Peer Support/Engagement Specialist PM

Dupage Health; Wheaton (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12 paid holidays

12 days vacation

Paid sick time

5 paid personal days

Tuition and certification reimburse-

Job summary

DuPage County Health Department’s Crisis Recovery Center in Wheaton is hiring a Peer Support/Engagement Specialist to respond to mental health crises as part of a two-person team. You will engage clients, assist in de-escalation, provide skill-building and case management, and work second shift 12:00 PM–10:00 PM with a $2 shift differential.

A CRSS credential within one year is required. You must have lived experience, a valid driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle; the organization

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in the behavioral health field, including active participation in the recovery process.

Responsibilities

• Responds in the community to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis as a member of a two-person response team.
• Assists in de-escalation of clients experiencing a mental health crisis through engagement with client and coordination with team members providing clinical intervention.
• Establish rapport, share experiences, and strengthen engagement with the individual experiencing the crisis throughout all Crisis Programs.

Job description

Peer Support/Engagement Specialist

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? Your skills, lived experience, and passion to help others is needed on our team. We are looking for a new team member to join us working as a Peer Support/Engagement Specialist in our Crisis Services programs. This position will work out of our new Crisis Recovery Center in Whetton, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Crisis services staff work as a team to deliver quality care, and a quick response to residents in need. Click Crisis Services to learn more about our program. We offer a $2.00 hour shift differential for working on our second shift. Salary may increase based on experience.

This position comes with an outstanding benefits package designed to support your personal and professional well-being. As a DuPage County employee, you’ll enjoy 12 paid holidays, 12 days of vacation, paid sick time, 5 paid personal days and tuition and certification reimbursement to help you continue growing in your career. We also offer 12 weeks of paid parental leave so you can be there for life’s most important moments. The position is pension‑eligible through the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), giving you peace of mind with a guaranteed retirement plan. Plus, you may qualify for the Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program, making your financial future even brighter.

Our accredited crisis recovery center is dedicated to delivering exceptional services and support to our community, proudly holding: The American Association of Suicidology Certification.

• Responds in the community to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis as a member of a two-person response team. Referral sources may include individuals or their family members, law enforcement, hospitals, schools, for all ages in our community.
• Assists in de‑escalation of clients experiencing a mental health crisis through engagement with client and coordination with team members providing clinical intervention.
• Establish rapport, share experiences, and strengthen engagement with the individual experiencing the crisis throughout all Crisis Programs.
• Willingness to self‑disclose personal lived experience in mental health or substance use recovery (or both) for the benefit of supporting the individuals’ receiving services.
• Role model positive recovery behaviors with clients in Crisis Programs.
• Provides skill building and case management to clients with high need.
• Maintains required training, licensure and/or certification.
• Maintains confidentiality of privileged information and adheres to client privacy laws.
• Demonstrates sensitivity and understanding of other ethnic groups and cultures.
• Adheres to department guidelines for attendance and punctuality.
• Completion of required documentation within established timeframes, through use of an Electronic Client Record.
• Participates in team meetings to assess clients’ progress.
• Participates in emergency response activities as assigned.

Two years of experience in the behavioral health field, including active participation in the recovery process; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. This role requires you to have a valid driver's license, along with your own personal vehicle that is reliable to drive while working in this role.

Additional Requirements

Position requires individual with lived experience and will need to obtain the Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) credential within one year of hire. The CRSS is a credential for those who provide mental health or co‑occurring mental illness and substance use recovery support to others. A person with the CRSS credential uses unique insights gained through personal recovery experience.

As it is a requirement of the role, please see the following sites for more information about the CRSS credential, including the application process:

• https://www.illinoismentalhealthcollaborative.com/consumers/consumer_crss.htm
• http://www.iaodapca.org/credentialing/recovery-support-specialist/
• http://www.iaodapca.org/jobs/post-a-job/

Join our team and experience a long‑term career which brings joy and satisfaction in knowing you make a difference!

For additional information on our new Crisis Recovery Center see below:

The Crisis Recovery Center (CRC) is the critical next step in DuPage County Health Department’s decades‑long journey to build the infrastructure needed to support a best‑in‑class behavioral health system and ensures all DuPage County residents will have “someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere to go” when experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. The CRC will help residents de‑escalate, stabilize, and connect to community resources catered to their individual mental health and substance use treatment needs. The building design and operations will ensure individuals and their families feel welcome, respected, and secure throughout every step of their care.

The CRC serves as an alternative to hospital emergency departments and simplifies access to crisis care for all individuals, families, and first responders. Please go to the Crisis System Expansion page on the DCHD Website for additional information.

For further information on general Crisis Services, click on the link:

• https://www.dupagehealth.org/183/Crisis-Services
• https://www.dupagehealth.org/184/Crisis-Residential

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