Recovery & Engagement Specialist - SASS

Socket.dev; Schaumburg (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Kenneth Young Center in Illinois is seeking a Recovery & Engagement Specialist for its Screening Assessment and Support Services (SASS). The role centers on crisis screening, short-term case management, and community outreach to support recovery goals for youth ages 3 through lifespan.

The position requires CRSS or CPRS certification or eligibility within 12 months, and it leverages lived experience to mentor clients, build recovery capital, and connect them with housing, employment, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in social work, psychology or related discipline.
• CRSS or CPRS certification or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire.
• Minimum high school GED or equivalent; valid IL driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Provide safety screening and crisis support to clients and families.
• Offer peer counseling using lived experience to build rapport.
• Conduct two-person in-person crisis screenings to assess risk.
• Develop personal safety plans to stabilize without hospitalization when possible.
• Coordinate with on-call supervisor for escalation to hospitalization or EMS.
• Deliver short-term case management linking to providers and resources.
• Maintain 24/7 on-call coverage and support team tasks.
• Provide timely follow-ups and accurate evaluations of crisis calls.
• Collaborate with KYC programs and outside agencies as needed.

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred in social work, psychology or related discipline

CRSS or CPRS certification or eligibility within 12 months of hire

High school GED minimum

Valid IL Driver’s License

Job description

Recovery & Engagement Specialist - SASS

Job Scope:

Screening Assessment and Support Services (SASS) works with individuals, families, and community-based systems to provide services including crisis assessment and treatment planning at the time of the assessment. Clients served are predominately ages 6-24 but can range from age 3 through the lifespan.

Actively contribute as a team member with on-call crisis response shifts to provide assessment. On call-shifts run on a 24/7 basis, and include evening, weekend, and holiday hours. Bilingual in Spanish is not required but is preferred. Team members contribute with in-office and on-call response to ensure 24/7/365 coverage for crisis intervention, as well as outreach to individuals’ post-crisis as part of the continuum of care.

Recovery and Engagement Specialists should have their CRSS or CPRS certification or be eligible within 1 year of hire. In this role, an Engagement Specialist uses their own lived experience with mental health or substance use challenges, combined with training, to mentor, support, and advocate for others in recovery, helping the client build skills, set goals, find resources, and connect with community to foster hope, empowerment, and successful recovery. They act as role models, bridge gaps with clinical teams, and help individuals navigate systems, focusing on strengths and building recovery capital like housing, employment, and relationships.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide a full range of safety screening and support services to clients and their families in crisis. These services include the following:
  • Provide supportive peer counseling utilizing personal lived experience to establish a warm and empathic connection with clients and as needed, their families/significant others.
  • In-person crisis screenings completed in a two-person team to assess current needs and determine level of risk.
  • Promote opportunities for clients to develop a personal safety plan to community stabilize a client without the use of hospitalization, if hospitalization is not warranted
  • Coordinate with Supervisor on Call for any escalated situation that may require hospitalization or EMS response
  • Short-term case management services to reduce likelihood of future crisis
    • Linkage with established care providers
    • Linkage to community resources
    • Support to help a client bridge access to services
• Participate as a responsible crisis team member to maintain continuous on-call coverage (24/7) and to accomplish other team tasks, goals and responsibilities
• Provide short-term follow-up that reflects the SASS program demands
• Provide timely and accurate evaluation of incoming crisis calls with appropriate dispositions utilizing available QMHP
• Determine the need for additional services based on the screening and facilitate linkage
• Participate in consultation, as needed, with other KYC programs and outside agencies, including professionals, PD, EMS or with paid agency consultants

Administrative and Performance Requirements

• Interpret and communicate, at the service delivery level, Kenneth Young Center policies and procedures
• Meet agency quality and compliance standards by accurately completing documentation and service reporting in a timely manner
• Participate in program evaluation and development of service options that best address client needs
• Participate in Department, Team, and other agency meetings and training as directed by supervisor.
• Work cooperatively with other Kenneth Young Center teams and programs to maintain smooth continuity of care when cases are shared across teams
• Become familiar with and utilize outside resources as needed to provide comprehensive services to clients
• Participate in supervision and regular performance evaluations as directed

Education and Experience

• Minimum of high school GED; Bachelor’s degree preferred from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology or a related discipline
• A Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) certification or ability to complete course work and able to obtain certification within 12 months of hire
• Preferred 1-2 of years experience working with individuals recovering from serious and persistent mental illness providing case management and community support.
• One to three years experience working with children and adolescents preferred.
• 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

Work Environment

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in a community/mobile setting
• Roughly two thirds of the employees’ time will be spent in the community, driving to and from client homes and community sites to perform crisis screenings and outreach activities
• While in transit, the employee may experience changing road and weather conditions
• In conducting screenings and follow-ups with the family, an employee may be exposed to varied public and residential environments

Travel Requirements

• While performing the duties of this position, the employee travels by automobile and is exposed to changing weather 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.

Schedule/Time Keeping

• Non-exempt, Full-Time, 37.5 hours/week
• Must work a flexible schedule in response to the needs of the target population served, including additional rotating, stipend reimbursed, on-call shifts, which include evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday hours

Kenneth Young Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer