Department of Administrative Services

The Recovery Support Specialist is a non-clinical role, which does not involve treatment, assessment or evaluation. The duties are centered around mutuality and sharing a common recovery perspective and language with the client. A Recovery Support Specialist is expected to act as an educator and advocate, promoting the program values of autonomy, diversity and empowerment, and as a knowledgeable broker who is able to link clients to community-based supports and other resources. Duties are not case management in nature. Care is taken to sustain the ability of Recovery Support Specialists to present an alternative view of traditional mental health services.

The class is used in the following ways:

1. Inpatient Settings (Connecticut Valley Hospital, Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center, Connecticut Mental Health Center, Capitol Region Mental Health Center/Inpatient Treatment Unit, and Southeast Mental Health Center/Brief Care Program): The primary role is to offer peer support to persons both prior and subsequent to discharge. The Recovery Support Specialist acts as a Peer Transition/Community connector for the client and is part of a centralized programmatic service providing consultation to treatment teams.

2. Community/Outpatient Settings: The primary role of the Recovery Support Specialist is to offer peer support to persons seeking successful community living serving as a member of a clinical support team in a non-clinical capacity.

Guides clients through the process of defining personal goals for clients' recovery plans using existing evidence based workbooks or person centered planning tools; supports and guides clients in following tasks outlined in recovery plan (i.e. pursuing goals related to employment, education, community involvement and the use of natural supports); guides clients in identifying and exercising their rights; participates in rehabilitative and recovery oriented interventions to meet clients’ needs and goals; provides information and support to clients and encourages their development of community networks and activities relating to community integration; provides instruction and skill training in recovery management to clients and families; acts as a peer health navigator to engage clients who have or are at risk for co-morbid medical conditions in wellness activities; supports clients to secure information about resources relevant to their wellness; supports clients in obtaining services that meet clients recovery needs; supports clients in dealing with internal and external stress; attends medical/clinical appointments with clients in a peer capacity; accompanies clients as peers on volunteer opportunities and activities; organizes and conducts workshops on topics related to recovery and wellness including New Employee Orientation at the local level; may coach adaptive client behaviors through verbal communication; observes and reports clients’ behavior; prepares and submits incident or other related forms; updates clients’ notes in the medical record as required; enters computerized data as required; may provide outreach and transportation; performs related duties as required.

Inpatient Settings: In addition to the duties listed above, the duties move from providing one-on-one peer support to teaching coping and community adjustment skills and linking the client with important community resources, and include the following:

• Accompanies clients off the unit and onto the hospital campus or community to practice entering unexpected situations and managing stress and disorientation.
• Accompanies clients on day passes to the community to acclimate the client to their new community.
• May provide coverage at Peer Desk Center to engage and offer peer support to the general hospital population.

After completion of six (6) months of successful and satisfactory performance as a Recovery Support Specialist Trainee, an incumbent will be moved to the Recovery Support Specialist classification, HN 14 Step 1 (On the first pay period following the completion of the six (6) month requirement).