Community Support Specialist

About the position

The Community Support Specialist provides integrated, holistic, community-based support services. This is a Full-time, benefit eligible position. Due to critical service need of the communities we serve, we are offering a $1500 sign-on bonus, with an additional $500 sign-on bonus for Qualified Mental Health Professionals. We are eager to continue to provide quality and compassionate care in our service areas and need you to make this happen!

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized and group education services based on strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences identified collaboratively with client/family, focused on supporting client's movement toward recovery/resiliency goals.
• Assist client in identifying strengths, needs, abilities, & preferences regarding substance abuse/mental illness and participate in development of Wellness Plan.
• Provide services from a holistic perspective, incorporating coaching surrounding the Eight Dimensions of Wellness.
• Support client in completion of goals identified on Wellness Plans, reviewing the WP with client as required and as needed for updating of goals and objectives.
• Aid in accessing public services, including financial, housing, emergency assistance, food, etc.
• Maintain contact with clients who are hospitalized, participating in discharge planning and communicating with all involved providers in developing aftercare plans.
• Provide education and skill-building in areas such as daily living skills, employment/education, symptom management, communication/relationships, budgeting, maintaining a residence, etc.
• Assist clients with developing personal support systems, including work with family members, legal guardians, recovery communities, etc.
• Provide individual assistance to clients in accessing needed services including accompanying clients to appointments.
• Follow up with clients regarding appointments, completion of forms, returning forms or receipts and other similar activities.
• Contact consumers who have unexcused absences from the CSTAR program to re-engage them and promote recovery efforts.
• Meet service provision expectations per client needs and company guidelines.
• Complete documentation and paperwork within the required timeframe.
• Communicate actively with other members of the integrated team regarding all areas of client wellness.
• Seek and include input from Integrated Health Team providers on client's Wellness Plan.
• Work with clients to determine services needed and provide hand-offs to those services.
• Make referrals to additional services/providers as needed for client's Integrated Health Team.
• Function as liaison to others involved in client's treatment, including family, employers, schools, probation/parole, courts, etc.
• Seek culturally competent services and service providers to meet the unique cultural needs of each agency client and family members.
• Assist client with transportation as clinically indicated; Driving is an essential function of this position.

Requirements

• High School/GED required.
• At least four (4) years of experience OR a combination of higher education and experience required if a High School/GED is the highest education obtained.
• At least two (2) years of experience OR a combination of higher education and experience required if an Associate's degree is the highest education obtained.
• At least one (1) year of experience required if a non-human service Bachelor's degree is the highest education obtained.
• All experience must include working with individuals with psychiatric, substance use, and/or developmental disabilities.
• A valid driver's license and agency established minimum automobile coverage required.

Nice-to-haves

• Associate's/Bachelor's/Master's degree in a human service-related field preferred.
• If the degree is an Associate's of Applied Science in Behavioral Health Support from an approved institution; then no additional experience is required.

Benefits

• Advancement opportunities
• Professional development
• Licensure supervision
• Mentor opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement
• Scholarship program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Headspace Access
• Paid time off & Paid Holidays
• NHSC Loan Repayment Participant