Community Support Specialist

Unclassified - Canton, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Canton, IL

About the position

The Community Support Specialist at North Central Behavioral Health System plays a crucial role in providing individual and group services to adults and youth. This position involves case management interventions that are delivered in various settings, including the office, home, and community. The specialist acts as a liaison between inpatient hospitalizations, emergency rooms, and nursing homes to ensure effective discharge planning and follow-up care. This role is essential in advocating for individuals to secure necessary resources, housing, and healthcare services, thereby promoting their overall well-being. In addition to case management, the Community Support Specialist is responsible for facilitating person-centered counseling sessions, both individually and in groups. The specialist employs evidence-based curricula to teach essential skills related to symptom management, recovery, interpersonal relationships, daily living, problem-solving, healthy living, social connectedness, medication management, and effective communication. This educational component is vital for empowering clients to manage their mental and physical health issues effectively. The position also requires active participation in agency meetings, training sessions, and supervision, ensuring that the specialist remains informed and engaged with the latest practices in mental health care. Documentation of services provided is a critical aspect of the role, as is the ability to provide crisis intervention when necessary, particularly on a rotating call basis. Overall, the Community Support Specialist is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals facing mental health challenges through comprehensive support and advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Works as a liaison between inpatient hospitalizations, emergency rooms, and nursing homes to plan for discharge and follow-up care.
• Provides person-centered case management and individual and group counseling.
• Advocates on behalf of individuals to obtain needed resources, housing, and healthcare.
• Facilitates interventions that focus on learning skills and ways to manage mental health and physical health issues.
• Teaches skills using evidence-based curriculum about symptom management, recovery, interpersonal relationships, daily living, problem-solving, healthy living, social connectedness, medication management, and communication.
• Provides appropriate linkage and referral and assistance with entitlements.
• Actively participates in agency meetings, trainings, and supervision.
• Completes documentation of services provided.
• Provides crisis intervention as necessary on a rotating call basis.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in social service field or a related field with two years of experience in Mental Health, or an Associate of Arts Degree in a related field with five years of Mental Health experience.
• Valid driver's license, insurance, and vehicle.

Nice-to-haves

• 1-2 years of work experience in the mental health field.

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Competitive salary with potential for annual increases
• Full-time benefit package including Health, Dental, Vision Insurance, LTD, 401K, PTO, Holidays
• Additional pay for after hours on call and call out pay