Description Job Title: Peer Support Specialist (PSS) – Crisis Response Program Department: Mental Health Program: 590 Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) Reports to: Crisis Response Program Supervisor Job Type: Full Time, Salary, Non-Exempt Job Location: Chicagoland Area Salary Range: $41,000-$45,000 Rincon – Building Spaces, Restoring Communities – Who We Are What began as a small clinic established by young community leaders on the West Side of Chicago in 1972 has grown into one of the largest providers of high-quality and culturally competent services focusing on counseling and crisis intervention services, substance use prevention and treatment, violence prevention, education, case management, community and family services. We are dedicated to rendering compassionate and effective programs to promote the quality of life by catalyzing, advocating, educating, and empowering individuals and their families. Position Description – What the Role Entails The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) works as an integral member of the Crisis Response Program's multidisciplinary team to provide peer-based support, crisis intervention, engagement, advocacy, and community-based services to individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use-related crises. The PSS uses their personal experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery to provide hope, encouragement, education, and support to individuals and families. The PSS establishes trusting relationships with individuals experiencing a crisis and supports them in identifying their strengths, needs, goals, and available resources. The PSS provides services in a variety of community settings, including individuals' homes, hospitals, shelters, healthcare facilities, community locations, and other locations identified by the Crisis Response Program. The PSS may respond to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis and works closely with clinicians, case managers, emergency responders, healthcare providers, and community partners to promote safety, stabilization, recovery, and connection to ongoing services. Due to the nature of crisis response services, the PSS must be available to respond to program needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays, according to the program's staffing and on-call schedule. Company Culture – Do Our Values Speak to You? At Rincon, our commitment to mutual respect, inclusivity, and diversity is woven into the structure of all that we do. We value:
- Dedication – Embodying effective and transparent leadership and quality client care.
- Education – Preventative programming and clinical services based on industry standards, competence, and outreach.
- Accountability – Consistent service delivery, measurable success, and sensible financial management.
- Advocacy – Empowerment, reduction of treatment stigma, and relationship building with partners.
- Compassion – Embracing culturally diverse communities and equality through sensitivity to individual needs.
With these values in mind, we promote a culture that fosters professional development and agency success. Many of our employees span an extended tenure, and we pride ourselves on developing dedicated and supported team members. Areas of Accountability – What You Will Be Doing Crisis Response and Intervention
- Provide timely, person-centered peer support to individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.
- Assist with crisis de-escalation through active listening, engagement, validation, reassurance, and recovery-oriented interventions.
- Establish rapport and develop trusting relationships with individuals and families during times of crisis.
- Utilize personal recovery experiences appropriately and professionally to instill hope and demonstrate that recovery is possible.
- Collaborate with clinicians, case managers, emergency responders, hospitals, healthcare providers, and other members of the crisis response team..
- Assist individuals in accessing appropriate behavioral health, substance use, medical, housing, and community-based resources.
- Support individuals during transitions from crisis services to ongoing treatment, peer support, case management, and other community services.
- Recognize changes in an individual's presentation or level of risk and immediately communicate concerns to appropriate clinical or supervisory staff.
- Follow all Crisis Response Program protocols related to safety, emergency response, documentation, and escalation of concerns.
- Provide services in community settings, including hospitals, shelters, homes, and other locations as required by the program.
Peer Support Services
- Provide recovery-oriented peer support based on the individual's identified needs, strengths, preferences, and goals.
- Use lived experience appropriately to promote hope, empowerment, and engagement.
- Encourage individuals to participate in treatment and supportive services on a voluntary and non-coercive basis whenever possible.
- Assist individuals in understanding and navigating behavioral health and substance use systems.
- Provide education regarding available community resources and recovery supports.
- Encourage self-advocacy and support individuals in communicating their needs to providers, family members, and other support systems.
- Support individuals with developing strategies to manage stress, emotional distress, and other recovery challenges.
Community Engagement and Outreach
- Participate in community outreach and engagement activities to increase awareness and access to Crisis Response Program services.
- Develop and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, hospitals, healthcare providers, shelters, first responders, and other community partners.
- Educate community partners and individuals about available crisis response and peer support services.
- Advocate for individuals within behavioral health, healthcare, social service, and other systems.
- Provide services in accordance with applicable grant and program requirements.
Care Coordination and Collaboration
- Participate as a member of a multidisciplinary crisis response team.
- Coordinate services with internal and external providers based on the individual's identified needs.
- Assist individuals with connecting to behavioral health, substance use, medical, housing, transportation, employment, benefits, and other community resources.
- Participate in warm handoffs and transitions between crisis services and ongoing community-based services.
- Communicate relevant information to team members while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and privacy.
Documentation and Compliance
- Document all services and contacts in the client's record within 48 hours of service delivery, or within any shorter timeframe required by the program, funder, or regulatory authority.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and complete documentation that meets agency, funder, licensing, accreditation, and regulatory standards.
- Participate in quality assurance and quality improvement activities as directed.
- Maintain confidentiality of all client information.
- Adhere to all state and federal privacy regulations, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
Professional Development
- Complete all required agency, funder, program, state, and regulatory trainings.
- Maintain all certifications required for the position, including an active Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credential.
- Participate in ongoing professional development related to crisis intervention, mental health, substance use, trauma-informed care, suicide prevention, de-escalation, recovery, peer support, and related topics.
- Maintain competency in crisis response and peer support practices.
- All other duties assigned.
Rincon Rewards & Benefits – How We Value You
- Health insurance
- Dental and vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- 403(b) retirement plan
- Generous PTO – accrue up to 21 days in Year 1; some PTO carryover allowable
- Employee Assistance Program
- Professional development opportunities
- Employment may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
- Certain employees may qualify for City of Chicago commuter transit benefits
Rincon's Work Environment – What to Expect The PSS must be able to travel throughout the community and respond to individuals in a variety of settings. This position requires the ability to work in hospitals, homes, shelters, community locations, and other environments where crisis services may be provided. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employees are responsible for informing their supervisor of any disability or medical restriction that limits their ability to perform essential job functions. Work Environment The PSS must demonstrate flexibility, professionalism, and independence while responding to crisis situations. Staff may be required to coordinate transportation using a personal vehicle, public transportation, rideshare services, or other appropriate transportation arrangements. Schedule The Crisis Response Program operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
- Employees work assigned shifts to support 24/7 program coverage; individual employees are not continuously on call.
- Work schedules may include days, evenings, overnight shifts, weekends, holidays, and on-call assignments.
- Employees must be available to respond to crisis calls and provide face-to-face services when required.
- Flexibility is required to respond to urgent and emergent behavioral health needs.
- Employees must maintain reliable communication and be reachable during assigned on-call periods.
Language
- Fluency in Spanish and bicultural experience are strongly preferred.
Specific Functions
- Deploy as part of a team-based, community-based mobile crisis response with a crisis clinician; follow dispatch, response-time, safety, and no-wrong-door protocols applicable to the 590 award.
- Whenever clinically appropriate, initiate engagement with the person in crisis, establish rapport, offer nonjudgmental peer support, and remain engaged throughout the encounter.
- Use appropriate lived-experience disclosure, shared decision-making, advocacy, and plain-language explanation to support communication between the person and crisis clinician.
- Support the individual in sharing information needed for clinician-led screening and assessment, including the Illinois crisis assessment process, without independently conducting clinical assessments or making diagnostic or disposition decisions.
- Collaborate in de-escalation, practical coping support, person-directed safety planning, and resource connection, under the clinical leadership and safety protocols of the team.
- Participate in warm handoffs and documented post-crisis follow-up, including the program-defined follow-up period and frequency as clinically indicated.
- Coordinate with 988, emergency responders, hospitals, and community providers as appropriate, while respecting privacy, consent, cultural needs, and the least restrictive appropriate response.
- Escalate imminent safety concerns promptly to the crisis clinician or designated QMHP; do not independently authorize involuntary interventions, determine level of care, or provide clinical treatment.
RINCON FAMILY SERVICES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Requirements
The Knowledge and Expertise That Matters Most – What You Bring to the Role
- Strong listening, communication, interpersonal, and engagement skills.
- Understanding of the peer support role and the appropriate use of lived experience.
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries while providing authentic and compassionate peer support.
- Ability to remain calm, professional, and effective in stressful or crisis situations.
- Knowledge of community behavioral health, substance use, medical, housing, social service, and recovery resources.
- Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to maintain accurate and timely documentation.
- Ability to adapt to changing situations and respond appropriately to urgent needs.
- Commitment to person-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented services.
Position Qualifications – What Is Required to Perform the Role
- High School Diploma or GED.
- Current Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) certification is required.
- If hired through the CRSS/CPRS credential pathway, maintain that credential throughout employment; otherwise continue to meet the applicable peer qualification criteria.
- Willingness and ability to work with individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use-related crises.
- Must pass all required pre-employment background checks, including clearance by the DHS Background Check Unit.
- Valid driver's license and access to a properly licensed and insured automobile or the ability to independently arrange reliable transportation as required by the position.
- Ability and willingness to work in community-based settings, including hospitals, shelters, homes, and other locations.
- Must be available to work a 24/7 schedule, including days, evenings, overnight hours, weekends, holidays, and on-call assignments as required by the Crisis Response Program.
- Must be able to respond to crisis situations within the timeframe established by the program.