Community Support Specialist

About the position

The Community Support Specialist provides integrated, holistic, community-based support services. This role is crucial in delivering quality and compassionate care to the communities served, especially in light of the critical service needs. The position offers a competitive compensation rate and sign-on bonuses for qualified candidates.

Responsibilities

• Using a motivational, stage-matched approach, provide individualized and group education services based upon 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, with attention to each domain 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 as items are achieved, or as the client's goals change.
• 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., with focus on movement toward independent completion of these tasks, or referral to long-term supports.
• Assist clients with developing personal support systems, including, but not limited to, work with family members, legal guardians, recovery communities, etc.
• Provide individual assistance to clients in accessing needed services including accompanying clients to appointments to address medical or other health needs.
• 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 in order 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, including psychiatrists, primary care physicians, specialists (CPRC, Peer(s), ITCD, CSTAR, DBT, etc), nurses, dentists, NCMs, etc. regarding all areas of client wellness, including client's adherence to medications, side effects, and efficacy of medications.
• 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, but not limited to 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.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School/GED required.
• Associate's/Bachelor's/Master's degree in a human service-related field preferred.
• 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

• Experience in community-based support services.
• Knowledge of the Eight Dimensions of Wellness.
• Familiarity with public services and resources.

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.