Recovery Support Specialist - PT (Sat & Sun- 11 pm to 7 am)

The Link and Option Center, Inc.•South Holland, IL

5d•$0 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

The Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) provides peer support to guests at The Crisis Stabilization Center who have serious mental illnesses and other co-occurring disorders. The role helps guests de-escalate crisis situations using a trauma-informed, client-centered approach and serves as a recovery role model by demonstrating personal recovery and coping skills. The RSS coordinates activities and tasks that help guests regain control of their lives and recovery process. The position also includes dispatch duties for mobile crisis services. The RSS receives, triages, prioritizes, and coordinates incoming crisis requests; deploys and monitors Mobile Crisis Response Teams; communicates relevant safety and clinical information; documents activity in the electronic health record and other systems; and collaborates with crisis, emergency, law enforcement, and community partners. The role is part-time, working Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. at a 24/7/365 crisis respite program in Hazel Crest, Illinois.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED and 2,000 hours (one year) of paid or supervised work experience.
Personal lived experience with mental illness and at least one year in recovery.
Knowledge of the recovery process and ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.
Knowledge of signs and symptoms of mental illness and ability to help guests address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk.
Valid driver’s license and insurance.
Complete mandatory initial Crisis Stabilization Center training, including a two-hour DMH video-based training and 16 hours of CRSS/CPRS Competency Training.
Become a Certified Recovery Specialist (CRSS) within one year of hire.

Nice To Haves

Current certification as a Mental Health Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS).
Bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

Create a welcoming, accepting, and calm environment in the Crisis Triage Stabilization Center.
Assist guests in de-escalating crisis situations using a trauma-informed, client-centered approach.
Educate, model, encourage, and support guests in managing crises using personal recovery stories, coping techniques, and self-help strategies.
Use and teach problem-solving techniques and help guests identify and combat negative self-talk and fears.
Help guests articulate personal recovery goals and develop a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) based on their individual wellness and recovery goals.
Promote guests’ self-advocacy, empowerment, and ability to combat stigma.
Transport guests to locations within Chicagoland.
Receive, triage, prioritize, and coordinate behavioral health crisis service requests from 988, community partners, law enforcement, hospitals, and other referral sources.
Use dispatch protocols to assess urgency and coordinate timely deployment of Mobile Crisis Response Teams.
Maintain real-time awareness of responder locations, availability, status, and geographic coverage to assign calls efficiently.
Communicate relevant safety concerns, behavioral health history, risk factors, medical considerations, and updates to responding clinicians.
Monitor crisis responses through case completion, maintain communication with field staff, and provide operational support.
Document dispatch activity accurately in the electronic health record and other required systems while maintaining HIPAA confidentiality.
Coordinate with 988, emergency departments, law enforcement, EMS, and community providers to support person-centered crisis care.
Escalate high-risk situations or operational concerns to the Mobile Crisis Response Coordinator or designated clinical leadership.
Monitor response times and help meet state, CCBHC, and organizational mobile crisis performance standards.
Remain professional, calm, organized, and effective while managing multiple high-priority crises.
Participate in shift handoffs to ensure continuity of care and awareness of ongoing crisis responses.