasping - Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm

• Feeling - Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips

• Talking - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly

• Hearing - Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communications, and making fine discriminations in sound

• Repetitive Motions- Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers

• Sedentary Work- Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met

• Employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices and/or assembly or fabrication of parts at distances close to the eyes

• None: Employee is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (typical office or administrative work)

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience:

High school graduate or GED, Peer Support Specialist certification and at least 1 year as PSS.

License or Certification Requirements:

• Certification as a Peer Specialist, with lived incarceration experience.
• Valid NC Drivers License.

Supplemental Information

Note: In accordance with State mandates and the Rockingham County Emergency Operations Plan, Rockingham County Health and Human Services staff from the Divisions of Social Services, Public Health and Integrated Health are required to staff emergency shelters during times of disaster. Please be advised that every staff person is eligible to be assigned to an emergency shelter or Emergency Operations Center.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue to work full-time in public service jobs. If you have student loans and you are selected for full-time employment with Rockingham County, you may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance due on your William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan after you have made 120 qualifying payments on those loans while employed full-time by certain public service employers. Click on the link below to see whether you might qualify.

https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

For Full Time employees in a regular position, insurance is available and effective the first day of the following month after having worked for an entire month. The County currently pays 100% of the cost for regular employees working at least 30 hours per week. Dependent coverage is also available.

Paid Time Off

This benefit is available to regular employees working at least 20 hours per week. Time off includes:

Vacation/Annual Leave

Sick Leave

Paid Holidays.

Bereavement

Local Government Retirement System

All employees in regular full or part time position are required to contribute to the retirement system. Contributions are taken on a pre-tax basis. The current contribution amount is 6%.

Supplemental Retirement Plans

NC 401(k)- Employees have the option of making contributions on a pre or post tax basis to a 401(k) and on a pre tax basis to a a 457(b) plan. Contributions will be matched by the county, up to 1% or their annual base salary.

Other Insurance

Insurance such as life, short term disability, and cancer care are available to regular employees and can be paid through payroll deduction.

Direct Deposit

All employees are required to have direct deposit.

Other Benefits

Annual longevity payment beginning with the 6th full year of full or part time regular employment

Employer Rockingham County Government