CCBHC Certified Recovery Support Specialist

About the role

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Since 1857, MFS has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities.

Essential Job Functions

• Build trusting, mutual relationships with clients through appropriate self-disclosure of your own recovery journey.
• Aid clients in accessing services within the CCBHC and externally.
• Help clients develop Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP) and identify personal strengths to drive their treatment.
• Provide information to clients and family members on mental illness, recovery and wellness, treatment options, and resources.
• Serve as a bridge between the client and the clinical team, ensuring the client's choices define their care process.
• Partner with local community-based organizations to educate the community on CCBHC services and facilitate "warm hand-offs" into care.
• Utilize de-escalation techniques and trauma-informed support with clients during mental health crises.
• Maintain accurate, HIPAA-compliant records of peer interactions in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
• Assist CCBHC clients and people the client/family identifies as their supports (with appropriate consent) in understanding the impact of mental health issues/symptoms and achieving the best possible outcomes for themselves/family member.
• Work collaboratively within a team to provide a full range of services including mental health, substance use/abuse, physical health, case management and other social determinants of health support.
• Co-facilitate groups as requested.
• Provide medication monitoring and/or training to clients.
• Spearhead community support interventions to facilitate illness self-management, skill building, identification and use of natural supports, and use of community resources.
• Review results of client assessments/screenings and symptom checklists and support clients when needed to complete symptom checklist.
• Conduct outreach and engagement for clients who may not be engaged in care or consistently miss appointments.
• Participate in team meetings, and huddles.
• Support clients when transitioning to another level of care.
• Maintain awareness of community resources and work to ensure service delivery maximizes available resources and services available within MFS and the community, as appropriate.
• Prioritize activities in collaboration with the supervisor to optimize client service delivery and achieve performance expectations.
• Recognize when to ask for help to maintain their own wellness plan.
• Maximize opportunities to expand knowledge and skills, and utilize techniques learned.
• Provide consultation to agency staff and the community, as needed, utilizing expert skills in training, conducting seminars, and working on special projects, as requested.
• May serve on agency-wide committees and work groups or on community committees, as approved by supervisor and agency leadership.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Peer/RSS must be an individual who is in recovery and has successfully navigated the MH and/or Substance Abuse system/s for his/her self and/or family member.
• Peer/RSS must have access to and be comfortable utilizing public transportation OR a valid driver’s license, access to a fully insured motor vehicle, proof of insurance, and meet MFS driving record criteria.
• Peer/RSS must pass a State of Illinois background check, as required by MFS policy.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
• Positive attitude and self-motivation.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated good judgment in maintaining responsibilities of the position in advocating for the best interest of consumers served.

Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED, or above, required.
• Personal experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery, required.
• Must hold or be eligible to obtain the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credential from the Illinois Certification Board (ICB) within 12 months of hire, required.
• Bachelor’s Degree, preferred.
• Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) or experience working with clients experiencing substance use, preferred.
• WRAP Facilitator, preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Satisfactorily pass all relevant screening and criminal background checks.

Physical Demands

• Sit and stand for sustained periods of time.
• Frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects or controls.
• Occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel, and crouch.
• Close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.

Benefits

Metropolitan Family Services offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical coverage, dental coverage, vision coverage, free General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services, and a 401K plan with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility. For more details, please click here!