Residential Recovery Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Residential Recovery Specialist

Reports to : Program Coordinator

Department: Residential

Classification: Non-Exempt; Union

Date Revised: July 22, 2026

Shift Type and Times: Per Diem 

Organization Overview:

Sound Community Services, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating, assisting, and supporting individuals with persistent mental illness and substance use disorders. We work tirelessly to create a culture and environment in which recovery and wellness are possible.

Position Overview :

The Residential Recovery Specialist provides direct support to residents with mental health and/or substance use needs. This position helps residents follow their treatment plans, build daily living skills, stay safe, and work toward more independent living.

Essential Functions:

• Provide daily, in-person oversight, support, and monitoring to residents in accordance with individualized treatment plans, program expectations, and supervisor direction.
• Follow agency medication procedures by assisting with or providing medication-related support within the employee’s authorized role, observing that medications are taken, documenting completion, and promptly reporting missed doses, refusals, errors, side effects, or other medication concerns.
• Observe, document, and report changes in resident behavior, mental status, functioning, safety, or environmental conditions to the case manager, Program Coordinator, or designee.
• Complete timely and accurate documentation in CareLogic or other agency-required systems, including daily notes, schedules, safety checks, incident reports, medication-related documentation, and other program records.
• Respond to resident crises, behavioral concerns, medical concerns, and safety issues by following approved program procedures and asking for help when needed.
• Assist residents in developing and maintaining daily living skills, including cooking, cleaning, shopping, transportation planning, budgeting, personal hygiene, and other skills that support independent living.
• Complete apartment checks and safety checks to assess resident well-being, cleanliness, maintenance concerns, environmental risks, and compliance with program expectations.
• Help lead life skills groups, such as budgeting, cooking, cleaning, transportation planning, personal hygiene, wellness routines, and other recovery support activities based on resident needs and program requirements.
• Provide transportation education and drive residents to and from appointments, scheduled activities, and other program-related locations as required by program needs.
• Share factual observations and updates with the treatment team to help support resident services, discharge planning, and continued care.
• Participate in and facilitate required safety drills, emergency procedures, and required notifications involving maintenance, environmental, medical, behavioral, or other safety-related concerns.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, privacy, agency confidentiality standards, mandated reporting obligations, and applicable program requirements when handling resident information.
• Maintain the cleanliness and general order of program office areas, staff bathroom, kitchen, and community rooms as assigned.
• Prepare or assist with meals for residents when required by program operations.
• Respond to Steady Care calls as scheduled or assigned.
• Perform other job-related duties consistent with the nature and classification of the position, as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with residents, coworkers, supervisors, treatment team members, and outside contacts.
• Ability to write clear and accurate notes about resident support, behavior, safety concerns, medication-related information, and services provided.
• Ability to use email, CareLogic, electronic records, scheduling tools, and other agency systems required for the job.
• Ability to support residents with cooking, cleaning, shopping, transportation planning, budgeting, hygiene, and other daily living skills.
• Ability to notice and promptly report changes in resident behavior, mental status, functioning, medication concerns, or safety concerns.
• Ability to treat residents with respect, protect confidentiality, and follow HIPAA, privacy, safety, and mandated reporting requirements.
• Ability to follow medication procedures, complete required documentation, and report medication concerns within the employee’s authorized role.
• Ability to remain calm, follow approved procedures, and ask for help during emergencies, crises, behavioral concerns, or other safety-related situations.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to travel throughout residential program settings, resident apartments, agency offices, community locations, and vehicles; climb stairs; sit; stand; walk; bend or balance as needed; use hands to handle documents, medication-related materials, cleaning supplies, phones, computers, and other work tools; and communicate effectively by phone, radio, electronic systems, and in person. Speaking and hearing ability must be sufficient to communicate with residents, staff, emergency responders, and other contacts in routine and urgent situations. Vision must be sufficient to read correspondence, computer screens, forms, medication-related materials, resident records, and safety-related information. The employee must be able to lift, carry, or move items up to 25 pounds when performing program tasks such as transporting supplies, supporting apartment checks, assisting with meals, or responding to environmental needs.   The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• One (1) year of behavioral health, mental health, substance use, residential support, case management support, or other human services experience preferred.
• Relevant experience may include providing direct support, monitoring, skills coaching, or related services to individuals with mental health and/or substance use needs. Personal custodial care experience alone may not satisfy this preferred qualification unless it included relevant behavioral health, human services, or recovery support responsibilities.
• Associate degree or higher in human services, psychology, social services, behavioral health, or a related field preferred.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing at a level necessary to document services, report concerns, participate in treatment team communication, and follow program requirements.
• Ability to use a computer to send and receive email, enter data into agency systems, and complete basic job-related electronic documentation.
• Current valid driver’s license required as a condition of employment.
• Ability to maintain an acceptable driving record and safely transport residents as required by program needs.
• CPR/First Aid certification required or must be obtained within the timeframe required by the agency.
• Ability to complete and maintain agency-required medication training, competency verification, and any required program-specific medication documentation training.
• Ability to complete and maintain agency-required crisis intervention, de-escalation, emergency response, and related safety training within the timeframe required by the agency.
• Successful completion of required criminal background checks, registry checks, and other agency, licensing, or funder-required screenings.
• Ability to work assigned shifts and meet program scheduling requirements, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnight shifts only when assigned to an overnight position or otherwise required by the accepted position.

Work Environment

Work is performed in residential program settings, resident apartments, agency offices, community locations, and agency vehicles as assigned. The position may involve exposure to individuals experiencing psychiatric symptoms, substance use-related concerns, crisis situations, household cleaning products, bodily fluids, and other environmental conditions typical of a residential behavioral health setting. The employee is expected to follow approved safety, infection control, emergency response, and crisis procedures and to seek supervisory or emergency assistance when needed.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religious creed, age, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, marital status, civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, present or past history of mental disability, intellectual disability, learning disability, physical disability, including but not limited to blindness, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault, status as a victim of trafficking in persons, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Other Duties

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employees may be required to perform other job-related duties as assigned.

COMPETITIVE BENEFITS PACKAGE!

• Generous PTO package for Full-Time employees includes:
  • 13 paid federal holidays annually
  • 5 paid personal/floating holidays annually
  • Sick time
  • Up to 20 Vacation days per year!!
• 401k available
• Company-paid Life Insurance
• Company-paid Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Opt-in benefits available: Pet Insurance, Employee/Spouse/Child Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Paid Training