Community Support Team (CST) Certified Recovery Support Specialist

Metropolitan Family Services • Merrionette Park, IL

6d • $43,000 - $48,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Metropolitan Family Services is hiring a Community Support Team (CST) Certified Recovery Support Specialist at its Merrionette Park office. The position supports clients experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges through peer mentoring, recovery planning, advocacy, system navigation, crisis support, community outreach, and coordination with clinical and community-based teams. The specialist draws on personal recovery experience to build mutual, trusting relationships and help clients identify strengths, pursue their treatment goals, and connect with services and resources.

The role also supports clients’ families and other identified supports, with appropriate consent; contributes to care transitions and illness self-management; assists with symptom checklists and assessments; and maintains accurate, HIPAA-compliant documentation in the Electronic Health Record. The specialist collaborates with a multidisciplinary team, may co-facilitate groups, and provides consultation or training to agency staff and the community as requested. Work includes some evenings, weekends, and on-call responsibilities, and requires driving for work. Transportation of clients in a personally owned vehicle is preferred.

The average starting salary is $43,000–$48,000 annually. Placement in the range depends on skill and experience, with final salary determined by years of experience, licensure level, and relevant credentials.

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or above.
• Personal experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery.
• Hold or be eligible to obtain the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credential from the Illinois Certification Board (ICB) within 12 months of hire.
• Satisfactorily pass all relevant screening and criminal background checks.
• Driving for work is required.

Nice To Haves

• Transportation of clients in a personally owned vehicle is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build trusting, mutual relationships with clients through appropriate self-disclosure of personal recovery experience.
• Assist clients in accessing services within the CCBHC and externally.
• Help clients develop Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP) and identify personal strengths to guide treatment.
• Provide clients and family members with information about mental illness, recovery and wellness, treatment options, and resources.
• Advocate for clients and serve as a bridge between clients and the clinical team, ensuring client choices inform care.
• Partner with local community-based organizations to educate the community about CCBHC services and facilitate warm hand-offs into care.
• Use de-escalation techniques and trauma-informed support with clients during mental health crises.
• Maintain accurate, HIPAA-compliant records of peer interactions in the Electronic Health Record system.
• Help clients and, with appropriate consent, their identified supports understand the impact of mental health issues or symptoms and achieve the best possible outcomes.
• Collaborate with a team to provide mental health, substance use, physical health, case management, and other social-determinants-of-health support; co-facilitate groups as requested and provide medication monitoring and/or training to clients.
• Lead community support interventions that facilitate illness self-management, skill building, identification and use of natural supports, and use of community resources.
• Review client assessment and screening results and symptom checklists, and support clients in completing checklists when needed.
• Conduct outreach and engagement for clients who may not be engaged in care.
• Participate in team meetings and huddles.
• Support clients as they transition to another level of care.
• Maintain awareness of community resources and help maximize services available through MFS and the community, as appropriate.
• Prioritize activities in collaboration with the supervisor to optimize client service delivery and meet performance expectations.
• Recognize when to seek help to maintain a personal wellness plan.
• Expand knowledge and skills and apply techniques learned.
• Provide consultation to agency staff and the community as needed, including training, seminars, and special projects.
• May serve on agency-wide or community committees and work groups, with supervisor and agency leadership approval.
• Work some evenings, weekends, and on-call.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical coverage.
• Dental coverage.
• Vision coverage.
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual and $4,000 to family HSA accounts, prorated to the benefits start date.
• Free general medicine and behavioral health Teladoc services for all team members.
• Ascensus 401K plan with a 4% employer match, 100% vested on the first day of eligibility.
• Additional benefits are available; some benefits apply to part-time and temporary workers, but not all.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED