Peer Recovery Support Specialist I

Gateway Foundation; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 35,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403(b) retirement plan with employer 3

Paid time off and holidays

Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per

Job summary

Alpharus Health in Chicago, IL is hiring Peer Recovery Support Specialists. This role supports patients in residential and outpatient settings, delivering direct recovery services and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities include caseload management, assessments, documentation in the EHR, and connecting clients to community resources. Excellent bilingual communication and a passion for recovery are essential.

Qualifications

• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 1 year of mental health and/or substance use knowledge and experience preferred.
• Demonstrated interpersonal, communication, and active listening skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Familiarity with recovery principles, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction approaches.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a caseload as determined during admissions for residential and outpatient treatment.
• Conducts assessments to identify support needs and develops recovery plans.
• Provides 20–25 hours per week of direct peer support services in person, by phone, or virtually.
• Maintains accurate documentation of recovery plans and progress notes in the electronic health record.
• Identifies community resources and connects patients to services to support recovery.
• Assists with transportation coordination to community services.
• Identifies relapse prevention strategies and helps build a recovery-oriented social network.
• Participates in interdisciplinary case staffing meetings and team discussions.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Interpersonal communication

Active listening

Team collaboration

Independent work

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Job description

Who is Alpharus Health?

Alpharus Health is a national nonprofit behavioral health provider dedicated to helping people build healthier lives. For nearly 60 years, we have provided substance use and mental health treatment that helps individuals, families, and communities find healing, hope, and lasting wellbeing. Our mission is simple: We help people build healthier lives. By combining clinical expertise with a person-centered approach, we help people build the skills, resilience, and support systems needed to create meaningful, lasting change.

Why join us?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results. By joining our team, you'll be working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice. You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth. When you join us, you have the opportunity to find both personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

Location: Chicago Kedzie - 1706 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Who is Alpharus Health?

Alpharus Health is a national nonprofit behavioral health provider dedicated to helping people build healthier lives. For nearly 60 years, we have provided substance use and mental health treatment that helps individuals, families, and communities find healing, hope, and lasting wellbeing. Our mission is simple: We help people build healthier lives. By combining clinical expertise with a person-centered approach, we help people build the skills, resilience, and support systems needed to create meaningful, lasting change.

Why join us?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results. By joining our team, you'll be working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice. You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth. When you join us, you have the opportunity to find both personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

Location: Chicago Kedzie - 1706 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Work Schedule:

Monday through Friday, 10:00am - 6:00pm with flexibility of occasional weekends and evenings, as required

Peer Recovery Support Specialists are responsible for:

• Maintains a caseload as determined during the admissions process for patients participating in residential and outpatient treatment services.
• Conducts assessments to identify the need for support services and works collaboratively with patients to develop individualized recovery support plans that emphasize purpose, mindfulness, and personal goals.
• Provides a minimum of 20–25 hours each week of direct individualized in-person, telephonic or virtual peer support services.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation of recovery plans, interventions, resources and progress notes in the electronic health record in accordance with policies, procedures, and regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Participates in ongoing recovery support services by identifying community resources and connecting patients with the appropriate services to further support their recovery journey.
• Assists with the coordination of transportation to supported services in the community as identified in recovery plan.
• Identifies relapse prevention strategies to support patients in managing and coping with triggers and high-risk situations and assists patients in building and sustaining a recovery-oriented social network to engage in healthy, meaningful activities.
• Participates in interdisciplinary case staffing meetings to discuss care coordination and ensure peer informed care.
• Contributes expertise in regular peer recovery team meetings to evaluate program effectiveness and individual patient progress.

Job Requirements:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish, preferred.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 1 year of mental health and/or substance use knowledge and experience.
• Ability to participate and complete required supervised work experience and obtain a certification as a Peer Recovery Specialist within 1 year of hire.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage recovery experience to engage patients during their recovery journey.
• Demonstrated interpersonal, communication, and active listening skills to assess individual needs and develop individual support plans.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Familiarity with recovery principles, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction approaches.
• Ability to learn and become proficient in using electronic health records to maintain enter and maintain treatment documentation.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively with others, in groups or individually, to gather and present information.
• Ability to respond to telephone and email inquiries in a timely and professional manner.
• Ability to use a keyboard and display screen to receive, retrieve, and/or review information and data on a regular basis.
• Ability to continually proofread, check and verify data and information from printed to digital documents.
• Ability to travel to various locations by vehicle to meet with patients and/or attend meetings and training

Compensation:

• Range is between $16.93 - $28.12 per hour
• Starting rates are determined based on years of experience, qualifications, and relevant skills.
• Alpharus Health conducts annual performance reviews, with merit increase eligbility determined by employee performance and organizational financial performance.

Benefits at Alpharus:

Health and Wellness:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Employee wellness program promoting health and fitness and offering cash-saving premiums
• Employee assistance programs focused on mental health

Financial Wellbeing:

• 403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
• Short-term and Long-term Disability and Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Alpharus
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Flexibility and Time Off:

• 18 paid time off days per year – accrual rates increase with years of service
• 9 paid company holidays
• Work-life-balance

Personal Development:

• Training & Development Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement - up to $5,250 per calendar year
• eLearning access to online courses that provide CEU's and job-related training
• Clinical Supervision: Formal and informal guidance

Alpharus Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.