Community Support Specialist

NORTH SUFFOLK COMMUNITY SERVICES INC - Boston, MA

Full-time - Entry Level

Boston, MA

About the position

North Suffolk is looking for Outreach Specialists to join our team! As an Outreach Specialist - Community Support Specialist, you will participate in the engagement, assessment, and treatment planning process for persons served. You will work with a dedicated team of staff to address the needs and goals of the persons served in both community and group living environments. The team provides person-centered interventions and treatment plans in the areas of housing, risk mitigation, transportation, skill-building, money management, and medication administration to support persons served to live a self-directed life. In this role, you will engage people and partner with them to improve their health and wellness, achieve symptom stabilization and self-management, and develop and/or restore skills impacted by mental illness. You will gather information about community agencies to assist in the provision of services and provide side-by-side support and coaching to help people socialize. Additionally, you will organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities, carry out the assigned interventions and action steps of the treatment plan, and provide direct support and rehabilitation services to people on an individual, group, and family basis (in conjunction with professional staff) in the office and in community settings. Collaboration with Housing Coordinators will be essential to help each person find a safe and affordable place to live, which includes apartment hunting, finding a roommate, landlord negotiations, cleaning, furnishing, and decorating. You will also participate in medication administration per MAP and DMH policies and protocol.

Responsibilities

• Engage people and partner with them to improve their health and wellness.
• Achieve symptom stabilization and self-management for persons served.
• Develop and/or restore skills impacted by mental illness.
• Gather information about community agencies to assist in the provision of services.
• Provide side-by-side support and coaching to help people socialize.
• Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities.
• Carry out the assigned interventions and action steps of the treatment plan.
• Provide direct support and rehabilitation services to people on an individual, group, and family basis.
• Collaborate with Housing Coordinators to help each person find safe and affordable housing.
• Participate in medication administration per MAP and DMH policies and protocol.

Requirements

• High School Diploma/GED equivalent required.
• Bachelor's Degree highly preferred.
• At least one year experience with a population that has severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorder in lieu of a college degree.
• Must be MAP and CPR/First Aid certified within five months of hire (training provided).
• Massachusetts Drivers License required.

Nice-to-haves

• Bilingual Spanish and American Sign Language skills desired but not required.

Benefits

• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Health insurance with generous employer contribution.
• Dental insurance.
• Life insurance coverage.
• Disability insurance (short and long term).
• Flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
• Paid Time Off - Two weeks' vacation per year (three weeks after 2 years of service), 12 sick days per year, and 11 paid holidays per year.
• Access to Credit Union Banking.
• Access to State Tuition Remission Program (Worksite Specific).
• Employee Referral Bonus Program.
• Discounted Movie Tickets.
• Comprehensive Training Program.
• Internal Advancement Opportunities.