Family support specialist Jobs in Chicago, IL

Benefits :

401(k)

Competitive salary

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Opportunity for advancement

Vision insurance

The Peer Support Worker is responsible for providing guidance to individuals and families within the community. The PSW will serve as a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator to individuals and families that have experienced a history of trauma, violence, and mental health issues. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of how to engage with as well as experience working individuals living with mental / behavioral health conditions. They will be responsible for assisting clients in the justice system via social outreach. The success of this role comes from the space of being compassionate, non-judgmental, having a sense of acceptance, and creating a genuine connection with the clients in which Self Theory serves.

Responsibilities :

• Provide on and off-site, telephone support, and mobile crises intervention services to clients and families that are experiencing mental and behavioral health issues.
• Advocate for family members and clients as they look for ways to navigate through the journey of their family member.
• Lived experience with recovery, incarceration, violence, and substance abuse disorders.
• Speak and give real life situations as they relate to what the clint and the family may be experiencing
• Collaborate with Clinical Director, Case Manager, and other mental health professionals on additional services offered, referrals to other agencies, and the arrays of de-escalation techniques
• Maintain and Record notes as related to the client and their progress
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Clinical Director
• Educate clients and families on the development of peer-to-peer relationships.
• Engage in outreach programs, referral response, and comforting hand-offs concerning individuals released from detention centers, jails, prison, or may have a history of convictions.
• Able to be on-call 24 hours during given rotation periods (Mobile Crisis Intervention Team)
• Refer and follow up with Re-entry coach to assess the needs of the client
• Assist Clients in increasing social support networks of relatives, friends, and / or significant others.

Decision Making / Skills

• Able to demonstrate the ability to serve underserved communities, underrepresented and vulnerable populations, including social, gender based,  racial, and ethnic minorities living with mental illness, or a history of violence.
• Able to exhibit compassion, sensitivity, and empathy in regard to human rights, human service, and display a non-judgmental attitude towards all individuals involved.
• Ability to use skills, trainings, and an innovative approach when it comes to programming, treatment plans, and development of support when servicing clients at Self Theory
• Excellent verbal and written skills as note taking a necessity. The ability to communicate effectively and think with an open mind to aid clients and work in a team setting.
• Basic computer and dats entry skills

Qualifications :

• High School Diploma, GED, or high school equivalency diploma
• Minimum of 1 year experience coaching and counseling individuals who have been either incarcerated, have a history of substance abuse, and or violent crimes
• Experience in social work, mental health, criminal justice, or a related field
• Firsthand / lived experience
• Certification as a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) is a plus
• Bilingual is a plus