Recovery Support Specialist (M-F, 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm)

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

4d•$0 - $22

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 RSS helps Guests de-escalate crisis situations using a trauma-informed, client-centered approach and serves as a role model by demonstrating personal recovery and coping skills. The role 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: receiving and prioritizing crisis requests, coordinating deployment of response teams, monitoring active responses, communicating relevant information to responders, documenting activity, and collaborating with community and emergency service partners. The role requires calm, organized judgment while managing multiple high-priority crises and supporting shift handoffs. The Crisis Stabilization Center is a free and confidential crisis respite center in Hazel Crest that provides a safe, home-like environment and aims to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and arrests. The Link & Option Center, Inc. is a Joint Commission–accredited outpatient State Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic serving the far Southside community and Southland region. The role is full-time, Monday through Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Staff are expected to complete the required Certified Recovery Support Specialist training and certification within one year of hire.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
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 required Illinois Certified Recovery Support Specialist training and become certified within one year of hire.
Complete mandatory initial Crisis Stabilization Center training, including a two-hour DMH video-based training and 16 hours of CRSS/CPRS Competency Training.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Create a welcoming, accepting, and calm environment at the Crisis Triage Stabilization Center.
Help Guests de-escalate crisis situations using a trauma-informed, client-centered approach.
Educate, model, encourage, and support Guests in crisis management using personal recovery stories, coping techniques, and self-help strategies.
Use and teach problem-solving techniques and help Guests identify and address 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 Guest self-advocacy, empowerment skills, and strategies for combating 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.
Track responder locations, availability, response status, and geographic coverage to support efficient call assignments.
Communicate relevant safety, behavioral health, risk, medical, and en-route information to responding clinicians.
Monitor active crisis responses through case completion and provide ongoing communication and operational support to field staff.
Document dispatch activity in the electronic health record and other required communication systems while maintaining HIPAA confidentiality.
Coordinate care with 988, emergency departments, law enforcement, EMS, and community providers.
Escalate high-risk situations and 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.
Maintain professionalism, sound judgment, and calm organization while managing multiple high-priority crises.
Participate in shift handoffs to support continuity of care and awareness of ongoing crisis responses.