Recovery Support Specialist - Drop-In Center

DROP-IN CENTER RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Job Scope: Actively contribute as a peer support counselor to offer a community based, member driven drop-in center that offers recovery focused support, advocacy, leisure and enrichment activities to persons living with mental illness and disabilities who desire to engage fully in community life. Drop-in staff members provide and coordinate a range of activities aimed at engaging and motivating members living independently in the Northwest Suburbs. The drop-in center will be open at flexible times that meet member identified social, interpersonal, and educational/informational needs that improve their level of community integration, stability, and personal satisfaction. The drop-in staff will also serve as early identifiers of risk or instability in members and be able to intervene and encourage members self-refer or take actions to refer members to more formal clinical services

I.Primary Responsibilities

• Program Operations
• Engage drop in members in actively using the center to increase level of community integration.
• Assist peer support supervisor to plan and implement drop-in center activities
• Responsible for travel assistance and transportation
• Participate in Kenneth Young Center Mount Prospect Drop-in Member Advisory Council
• Provide supportive peer counseling utilizing personal experience to establish a warm and empathic connection with members and as needed, their families/significant others
• Facilitate leisure group activities
• Promote opportunities for clients to build natural systems of support within their communities through exposure to recreational, spiritual, educational, vocational, volunteer and civic activities
• Work with members to develop personal Wellness Action Recovery Plans
• Regularly consult with other Team members including Community Support Team, Employment services, ACT, and IRG, to address specific member issues and coordinate care strategies
• Work cooperatively with other Center teams/staff to maintain smooth transitions and effective continuity of care
• Administrative and Performance Requirements
• Assist in development and maintenance of local community resources and groups (NAMI, AA etc.). Recovery literature, on-line materials/websites to support members
• Participate in supervision as directed
• Participate in team and other agency meetings and trainings as directed by supervisor
• Interpret and communicate, at the service delivery level, Center policies and procedures
  
  

II.General Competencies

• Promote positive image of KYC with all contacts (customers)
• Exhibit high quality work
• Be a productive member of the staff
• Demonstrate cooperation
• Take the initiative to act on own
• Use excellent judgment
• Communicate clearly and respectfully
• Make use of supervision
• Contribute to development of a culture of care
  
  

III.Core Competencies

• Ability to effectively engage and motivate members to participate in activities offered at Drop In
• Ability to refer clients to appropriate services and help coordinate care
• Act honestly and ethically in all member interactions
• Ability to effectively work as a member of a multidisciplinary team and encourage building of natural community support
  
  

IV. Special Competencies

• Show awareness of issues affecting adults with chronic mental illness
• Skill in the use of motivational interviewing and engaging clients in self directed care
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of community resources that enhance recovery
• Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) certification or (course work completed and able to obtain certification within 12 months of hire)
• If recovery correlates to substance use, they must have two years of demonstrated sobriety.
• Requires significant personal experience with the mental health system as a primary consumer of services.
• Clinical Competencies
• Has ability to effectively engage guests in care
• Has ability to effectively use personal lived experience to support clients in their recovery
  
  

VI. Education, Experience And Other Requirements

• Preferred Bachelors from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology or a related discipline and a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) certification or (course work completed and able to obtain certification within 12 months of hire). Equivocal experience to a Bachelor's in one of these helping professions will also be considered."
• 1-2 of years’ experience working with individuals recovering from serious and persistent mental illness providing case management and community support preferred
• 1 year experience working in non-traditional community settings i.e.: Drop in, senior center, special recreation program
• Basic computer proficiency, knowledge of Word and Internet skills
• Applicant must have a valid IL Driver’s License, valid auto insurance, and
  
  

access to a well maintained/insured vehicle

VII. Work Environment

• This job operates primarily in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
  
  

VIII.Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, use eyes to see and scan the environment
• The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms; bend or stoop as necessary.
• Employee is occasionally required to carry, move, or transport health records or other objects weighing as much as 25lbs while conducting group and individual therapy sessions.
  
  

IX.Travel

• While performing the duties of this position, the employee travels by automobile and is exposed to changing weather and road conditions.
• The employee is required to drive the KYC owned passenger van to and from client homes and to various sites in the community and surrounding areas.
• Employee may also be required to attend occasional meetings/trainings in and around KYC’s catchment area.
• Chain of Authority
• Reports to Drop-In Center Peer Support Supervisor
  
  

XI.Schedule/Timekeeping

• Full-time, Hourly, Non-exempt, 37.5 hours per week
• Must be prepared to work a flexible schedule in response to the needs of the target population served, including evening and/or weekend hours.
• Timekeeping – Accurately record hours worked in the electronic timekeeping system (on a daily basis when possible) in accordance with the timekeeping policy and practice.
  
  

Kenneth Young Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer