Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) (FT, Days)

What You'll Do:

• 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 plan)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (health care and dependent care)
• 401k company match after 6 months (50% of deferrals up to 6% of compensation)
• Generous PTO starting at 160 hours accrued annually and 12 recognized company holidays
• Company‑paid parental leave available to eligible employees

All employees (Pool, Part-time and Full-time):

• Employee Assistance Program to help with confidential emotional support, work life solutions, financial solutions, legal assistance, or online support
• After 90 days, you are auto enrolled in the 401k Plan

Connections Health Solutions is proud to be a Second Chance Employer.