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This position has closed. Northwestern Medicine removed this listing from their careers page on Sep 25, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Recovery Support Specialist-Mobile Crisis Response

Northwestern Medicine · DeKalb, IL · Part time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 22, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about the lived experience you would bring to this work.

What they are checking: The posting says specialists should be able to articulate their personal experience in recovery.

Being on site within thirty minutes of a call. What does that mean for where you live and how you plan an evening?

What they are checking: The posting states the thirty-minute response requirement.

Eight in the evening to half past eight, at least eight shifts a month including weekends and holidays, at $17.05 an hour on call. Does that work for you?

What they are checking: The posting states the hours, the minimum and the rate plainly.

What do you do after a call that stays with you?

What they are checking: Peer crisis work touches the specialist's own history and having a way to carry it matters.

What would you do

How do you create a safe space for someone to process a crisis?

What they are checking: The posting names creating a safe space for consumers to calmly process crisis events.

How much of your own story do you share, and how do you decide?

What they are checking: The defining judgment in peer support and both extremes do harm.

You arrive with the team at a home in the middle of the night. What are you doing first?

What they are checking: The posting names community-based dispatch to de-escalate crises on site.

How do you teach someone a wellness strategy in the middle of a crisis?

What they are checking: The posting names helping consumers learn and apply wellness strategies.

Someone does not want your help. How do you handle that?

What they are checking: Crisis response often arrives unwanted and respecting that is the work.

How do you keep yourself safe on a call?

What they are checking: Mobile crisis work happens in unpredictable places and nobody asks this enough.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Northwestern Medicine from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

Mobile Crisis Response Team Community-based services that dispatch mental health professionals to safely de-escalate behavioral health crises on-site. They provide immediate evaluations, safety planning, and crisis stabilization as a trauma-informed alternative to law enforcement or emergency room visits. Location: DeKalb, IL Recovery Support Specialist openings and opportunities: • On-Call • 8:00 PM-8:30 AM (minimum of 8 shifts per month, including weekends and holidays) • Must be on-site within 30-minutes of being called in. • Pay rate for on-call shifts is $17.05/hr. Please apply if you are interested in any of these positions. *Recovery Support Specialists should be able to articulate their personal experience in recovery when working with patients who are experiencing mental health and/or drug/alcohol issues as it relates to providing peer support services to these patient populations. *High School Diploma or equivalent is required. *CRSS is preferred. The Recovery Sup port Specialist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. Uses personal and training experience to create a safe space for consumers to calmly process crisis events, learn and apply wellness strategies, and prevent future crisis events. As a member of a multidisciplinary team, the Peer Recovery specialist operates from the Crisis Now concept and focuses on practices including recovery orientation, trauma-informed care, and a philosophy that crises are an opportunity for learning. All services are designed to proactively divert crises and break the cycle of hospitalizations. Responsibilities: • Serve as an individual advocate for consumers. • Utilize training and personal recovery experiences to provide peer support for consumers. • Provide recovery information and activities to all consumers; information, resources and connection to natural supports; and must follow principles of trauma informed care. • Assess and evaluate consumer’s needs, strengths, goals, and resources. • As directed, transports consumers to and from home, appointments, meetings, and/or school. • Advocate within systems to promote person centered recovery support services. Work with an interdisciplinary team in reviewing cases and developing individual plans. • Implement individual service plans through rehabilitation services such as case management, advocacy, outreach, skills training groups (i.e. WRAP), social rehabilitation, and community support as indicated. • Provide linkage case management, participate in treatment planning and discharge planning. • Consult with other staff regarding assessment and treatment/intervention planning. Consults with licensed hospital professionals regarding clinical situations and maintains close communication with supervisor. • Consult with other service agencies around case-specific and programmatic issues. • Refer and link consumers to other human service programs and care providers as indicated. • Serve as a liaison to other community agencies as needed. • Build relationships with local police, fire, emergency departments, and other organizations to promote awareness of Living Room services. • Provide on-site support and introduction to services to patients within the hospital and outpatient settings (e.g. Emergency Department, Medical Floors, etc.). • Train other providers and non-providers in areas related to service specialties. • Document service provision as required by NM standards. • Maintain clinical and management records in accordance with established policies and procedures. • Demonstrate ability to meet the productivity requirements set in accordance with program goals. • Attend required staff and other meetings • Other duties as assigned. Required • High School Diploma or equivalent • Recovery Support Specialists should be able to articulate their personal experience in recovery when working with patients who are experiencing mental health and/or drug/alcohol issues as it relates to providing peer support services to these patient populations. • Valid Driver's License. • Proof of auto insurance • Annual Driving Abstract • Upon completion of 2,000 supervised work hours, the Recovery Support Specialist is required to obtain their Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) credential. Preferred • Bachelor’s degree or higher in behavioral health related field • One year experience working with individuals suffering from severe mental illness and/or drug and alcohol issues. • Experience with Medicaid Rule 132/140 • Knowledge and understanding of SUPR 2060 • Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) • Wellness Recovery Action Planning classes (WRAP) • Certified WRAP facilitator All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more. Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.