Certified Recovery Support Specialist (Peer Support) – CST

Summary:

Certified Recovery Support Specialist (Peer Support) CST Team Location: Chicago IL (Ravenswood) Employment Type: Full-time Reports To: Assistant Director-CST

Make Your Lived Experience CountHelp Others Recover

Envision Unlimited is hiring a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (Peer Support) to join our Community Support Team (CST) Team. This role is ideal for someone in mental health recovery who wants to support others using their lived experience.

As a Peer Support Specialist you will help adults with serious mental illness regain independence and stability by providing recovery-oriented support assisting in developing individualized treatment and crisis plans and connecting people to housing benefits and wellness resources.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

What Youll Do:

As a key member of our interdisciplinary CST team you will:

• Use your own recovery experience to support mentor and empower adults with serious mental illness as they work toward their goals.
• Provide person-centered strengths-based community support in real-world settings homes neighborhoods and beyond.
• Support clients in building skills for independent living accessing resources managing symptoms and regaining hope.
• Assist in crisis support safety planning and de-escalation interventions with compassion and empathy.
• Champion client choice self-advocacy and recovery at every step while maintaining accurate documentation and achieving productivity goals.

Why This Role Matters:

This is not just a job it is a calling. As a Peer Support Specialist you will directly impact outcomes by:

• Increasing engagement and reducing hospitalizations through early intervention.
• Helping clients transition from crisis to stability with dignity.
• Building community connection and self-reliance among people who often feel isolated or overwhelmed.

Bonus if you have:

• Previous experience with CST case management or crisis intervention.
• Comfort navigating technology (email Microsoft Word electronic health records).
• Familiarity with Medicaid billing and productivity standards (we will train you!).

POSITIONS SUPERVISED:

None

EDUCATION SKILLS and/or EXPERIENCE

What You Bring:

• Lived experience with mental health recovery and willingness to share that experience to support others.
• High School Diploma or GED required; must have or be in the process of obtaining the CRSS (Certified Recovery Support Specialist) credential.
• At least 1 year of experience in the behavioral health or social service field.
• Valid drivers license and reliable transportation.
• Strong communication organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Passion for advocacy recovery and peer mentorship.
• Must be able to pass a background check.

Benefits Include:

• Paid training and continuing education opportunities
• Health dental vision and life insurance
• Generous PTO and paid holidays
• Mileage reimbursement
• Supportive team environment that values your lived experience

Envision Unlimited provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws.