CCBHC Community Support Team (CST) Recovery Support Specialist

Metropolitan Family Services • Merrionette Park, IL

11h • Onsite

About The Position

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) is seeking a Community Support Team (CST) Recovery Support Specialist for its Merrionette Park Office. MFS is an organization dedicated to empowering families to learn, earn, heal, and thrive, with a strong emphasis on community. This role involves providing peer mentoring, assisting clients in accessing services, developing recovery plans, and serving as a liaison between clients and the clinical team. The specialist will also engage with community organizations, utilize de-escalation and trauma-informed techniques, maintain records, and collaborate with a team to offer comprehensive support including mental health, substance use, and physical health services.

Requirements

• Peer/RSS must be an individual who is in recovery and has successfully navigated the MH and/or Substance Abuse system/s for his/herself and/or family member.
• Peer/RSS must have access to and is comfortable utilizing public transportation OR a valid driver’s license, access to a fully insured motor vehicle, proof of insurance and meet MFS driving record criteria.
• Peer/RSS must pass a State of Illinois background check, as required by MFS policy.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
• Positive attitude and self-motivation.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated good judgment in maintaining responsibilities of the position in advocating for the best interest of consumers served.
• Must have basic computer skills.
• High school diploma, GED, required.
• Personal experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery, required.
• Must 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, required.
• Satisfactorily pass all relevant screening and criminal background checks.

Nice To Haves

• Transportation of clients preferred in a personally owned vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Build trusting, mutual relationships with clients through appropriate self-disclosure of your own recovery journey.
• Assist clients in accessing services within the CCBHC and externally.
• Help clients develop Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP) and identify personal strengths to drive their treatment.
• Provides information to clients and family members on mental illness, recovery and wellness, treatment options, and resources.
• Serve as a bridge between the client and the clinical team, ensuring the client's choices define their care process.
• Partners with local community-based organizations to educate the community on CCBHC services and facilitate "warm hand-offs" into care.
• Utilize 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 (EHR) system.
• Assists CCBHC clients and people the client/family identifies as their supports (with appropriate consent) e.g., significant others, parents, family, caregiver in their understanding the impact of mental health issues/symptoms and achieving the best possible outcomes for themselves/family member.
• Works collaboratively within a team to provide a full range of services including mental health, substance use/abuse, physical health, case management and other social determinants of health support.
• Co-facilitates groups as requested.
• Provides medication monitoring and/or training to clients.
• Spearheads community support interventions to facilitate illness self-management, skill building, identification and use of natural supports, and use of community resources.
• Reviews results of client assessments/screenings and symptom checklists and supports clients when needed to complete symptom checklist.
• Conducts outreach and engagement for clients who may not be engaged in care.
• Participates in team meetings, and huddles.
• Supports clients when transitioning to another level of care.
• Maintains awareness of community resources and works to ensure service delivery maximizes available resources and services available within MFS and the community, as appropriate.
• Prioritizes activities in collaboration with the supervisor to optimize client service delivery and achieve performance expectations.
• Recognizes when to ask for help to maintain their own wellness plan.
• Maximizes opportunities to expand knowledge and skills, and utilizes techniques learned.
• Provides consultation to agency staff and the community, as needed, utilizing expert skills in training, conducting seminars, and working on special projects, as requested.
• May serve on agency-wide committees and work groups or on community committees, as approved by supervisor and agency leadership.
• 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, pro-rated to your benefits start date.
• FREE General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services provided to all team members.
• Ascensus 401K plan services with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees