Recovery Support Specialist- Substance Abuse/Mental Health Recovery

About the role

The Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) is an active member of the Choices Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and provides peer support services to consumers and families who have experienced an overdose or severe mental illness. Under supervision of the CERT Clinician, the Recovery Support Specialist functions as a role model to peers, exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serves as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for consumers in outpatient and inpatient settings.

Responsibilities

• Functions as a role model to peers, exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills.
• Serves as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for consumers in outpatient and inpatient settings.
• Provides peer support services to consumers and families who have experienced an overdose or severe mental illness.
• Utilizes recovery resources such as booklets, pamphlets and other written materials in the provision of services.
• Works within a strengths-based perspective, collaborating with first responders, community stakeholders, clinical leadership, care coordinators, and fellow mobile crisis responders.
• Ensures appropriate follow-up for individuals who have experienced a crisis event and ensures linkage to ongoing supports and services.
• Communicates the practice expectations of the emergency response system to consumers, community partners, and funders.
• Responds to crisis referrals promptly during normal business hours and after hour crisis situations.
• Provides back up when requested/as available if contacted by first responders.
• Adheres to the policies and protocols established by Choices for the management of a 24/7 mobile crisis response system.
• Incorporates the guiding principles and values of Systems of Care into their interactions with youth and families, fellow team members, Choices staff and system partners.
• Communicates effectively with Choices Leadership Team to ensure collaborative efforts and proactive response to issues and concerns.
• Follows established strategic plans and quality improvement procedures to achieve stated goals and enhance the experience of referred youth and adults with mobile crisis response services.
• Ensures collection of all necessary service data.
• Participates in scheduled meetings to review performance and quality indicators and makes recommended adjustments to improve the response and stabilization service.
• Willingly completes other duties as assigned to advance the mission of the Choices Emergency Response Team.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Some college preferred.
• 2 years participation in recovery and abstinence from drugs or alcohol.
• Prior experience with mental health crisis response preferred.
• Strong communication and writing skills.
• Bi-lingual skills (Spanish) a plus.
• Familiarity with Systems of Care values and principles.
• Highly organized, effectively manages multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Professionally articulate in communicating (oral and written) service expectations, strengths and needs of clients and outcomes.
• Demonstrated professionalism working in teams with internal colleagues and external audiences in both person and through various electronic media.
• Enthusiastic about advancing system change within the community.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Operational smart phone.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• Generous PTO plan