MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALIST I

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Position Overview

The Division of Mental Health is seeking to hire a Mental Health Recovery Support Specialist I for the Chicago Read Mental Health Center located in Chicago, Illinois. Functions as a patient’s liaison to his/her Facility Treatment Team regarding identified service issues. Coordinates and facilitates Facility wellness activities, including the implementation of Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) groups. Reviews, analyzes and evaluates consumer study/survey data. Collaborates with the Facility Quality Manager and other Facility Clinical leadership in representing the Facility to community groups. Provides information regarding patient/family service needs and expectations to Facility staff. Attends statewide and community meetings. Participates in the statewide Recovery Services Development Group (RSDG).

Essential Functions

• Serves as a Facility Recovery Support Specialist, functioning as a patient’s Liaison to his/her Facility Treatment Team regarding identified service issues.
• Coordinates and facilitates the Facility wellness activities, including the implementation of Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) groups and the enhancement of Trauma Informed Care, including the establishment of service enhancements, such as comfort rooms and soothing kits.
• Collaborates with the Facility Quality Manager to review, analyze and evaluate patient study/survey data, utilizing the collected data to identify and highlight trends, patterns and outcomes.
• Collaborates with the Facility Quality Manager and other Facility Clinical leadership in representing the Facility to community groups requesting information concerning mental health issues, wellness, and recovery, the empowerment of consumers and families, and recovery-oriented services.
• Provides expertise regarding patient/family service needs and expectations to Facility staff.
• Attends statewide and community meetings for the purposes of informing and representing consumer issues, identifying statewide and Region services and resources and addressing quality of care and/or continuum of care issues.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of a bachelor’s degree in one of the social sciences or related area and one (1) year of experience performing peer support work within a mental health program setting.
• Must be a current or former consumer of mental health services, and willing to self-identify.
• Requires evidence of certification as a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS).

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of professional experience providing recovery-oriented practices and techniques, peer support services and encouraging consumers to adopt wellness practices and goals.
• One (1) year of professional experience articulating personal experience relevant to the obstacles and successes of their own recovery.
• One (1) year of professional experience advocating for patients and family members providing information concerning patient rights and responsibilities.
• One (1) year of professional experience working with policies, procedures and regulations associated with patient rights, matters, care and support systems.
• One (1) year of professional experience reviewing, analyzing and evaluating studies/surveys data, utilizing the collected data to identify and highlight trends, patterns and outcomes.
• One (1) year of experience communicating effectively both orally and in writing.
• One (1) year of basic proficiency in the use of computers, as well as software, such as Microsoft Office Suite, including word, PowerPoint and Excel.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to travel in the performance of job duties.
• Requires the ability to utilize office equipment including personal computers, Microsoft Office Suite, Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Requires ability to pass the IDHS background check.
• Requires ability to pass a drug screen for drugs prohibited from recreational use under Illinois Law.

*All conditions of employment listed are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.