Community Support Specialist

Job Description Summary:  Delivers community support services to individuals impacted by a range of behavioral health issues, including substance use, trauma, and mental illness.  Utilizes trauma-informed and person-centered approaches to promote maximum levels of independence and autonomy for persons served.  Demonstrates effective time management and multitasking skills to independently manage assigned caseload.  Arranges work schedule to see clients regularly according to their individual needs.  Manages multiple, simultaneous deadlines to ensure that services are provided within established expectations.

Education: 

• An individual with a bachelor’s degree in a human services field which includes social work, psychology, nursing, education, criminal justice, recreational therapy, human development and family studies, counseling, child development, gerontology, sociology, human services, behavioral science, and rehabilitation counseling; or

• An individual with any four- (4-) year combination of higher education and qualifying experience; or

• An individual with any four- (4-) year degree and two (2) years of qualifying experience; or

• An individual with an Associate of Applied Science in Behavioral Health Support degree from an approved institution; or

• An individual with four (4) years of qualifying experience.

• *Qualifying experience must include delivery of services to individuals with mental illness, substance use disorders, or developmental disabilities.

Work Experiences:  

• Four years of qualifying experience may be substituted for a Bachelor’s degree in a social services-related field from an accredited college or university.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with clients to develop individualized person-centered plans and reviews/updates to guide ongoing treatment services.  Completes said plans and reviews/updates within established timelines and according to program requirements.

• Effectively monitors and assesses clients’ participation and progress in treatment according to and in adherence with individualized person-centered plans. 

• Provides treatment interventions which are medically necessary, ethical, and in adherence with clients’ individualized person-centered plans.

• Communicates all relevant clinical information with supervisor and other key clinical staff regarding clients’ critical care needs in a timely manner.  Documents client safety planning and hospitalization interventions per established guidelines.

• Ensures that all required documentation is completed within established timelines and according to quality standards set by state and federal regulations, CARF certification requirements, and program expectations.

• Meets or exceeds billing and productivity expectations as established by the Program Director.

• Supports coworkers and teammates in providing trauma-informed, person-centered services to clients.  Collaborates effectively with treatment team members to support clients in achieving their chosen recovery goals.

• Completes and submits all required/requested training and HR compliance documents timely.

• Ensures clients have applied, receive, and maintain medical insurance benefits as well receive available community resources based on client’s income eligibility.

• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements:

• Requires prolonged sitting, frequent standing, bending, squatting, kneeling, and reaching above shoulder level frequently, climbing and twisting occasionally

• Requires a typical range of hearing and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer keyboard, telephone, photocopier, calculator, and other office equipment as needed

• Requires repetitive use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulation

• Requires standing, sitting, or walking for up to 8 hours or longer per workday

• Requires regular use of a computer.

• Requires being able to get in/out of vehicle frequently due to community work.

• TB test upon hire.