Peer Support Specialist- Crisis Response Program

Rincon Family Services • Chicago, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) is an integral member of Rincon Family Services’ multidisciplinary Crisis Response Program team. The PSS provides peer-based support, crisis intervention, engagement, advocacy, and community-based services to people experiencing mental health and/or substance use-related crises. Using personal recovery experience appropriately, the PSS offers hope, encouragement, education, and support to individuals and families, builds trusting relationships, and helps people identify strengths, needs, goals, and available resources.

Services are delivered in community settings such as homes, hospitals, shelters, healthcare facilities, and other locations identified by the program. The PSS responds alongside a crisis clinician, collaborates with clinicians, case managers, emergency responders, healthcare providers, and community partners, and supports safety, stabilization, recovery, and connection to ongoing services. The PSS contributes to engagement, de-escalation, practical coping support, person-directed safety planning, resource connection, warm handoffs, and post-crisis follow-up. Clinical screening and assessment, treatment, diagnostic or disposition decisions, and authorization of involuntary interventions remain outside the PSS role.

The position is full-time, salaried, and non-exempt, serving the Chicagoland area. The Crisis Response Program operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Employees work assigned shifts that may include days, evenings, overnight hours, weekends, holidays, and on-call assignments; individual employees are not continuously on call. Flexibility, reliable communication, and the ability to respond to crisis calls and provide face-to-face services when required are necessary. Salary range: $41,000–$45,000.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Current Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) certification; maintain the credential throughout employment when hired through that credential pathway, or otherwise continue to meet applicable peer qualification criteria.
• Strong listening, communication, interpersonal, and engagement skills.
• Understanding of the peer support role and appropriate use of lived experience.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries while providing authentic and compassionate support.
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and effective in stressful or crisis situations.
• Knowledge of community behavioral health, substance use, medical, housing, social service, and recovery resources.
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to maintain accurate and timely documentation.
• Ability to adapt to changing situations and respond appropriately to urgent needs.
• Commitment to person-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented services.
• Willingness and ability to work with individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use-related crises.
• Must pass required pre-employment background checks, including DHS Background Check Unit clearance.
• Valid driver's license and access to a properly licensed and insured automobile, or ability to independently arrange reliable transportation as required.
• Ability and willingness to work in community settings, including hospitals, shelters, homes, and other locations.
• Availability to work assigned schedules supporting 24/7 coverage, including days, evenings, overnight hours, weekends, holidays, and on-call assignments as required.
• Ability to respond to crisis situations within the timeframe established by the program.
• Reliable communication and reachability during assigned on-call periods.

Nice To Haves

• Fluency in Spanish.
• Bicultural experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely, person-centered peer support to individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
• Assist with crisis de-escalation through listening, engagement, validation, reassurance, and recovery-oriented interventions.
• Build rapport and trusting relationships with individuals and families during crises.
• Use lived recovery experience appropriately and professionally to promote hope, empowerment, and engagement.
• Deploy as part of a team-based, community mobile crisis response with a crisis clinician, following applicable dispatch, response-time, safety, and no-wrong-door protocols.
• Support communication between the person in crisis and the crisis clinician through appropriate lived-experience disclosure, shared decision-making, advocacy, and plain-language explanations.
• Support the individual in sharing information for clinician-led screening and assessment without independently conducting clinical assessments or making diagnostic or disposition decisions.
• Collaborate in de-escalation, practical coping support, person-directed safety planning, and resource connection under the clinical leadership and safety protocols of the team.
• Recognize changes in an individual's presentation or risk and promptly communicate concerns to clinical or supervisory staff; escalate imminent safety concerns to the crisis clinician or designated QMHP.
• Assist individuals in accessing behavioral health, substance use, medical, housing, transportation, employment, benefits, and other community resources.
• Support transitions from crisis services to ongoing treatment, peer support, case management, and other community services, including warm handoffs and documented post-crisis follow-up.
• Encourage voluntary participation in treatment and supportive services whenever possible, self-advocacy, and communication of needs to providers and support systems.
• Help individuals understand and navigate behavioral health and substance use systems and provide education about community resources and recovery supports.
• Participate in community outreach and engagement and develop relationships with community organizations, hospitals, healthcare providers, shelters, first responders, and other partners.
• Coordinate with 988, emergency responders, hospitals, and community providers as appropriate while respecting privacy, consent, cultural needs, and the least restrictive appropriate response.
• Document services and contacts in the client record within 48 hours or any shorter applicable timeframe; maintain accurate, timely, and complete records.
• Maintain client confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and other applicable privacy, agency, funder, licensing, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in quality assurance and quality improvement activities as directed.
• Complete required training, maintain the required CRSS or CPRS credential, and participate in ongoing professional development.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Generous paid time off, accruing up to 21 days in Year 1, with some carryover allowed
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional development opportunities
• Employment may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
• Certain employees may qualify for City of Chicago commuter transit benefits

What This Job Offers

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