Intern - Recovery Support Specialist

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The internship is a temporary, unpaid educational non-employee role. Recovery Centers of America (RCA) and the intern understand there is no expectation of wages or other compensation. The temporary nature of the internship is limited to the period reasonably necessary to achieve the identified learning objectives ideally corresponding with an academic term or approved internship period. Participation in or completion of the internship does not guarantee or create an entitlement to employment with RCA.

Under the guidance and close supervision of the RSS Supervisor and designated RSS staff, this temporary educational internship provides the intern with an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the role of Recovery Support Services (RSS) within a behavioral health and recovery setting.

The internship is designed as a structured learning experience focused on observation, professional development, exposure to clinical and operational practices, and development of transferable skills. The intern will observe RSS staff and participate in educational activities designed to help the intern understand the responsibilities, communication strategies, safety practices, documentation processes, and recovery-support principles associated with the RSS role.

The intern's activities are intended to complement, and not replace or displace, the work of paid RSS employees. The intern will not be assigned independent responsibility for patient care, patient supervision, security functions, clinical decision-making, documentation required for patient care, transportation, or other essential functions of an RSS position.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Through observation, discussion, guided activities, and reflective learning, the intern may develop an understanding of the following areas:

1. Recovery Support Services

• Observe RSS staff to gain an understanding of the role and scope of Recovery Support Services within a behavioral health and recovery environment.

• Discuss the responsibilities, professional boundaries, and ethical considerations associated with working with individuals receiving treatment and recovery services.

• Observe how RSS staff communicate with patients, families, visitors, and members of the interdisciplinary team.

• Participate in discussions regarding professional communication, conflict resolution, confidentiality, and maintaining appropriate boundaries.

1. Patient Safety and Therapeutic Environment

• Observe established safety practices and procedures used within the treatment environment.

• Learn how RSS staff maintain a safe, supportive, and respectful environment for patients.

• Observe examples of therapeutic communication and discuss how communication techniques may support individuals experiencing stress, frustration, or emotional distress.

• Observe, when appropriate and permitted, how trained staff respond to situations involving heightened emotions or potential escalation.

• Participate in educational debriefings regarding de-escalation principles, communication strategies, and the importance of maintaining personal and patient safety.

1. Daily Operations and Patient Activities

• Observe how RSS staff support the daily structure and activities of the treatment environment.

• Gain an understanding of how schedules, routines, recreational activities, wellness programming, and other patient activities are coordinated.

• Observe the interaction between RSS functions and the broader interdisciplinary treatment team.

• Discuss how structure, consistency, and engagement may contribute to a patient's treatment and recovery experience.

1. Documentation and Information Systems

• Observe, under supervision, the types of documentation used by RSS staff and discuss the purpose of accurate and timely documentation.

• Learn about the importance of objective, professional, and factual documentation in a behavioral health setting.

• Receive educational exposure to applicable electronic systems and technology used within the organization.

• Discuss confidentiality, privacy, appropriate access to information, and professional responsibilities related to electronic records.

The intern will not independently complete patient-care documentation or documentation that is required to be completed by an employee as part of the employee's assigned duties.

1. Admissions, Orientation, and Visitation Processes

• Observe the admission and orientation process to develop an understanding of how patients are welcomed into the treatment environment.

• Observe how staff communicate expectations, schedules, safety procedures, and available resources to new patients.

• Observe visitation procedures and discuss the operational and interpersonal considerations involved in maintaining a safe and supportive visitation environment.

• Learn about the purpose of belongings-management procedures and the importance of maintaining patient dignity, safety, and confidentiality.

The intern will observe these processes under supervision and will not independently perform searches, belongings processing, admissions functions, visitation screening, or other duties assigned to paid RSS staff.

1. Recovery and 12-Step Education

• Participate in educational discussions regarding recovery-oriented practices and the principles of 12-Step programs.

• Explore how recovery principles may be incorporated into a patient's overall treatment and recovery experience.

• Observe how RSS staff support patients in understanding and engaging with recovery-oriented resources.

• Discuss the distinction between peer/recovery support, clinical treatment, and other professional roles within a behavioral health setting.

1. Clinical and Educational Programming

• Observe selected educational and recovery-oriented programming facilitated by qualified staff.

• Learn how educational materials and recovery concepts are presented to patients.

• Participate in reflective discussions regarding communication techniques, group engagement, and effective presentation methods.

• When appropriate, develop or practice educational materials or presentation skills in a simulated or instructional setting under supervision.

The intern will not independently facilitate clinical programming, provide clinical instruction, or enter clinical documentation on behalf of patients.

1. Professional Development

• Develop professional communication and interpersonal skills through observation, guided discussion, and feedback.

• Learn about the roles and responsibilities of members of an interdisciplinary behavioral health team.

• Observe how staff manage competing priorities and communicate within a professional healthcare environment.

• Participate in periodic learning discussions with the internship supervisor to review observations, questions, and professional development goals.

• Maintain a reflective learning journal or other educational record, as appropriate, documenting lessons learned and professional development experiences.

SUPERVISION AND LEARNING STRUCTURE

The intern will receive ongoing supervision and educational guidance from the RSS Supervisor or designated staff member.

The internship may include:

• Structured orientation to the organization and RSS function.

• Shadowing and observation of RSS staff.

• Scheduled educational discussions and debriefings.

• Exposure to interdisciplinary roles and workplace processes.

• Guided observation of patient interactions and recovery-support practices.

• Simulated or practice-based learning activities when appropriate.

• Opportunities to ask questions and receive constructive feedback.

• Periodic review of learning objectives and progress.

The intern's schedule and activities will be structured to prioritize educational benefit and will be adjusted as appropriate to the intern's academic program, learning objectives, and level of experience.

SKILLS AND EDUCATION:

• Attending college/university in pursuit of a bachelor’s or higher-level degree in business, marketing clinical, or other professional area of expertise. The internship is connected to such educational endeavor with regard to course requirements, academic credit or documented educational objections where applicable.

• Some experience in administration and communications preferred with a track record of excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills, acquired through other internships and/or part-time positions.

• Willingness to learn, receive feedback, maintain confidentiality, and participate in supervised educational activities.

• Highly organized, detail-oriented, follows deadlines, juggles multiple tasks, takes initiative.

• Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.

• Proficiency using Microsoft Office.

• Experience in various database programs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: May work in a variety of environments including professional offices, clinics, hospitals, or out-patient facilities. The intern will spend much of their time on their feet and may observe staff and participate in supervised educational experiences in patient-care environments but will not independently provide patient care or perform employee responsibilities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this position, the intern is regularly required to talk or hear. The intern frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The (intern is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The intern must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus.

TRAVEL: Travel is primarily local during the business day.

A former patient may not be hired at the same location where they were treated until a minimum of one year has elapsed since the completion of their treatment at that location. Former patients may be considered for employment at other RCA locations within a year after treatment. This consideration will be subject to the standard hiring process and must not compromise ethical standards, patient care, or the reputation of RCA.