Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) CPSS or CPSS-T Required

Connections Health Solutions•Kirkland, WA

About The Position

Connections Health Solutions is hiring a Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) to provide peer support to individuals navigating behavioral health challenges. Drawing on personal recovery experience, the RSS offers hope and encouragement, builds trusting relationships, supports individuals in setting and pursuing recovery goals, and connects them with community and natural supports. The RSS works as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team to reinforce individualized, recovery-oriented care and promote wellness and stability. The role includes peer support and advocacy, recovery-focused group and individual activities, community-resource connections, trauma-informed support and crisis prevention, collaboration with clinical and interdisciplinary staff, and timely, confidential documentation in the electronic health record. The RSS also supports patients during post-discharge transportation and participates in required training, supervision, team meetings, and professional development. The position is based in Kirkland, Washington, and pays $26 per hour. A $2,500 commitment bonus is offered for full-time employees, and additional hourly shift differentials apply to specified night and weekend shifts. The employer has a mandatory vaccination policy, subject to its exemption process.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Current Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) or Certified Peer Support Specialist-Trainee (CPSS-T) certification is required. Eligible CPSS-T candidates will receive required supervision hours and support toward full CPSS certification.
Registered with the Washington State Care Authority.
Be at least 18 years old and have lived experience in behavioral health recovery, or be the parent or guardian of a child with lived experience with behavioral health services and have at least one year in behavioral health recovery.
Ability to work with individuals who may exhibit agitation, aggression, or unpredictable behavior.
Meet the company’s mandatory vaccination policy, including providing documentation of full vaccination or qualifying for an exemption before the start date.
Complete required credentialing within the required time period, including obtaining a National Provider Identifier (NPI), Medallion enrollment, Medicare enrollment, and other credentials required for the role.
Ability to obtain a Washington State Food Handlers Card.

Nice To Haves

Three or more years of personal recovery experience.
Behavioral health, substance use treatment, or GMH recovery experience.
Completion of Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) CPC 40-hour training and exam.
Specialized peer certifications such as WHAM or ASIST.
Knowledge of evidence-based or person-centered approaches, such as Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, Verbal De-escalation, Harm Reduction, and person-centered language.
Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Responsibilities

Use lived experience and personal recovery to provide hope, encouragement, and peer support throughout treatment and recovery.
Build trusting relationships while maintaining professional boundaries and using appropriate self-disclosure.
Help individuals identify their strengths, preferences, goals, and personal definition of recovery, supporting self-determination and participation in care.
Facilitate or co-facilitate individual and group recovery activities that promote wellness, coping skills, connection, and recovery-oriented goals.
Respect multiple pathways to recovery and help individuals identify approaches and resources suited to their needs and preferences.
Support patients during post-discharge transportation with engagement, encouragement, and guidance about next steps in care.
Advocate for individuals and encourage their participation in treatment planning, communication of needs, and informed decisions about care and recovery.
Provide practical support to help individuals navigate challenges, build confidence, develop recovery skills, and integrate into the community.
Model hope, resilience, self-advocacy, and the belief that recovery is attainable.
Help individuals identify and access community resources, natural supports, peer networks, and services for recovery, wellness, and social needs.
Use trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and person-centered approaches to promote trust and stability.
Use communication, active listening, empathy, and appropriate de-escalation strategies to support individuals in distress or crisis.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to promote alternatives to seclusion and restraint by recognizing individual needs and triggers and strengthening therapeutic relationships.
Help maintain a safe and respectful treatment environment and respond appropriately to changes in behavior, risk, or individual needs within the scope of the role.
Collaborate with nurses, providers, clinicians, behavioral health staff, and other multidisciplinary team members.
Share relevant observations and recovery-focused insights with the treatment team while maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.
Participate in treatment and recovery planning and support implementation of individualized goals, interventions, and discharge plans as directed by the treatment team.
Help individuals understand recovery plans and connect with appropriate supports to promote continuity of care.
Document encounters, interventions, observations, and recovery-support activities accurately and promptly in the electronic health record.
Communicate significant changes, concerns, or barriers to recovery to appropriate interdisciplinary team members in a timely manner.
Maintain privacy and confidentiality and uphold professional documentation standards.
Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, self-awareness, and appropriate role boundaries.
Participate in required training, supervision, team meetings, and ongoing professional development.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Full-time employees and their families are offered medical, dental, vision, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance.
Company-paid basic life, AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage.
Voluntary life insurance option for employees and their families.
Health Savings Accounts with a $1,000 to $2,000 employer contribution depending on plan.
Flexible Spending Accounts for health care and dependent care.
401(k) company match after six months: 50% of deferrals up to 6% of compensation.
Generous PTO starting at 160 hours accrued annually and 12 recognized company holidays.
Company-paid parental leave for eligible employees.
Employee Assistance Program for confidential emotional support, work-life, financial, legal, and online support.
Automatic enrollment in the 401(k) plan after 90 days for all employees.
$2,500 commitment bonus for full-time employees.
Additional hourly pay for specified night and weekend shifts.