Recovery Support Specialist - Drop-In Center
About The Position
Actively contribute as a peer support counselor to offer a community based, member driven drop-in center that offers recovery focused support, advocacy, leisure and enrichment activities to persons living with mental illness and disabilities who desire to engage fully in community life. Drop-in staff members provide and coordinate a range of activities aimed at engaging and motivating members living independently in the Northwest Suburbs. The drop-in center will be open at flexible times that meet member identified social, interpersonal, and educational/informational needs that improve their level of community integration, stability, and personal satisfaction. The drop-in staff will also serve as early identifiers of risk or instability in members and be able to intervene and encourage members self-refer or take actions to refer members to more formal clinical services.
Requirements
- Ability to effectively engage and motivate members to participate in activities offered at Drop In
- Ability to refer clients to appropriate services and help coordinate care
- Act honestly and ethically in all member interactions
- Ability to effectively work as a member of a multidisciplinary team and encourage building of natural community support
- Show awareness of issues affecting adults with chronic mental illness
- Skill in the use of motivational interviewing and engaging clients in self directed care
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of community resources that enhance recovery
- Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) certification or (course work completed and able to obtain certification within 12 months of hire)
- If recovery correlates to substance use, they must have two years of demonstrated sobriety.
- Requires significant personal experience with the mental health system as a primary consumer of services.
- Has ability to effectively engage guests in care
- Has ability to effectively use personal lived experience to support clients in their recovery
- Preferred Bachelors from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology or a related discipline and a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) certification or (course work completed and able to obtain certification within 12 months of hire). Equivocal experience to a Bachelor's in one of these helping professions will also be considered.
- 1-2 of years’ experience working with individuals recovering from serious and persistent mental illness providing case management and community support preferred
- 1 year experience working in non-traditional community settings i.e.: Drop in, senior center, special recreation program
- Basic computer proficiency, knowledge of Word and Internet skills
- Applicant must have a valid IL Driver’s License, valid auto insurance, and access to a well maintained/insured vehicle
Responsibilities
- Engage drop in members in actively using the center to increase level of community integration.
- Assist peer support supervisor to plan and implement drop-in center activities
- Responsible for travel assistance and transportation
- Participate in Kenneth Young Center Mount Prospect Drop-in Member Advisory Council
- Provide supportive peer counseling utilizing personal experience to establish a warm and empathic connection with members and as needed, their families/significant others
- Facilitate leisure group activities
- Promote opportunities for clients to build natural systems of support within their communities through exposure to recreational, spiritual, educational, vocational, volunteer and civic activities
- Work with members to develop personal Wellness Action Recovery Plans
- Regularly consult with other Team members including Community Support Team, Employment services, ACT, and IRG, to address specific member issues and coordinate care strategies
- Work cooperatively with other Center teams/staff to maintain smooth transitions and effective continuity of care
- Assist in development and maintenance of local community resources and groups (NAMI, AA etc.). Recovery literature, on-line materials/websites to support members
- Participate in supervision as directed
- Participate in team and other agency meetings and trainings as directed by supervisor
- Interpret and communicate, at the service delivery level, Center policies and procedures
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
