Recovery Support Specialist - Clinton, Illinois

Recovery Support Specialist – Clinton, Illinois

Salary:   

• High School or GED: $18.00/hour every other Friday paid off
• Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS): $23.00/hour every other Friday paid off
• Salary range is based on education, experience, and certification  

Schedule: Full-Time | Every other Friday off (paid wellness day)

Looking for a career where your work truly matters? Heritage Behavioral Health Center is hiring passionate professionals!

About Heritage Behavioral Health Center  

We are a mission-driven Community Mental Health Center located in Clinton, Illinois who is dedicated to improving mental health and substance use care to individuals in a multi-county area.  We recognize that all individuals at our organization have an impact on client care – regardless of the position they hold.   

Why You’ll Love Working Here: 

• Collaborative mission-driven work environment
• Every other Friday off – paid wellness days 
• Competitive salaries aligned with state and national benchmarks 

At Heritage, we believe in taking care of our staff’s needs so that they can concentrate on taking care of the needs of the individuals we serve.  Our staff are our greatest asset, and we treat them as such!   

Your Role:

Recovery Support Specialist – Heritage Behavioral Health Center (Clinton, Illinois)
 

As a Recovery Support Specialist, you will use your lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery to inspire hope and support individuals on their recovery journey. This community-based role works primarily in homes, social service agencies, healthcare settings, and other community locations to help adults engage in treatment, build resilience, and achieve personal goals.

You will also serve as an Engagement Specialist on the Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) Team, partnering with a Crisis Counselor to respond to behavioral health crises in DeWitt and Piatt counties. Guided by SAMHSA’s Recovery Principles—hope, person-centered, peer support, respect, and empowerment—you will provide compassionate engagement, advocacy, and linkage to services for individuals in crisis.

Core Responsibilities:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Use lived experience to build trust and engage individuals with mental health and/or substance use challenges. 
• Provide peer support and model recovery-oriented behaviors in community settings. 
• Assist individuals in identifying strengths, setting goals, and accessing resources that promote wellness and independence. 
• Respond with a Crisis Counselor as part of the Mobile Crisis Response Team to: 

• Offer emotional support and reassurance during behavioral health crises.
• Share personal recovery strategies to instill hope and reduce stigma.
• Help individuals navigate next steps, including safety planning and service linkage.

• Facilitate connections to treatment, housing, employment, and social supports. 
• Advocate for individuals’ rights and preferences in all interactions. 
• Maintain accurate documentation and uphold confidentiality standards. 
• Participate in ongoing training and supervision to enhance peer support skills.

• Adapt to changing needs and environments with flexibility and resilience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: 

• SAMHSA’s Recovery Principles and recovery-oriented systems of care.
• Local behavioral health resources and community supports.
• Trauma-informed and person-centered approaches.

Skills in: 

• Building rapport through empathy, active listening, and shared experience.
• Supporting individuals in crisis with calm, nonjudgmental communication.
• Collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams and community partners.

Abilities to: 

• Share lived experience appropriately to inspire hope and engagement.
• Work independently in community settings while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Adapt to diverse environments and respond flexibly to urgent situations.
• Document interactions accurately and maintain confidentiality.

Qualifications 

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Ability to obtain Certification as a Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) within 12 months of employment 
• Minimum of 21 years of age 
• A valid driver’s license, reliable means of transportation, and proof of automobile insurance.

Heritage also offers the following with this position: 

• Generous Time Off: Vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave 
• Wellness Benefits: Every other Friday off paid, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and fitness reimbursement 
• Insurance:   Health, dental, vision, flex spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care), and additional life insurance.   Health insurance includes substantial agency contributions toward the cost.
• Retirement: 401k and Roth
• Professional Growth:   Tuition assistance and continuing education opportunities 
• Loan Forgiveness:   Eligible through the National Health Service Corp 

Ready to make a difference?  Apply today and join a team that cares about your well-being as much as the individuals we serve!