Deaf Team Community Support Specialist

Unclassified - Boston, MA

Full-time - Entry Level

Boston, MA

About the position

As a Community Support Specialist, you will play a vital role in the engagement, assessment, and treatment planning processes for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorders. This position involves working closely with a dedicated team to provide interventions that address the needs and goals of the persons served. You will deliver direct services in community and group living environments, focusing on areas such as housing, risk mitigation, transportation, skill-building, money management, medication administration, and other aspects based on the person-centered treatment plan. The services provided are grounded in Recovery principles, aiming to promote the overall health and well-being of the individuals you support. In this role, you will engage with individuals to partner with them in improving their health and wellness, achieving symptom stabilization, and developing or restoring skills impacted by mental illness. You will gather information about community agencies to assist in service provision and provide side-by-side support and coaching to help individuals socialize. Additionally, you will organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities, ensuring that the assigned interventions and action steps of the treatment plan are carried out effectively. This includes providing direct support and rehabilitation services to individuals, groups, and families in both office and community settings, in collaboration with professional staff. You will also coordinate collaborative care within teams, working alongside Housing Coordinators to assist individuals in finding safe and affordable housing, which may involve apartment hunting, roommate negotiations, and landlord interactions. Ensuring that individuals have adequate financial support and helping them access reliable transportation will also be key responsibilities in this role. You will participate in medication administration in accordance with MAP and DMH policies and protocols, ensuring that the individuals you support receive the necessary care and assistance.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the engagement, assessment, and treatment planning process.
• Provide direct services to individuals in community and group living environments.
• Address needs and goals of the persons served in areas such as housing, risk mitigation, and skill-building.
• Engage individuals to improve their health and wellness and achieve symptom stabilization.
• Gather information about community agencies to assist in service provision.
• Provide side-by-side support and coaching to help individuals socialize.
• Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities.
• Carry out assigned interventions and action steps of the treatment plan.
• Collaborate with Housing Coordinators to assist individuals in finding safe and affordable housing.
• Ensure individuals have adequate financial support and access to reliable transportation.
• Participate in medication administration per MAP and DMH policies.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required; Bachelor's Degree highly preferred.
• At least one year of 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 Driver's License required.
• Fluency in American Sign Language is required.

Benefits

• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• 403 (b) Retirement Plan with employer matching
• Voluntary Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Medical & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• 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