Crisis Support Specialist - Part Time Weekends

Thresholds; Crystal Lake (IL); On-site; USD 35,000 - 40,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Generous PTO

403(b) retirement plan

EAP

Public service loan forgiveness

Job summary

Thresholds' Living Room McHenry seeks a Crisis Support Specialist to provide advocacy, information, and peer support to guests during crises. You’ll use your experience and training to engage guests, listen to their stories, and guide them toward recovery in a welcoming, calm environment.

You may model coping strategies, help guests develop their own crisis recovery plans, and link them with supportive services after crises. You will greet guests, learn their names, and assist with space upkeep.

Qualifications

• Lived experience of mental health recovery preferred but not required.
• Effective communication and relationship-building.
• Good writing skills.
• Strong time management and organization.

Responsibilities

• Engage guests, hear their stories, and learn about interests and strengths.
• Encourage steps in recovery and model coping strategies.
• Link guests with supportive services for after crises.
• Greet guests and learn their names to invite leadership in recovery.
• Prepare food and maintain a welcoming, tidy space.

Skills

Effective communication

Relationship-building

Good writing skills

Time management

Organizational skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Higher education in Psychology/Social Work/Counseling or related field

CRSS certification preferred

Job description

When people experience on the South Side of Chicago a mental health crisis, they are faced with the decision to go to the emergency department or to try to manage the crisis themselves. The Living Room McHenry offers an alternative: a community crisis center-a welcoming, accepting, and calm environment where Crisis Support Specialists provide advocacy, information, and peer support.

As a Crisis Support Specialist, you will use your personal experience with mental health recovery to support and educate Living Room guests on managing crisis. You will engage guests in conversation to hear their stories, learn about their interests and strengths, and respectfully encourage them to take steps in their recovery process. Over the course of the day, you may model coping strategies, help guests develop their own crisis recovery plans, and/or link guests with supportive services for after their crisis.

A welcoming environment is key to the success of the Living Room, so you will greet guests and learn their names as part of inviting them to take the lead in determining their recovery path. Crisis Support Specialists will also prepare food for guests and ensure that the space is neat and tidy.

Keep up to date on current trends in the mental health field and deepen your knowledge of evidence-based practices through ample training opportunities to enhance Living Room services. You can also gain supervision for CRSS certification and reimbursement for testing and application fees.

To succeed in this role, you need:

• Lived experience of mental health recovery preferred but not required
• Effective communication and relationship-building
• Good writing skills
• Strong time management and organization
• To be at least 21 years old

Many education and experience paths are eligible for this role:

• High school diploma or GED certificate required
• Higher education in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or related field preferred
• Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) preferred

Part Time Shifts Available:

• Saturday: 11:00pm - 7:30am
• Sunday: 7:00am - 3:30pm
• Sunday: 3:30pm - 11:30pm
• Sunday: 11:00pm - 7:30am
• Monday: 3:00pm - 11:30pm
• Monday: 11:00pm - 7:30am

What sets Thresholds apart:

• Competitive pay - Base Rate: $25.50- $29.13 per hour
  • Based on education, experience, and licensure
• Generous PTO
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP)
• Public service loan forgiveness

Thresholds is a mission-driven agency with a deep commitment to fostering an environment where all feel valued and respected, a place where every employee can be themselves, thrive, and support the agency's mission.

One of the oldest and largest community mental health organizations in Illinois, we pride ourselves in being a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and one of Chicago's 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For several years in a row.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.