Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) (FT, Days)

Job description

**We’re not just behavioral health people—we’re crisis people.** Connections Health Solutions is a leading provider of immediate-access behavioral health crisis care. Our team combines medical and recovery-oriented treatment to stabilize individuals in crisis and connect them to community-based resources for ongoing recovery. Founded by emergency room psychiatrists Dr. Chris Carson and Dr. Robert Williamson, our model is physician-led and data-driven, drawing upon more than 15 years of crisis care expertise. Recognized by SAMHSA and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing as a national best practice, we’ve delivered invaluable treatment to hundreds of thousands of individuals facing crises. Our commitment remains consistent, to improve access, inspire hope, and provide the right support. Our values shape our decisions, define our culture, and foster continuous learning and growth. We accept people as they are, creating safe spaces where they feel valued and respected. We inspire hope by walking with people side-by-side, showing them grace and compassion. We act with intention, holding ourselves and each other accountable, and doing the right thing. We work as one team, trusting and supporting each other. We embrace change and innovation, striving to find better ways to fulfill our mission. We are on a mission to change the face of behavioral health. Help us save lives and make a difference. **\*\*\*\*THIS POSITION REQUIRES a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) Certification\*\*\*\*** **Earn More with Shift Differentials** Maximize your earnings with additional hourly pay: - +$2/hr -> Monday-Thursday Nights - +$3/hr -> Friday-Sunday Nights - +$2/hr -> Saturday-Sunday Days **What You'll Do:** The **Recovery Support Specialist (RSS)** uses their personal experience with recovery to provide hope, encouragement, and meaningful support to individuals navigating behavioral health challenges. This role builds trusting relationships, helps individuals identify and achieve their recovery goals, and connects them with natural and community-based supports that promote long-term wellness and stability. Working as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team, the RSS brings a unique peer perspective to support individualized care and reinforces the belief that recovery is both possible and attainable. - **Peer Support and Recovery** - Uses lived experience and personal recovery to provide hope, encouragement, and authentic peer support to individuals throughout the treatment and recovery process. - Builds trusting, therapeutic relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and using appropriate self-disclosure to promote connection and recovery. - Supports individuals in identifying their strengths, preferences, goals, and personal definition of recovery, encouraging self-determination and active participation in their care. - Facilitates or co-facilitates individual and group recovery activities that promote wellness, coping skills, connection, and recovery-oriented goals. - Demonstrates respect for multiple pathways to recovery and supports individuals in identifying approaches and resources that align with their unique needs, preferences, and goals. - Support patients during post‑discharge transportation, offering engagement, encouragement, and guidance around their next steps in care. **Advocacy and Individual Support** - Serves as an advocate, support resource, and recovery-focused partner for individuals throughout their treatment journey. - Encourages individuals to actively participate in treatment planning, communicate their needs, and make informed decisions regarding their care and recovery. - Provides practical support and encouragement to help individuals navigate challenges, build confidence, and develop skills that support continued recovery and community integration. - Promotes a recovery-oriented environment by modeling hope, resilience, self-advocacy, and the belief that recovery is both possible and attainable. **Community Resources and Recovery Connections** - Demonstrates knowledge of community resources and supports individuals in identifying and accessing services that address their unique recovery, wellness, and social needs. - Helps individuals develop connections with natural supports, peer networks, community resources, and other services that promote stability and long-term recovery. - Provides education and encouragement related to available recovery resources, services, and community-based supports while respecting individual choice and self-determination. **Trauma-Informed Support and Crisis Prevention** - Uses trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and person-centered approaches to build therapeutic alliance, promote trust, and support emotional and behavioral stability. - Uses effective communication, active listening, empathy, and appropriate de-escalation strategies to support individuals experiencing distress or crisis. - Works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to promote alternatives to seclusion and restraint by identifying individual needs, recognizing triggers, and strengthening therapeutic relationships. - Supports a safe and respectful treatment environment while responding appropriately to changes in behavior, risk, or individual needs within the scope of training and role responsibilities. **Clinical and Interdisciplinary Collaboration** - Works cohesively with nurses, providers, clinicians, behavioral health staff, and other members of the multidisciplinary team throughout all aspects of an individual’s treatment and recovery. - Shares relevant observations, individual perspectives, and recovery-focused insights with the treatment team while maintaining confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries. - Participates in treatment and recovery planning and supports implementation of individualized goals, interventions, and discharge plans as directed by the treatment team. - Promotes continuity of care by helping individuals understand their recovery plans and connecting them with appropriate supports and resources. **Documentation and Communication** - Accurately and timely documents individual encounters, interventions, observations, and relevant recovery-support activities in the electronic health record in accordance with organizational standards. - Communicates significant changes, concerns, or barriers to recovery to appropriate members of the interdisciplinary team in a timely manner. - Maintains accurate, timely, and professional documentation while protecting individual privacy and confidentiality. **Professionalism and Role Development** - Demonstrates professionalism, reliability, self-awareness, and a commitment to person-centered, recovery-oriented care. - Maintains appropriate boundaries and recognizes the distinction between personal recovery experience and the professional responsibilities of the RSS role. - Participates in required training, supervision, team meetings, and ongoing professional development to strengthen peer support and recovery-focused practice.**Performs other duties as assigned.** **What You'll Bring:** - High School Diploma or equivalent - Must possess a current Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) or Certified Peer Support Specialist-Trainee (CPSS-T) certification. For eligible CPSS-T candidates, Connections Health Solutions will provide the required supervision hours and support necessary to obtain full CPSS certification - Registered with Washington State Care Authority - Individuals with lived experience in behavioral health recovery **or** the parent or guardian of a child with lived experience with behavioral health services ***and*** 18 years or older ***and*** in behavioral health recovery for a least one (1) year - Work with individuals who may exhibit agitation, aggression, or unpredictable behavior - **The Company has a mandatory vaccination policy. All successful applicants must be fully vaccinated, including showing proper documentation, or otherwise be exempt pursuant to the Company’s exemption process prior to their start date as a condition of employment** - **Complete all credentialing requirements within the required time period, including but not limited to obtaining a National Provider Identifier (NPI), Medallion enrollment, Medicare enrollment, and any other necessary credentials as required for the role** - **Must be able to obtain a Food Handlers Card for the State of Washington (BHS/RSS positions)** - ****Physical Requirements**** - Lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 lbs. occasionally - Tolerate prolonged walking, standing, and observation in a fast-paced environment - Work with individuals who may exhibit agitation, aggression, or unpredictable behavior It would be great if you had: - Three years or more of personal recovery desired. - Behavioral Health/Substance Use Treatment or GMH Recovery experience. - Completion of Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) CPC 40-hour training and exam - Completion of specialized peer certifications (WHAM, ASIST, etc.) - Knowledge of evidence-based/person-centered skillsets, such as Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care, Verbal De-escalation, Harm Reduction, and Person-centered language - Valid Driver's license with a clean driving record What We Offer: Full-time only: - Employees (and their families) are offered comprehensive health insurance, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity - CHS pays for Basic Life, AD&D, Short and Long-Term Disability - Voluntary Life insurance option for employees and their families - Health Savings Accounts (with $1,000 to $2,000 employer contribution depending on pl