Recovery Support Specialist - PT (Sat & Sun- 7 am to 3 pm)

Program:    The Crisis Triage Stabilization Center

Position Title: Recovery Support Specialist – PT

Reports To:    Mobile Crisis Coordinator

Job Type:    Part-Time 

Shifts:         Sat & Sun- 7 am to 3 pm

The Link & Option Center, Inc. is a Joint Commission–accredited outpatient State Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) serving the far Southside community and designated to serve the Southland region with locations in South Holland and Hazel Crest, Illinois. Founded in 1994, The Link & Option Center, Inc., provides comprehensive behavioral health services including assessment, psychiatry, therapy, crisis services, case management, and care coordination.

The Link & Option Center, Inc., is committed to delivering culturally competent, person-centered care that addresses both behavioral health needs and the social determinants impacting overall well-being. Through early identification, prevention, and treatment, The Link & Option Center, Inc., strives to improve the quality of life and strengthen the communities it serves.

PROGRAM SUMMARY:

The Crisis Stabilization Center is a crisis respite center in the Hazel Crest community offering free and confidential services for anyone going through a mental health crisis. We aim to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and arrests and provide a safe, home-like environment.

We are looking for Recovery Support Specialists, part-time, 8-hour shifts (Sat & Sun, 7 am to 3 pm) (a 24/7/365 days a year program) for the facilities, activities, support, and de-escalation of behavior for Guests.

Recovery Support Specialists have lived experience with mental illness or knowledge of it and utilize this in order to connect and empathize with Guests. You do not need to have a college degree or a degree in a psychology/social work-related field for the position.

You are expected to complete the Illinois Certified Recovery Support Specialist training within one year of hire.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) will provide peer support services to Guests in The Crisis Stabilization Center with serious mental illnesses and other co-occurring disorders. The RSS will assist Guests in de-escalating crisis situations using a trauma-informed, client-centered approach. The RSS will function as a role model to peers by exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills. The RSS will coordinate a variety of activities and tasks aimed at assisting clients in regaining control of their lives and the recovery process.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

•    Creating a welcoming, accepting, and calm environment in The Crisis Triage Stabilization Center.

•    Assisting Guests in de-escalating crisis situations using a trauma-informed, client-centered approach.

•    Educating, modeling, encouraging and supporting Guests on managing crisis using a variety of tools, including but not limited to personal recovery stories, coping techniques and self-help strategies.

•    Utilize and teach problem-solving techniques with Guests as well as how to identify and combat negative self-talk and fears.

•    Assisting Guests in articulating personal goals for recovery. Assist Guests in developing a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) based on the Guest’s individual wellness and recovery goals.

•    Promoting the Guest’s self-advocacy skills. Assisting Guests in development of empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy.

•    Transport Guests to locations within Chicagoland.

Dispatch Mobile Crisis Duties: 

•    Receive, triage, prioritize, and coordinate incoming behavioral health crisis service requests originating from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, community partners, law enforcement, hospitals, and other referral sources.

•    Utilize established dispatch protocols to determine the urgency of each crisis response and coordinate timely deployment of Mobile Crisis Response Teams.

•    Maintain real-time awareness of crisis responder locations, availability, response status, and geographic coverage areas to ensure efficient assignment of calls.

•    Communicate critical information to responding clinicians, including safety concerns, known behavioral health history, risk factors, medical considerations, and updates received while responders are en route.

•    Monitor active crisis responses from dispatch through case completion, maintaining ongoing communication with field staff and providing operational support as needed.

•    Document dispatch activity accurately and completely within the electronic health record (EHR) and other required communication systems while maintaining HIPAA confidentiality standards.

•    Collaborate with 988, emergency departments, law enforcement, EMS, and community providers to facilitate coordinated, person-centered crisis care.

•    Escalate high-risk situations or operational concerns to the Mobile Crisis Response Coordinator or designated clinical leadership when appropriate.

•    Monitor response times and assist the team in meeting state, CCBHC, and organizational performance standards for mobile crisis response.

•    Demonstrate professionalism, sound judgment, and the ability to remain calm, organized, and effective while managing multiple high-priority crises simultaneously.

•    Participate in shift handoff communication to ensure continuity of care and awareness of ongoing crisis responses.

QUALIFICATIONS:

A Recovery Support Specialist must meet the following qualifications:

•    High School Diploma or GED and 2,000 hours (one year) paid/supervised work experience.

•    Personal lived experience with mental health illness and having been in recovery for at least one year.

•    Current certification as a Mental Health Certified Recovery Support Specialists (CRSS) preferred, or the ability to become certified as a CRSS within one year of employment.

•    Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.

•    Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental illness and the ability to assist the Guest to address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk.

•    Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus

•    A valid driver’s license and insurance.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS:

Receive MANDATORY initial Crisis Stabilization Center training by:

•    Completing a two-hour DMH video-based training

•    Complete 16 hours of CRSS/CPRS Competency Training.

•    All staff are expected to become Certified Recovery Specialists (CRSS) within 1 year of being hired.