Community Support Specialist

A Community Support Specialist helps individuals adapt to living in their communities by creating personalized plans that address their specific needs. They use evidence-based techniques and collaborate with other professionals to provide comprehensive mental health services. Their goal is to empower clients and their families to build strong foundations for long-term wellbeing and independence. By connecting them with local resources and fostering a robust support network, they promote growth, stability, and resilience.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide community-based mental health services to children, adolescents, and/or adults including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and intervention implementation.
  
• Collaborate with clients, families, and other stakeholders to develop and implement individualized treatment plans that address the client's specific needs and goals.
  
• Utilize a strengths-based approach that emphasizes empowerment, skill-building, and resilience, incorporating evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing, Positive Reinforcement Techniques, Trauma-Informed Strategies, and skills based in CBT and DBT approaches.
  
• Provide behavioral interventions, including motivational interviewing, operant conditioning, interpersonal and group dynamics, cognitive processing, and other evidence-based interventions.
  
• Coordinate care with other service providers, including primary care physicians, psychiatrists, schools, and community organizations.
  
• Maintain accurate and timely records of client interactions, treatments, and progress, in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
  
• Participate in staff development activities, including training and education programs, to enhance knowledge and skills related to youth mental health services.
  
• Contribute to the organization's quality improvement initiatives, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
  
• Work collaboratively with other members of the team, including case managers, therapists, and support staff, to ensure effective coordination of care and support for clients.
  
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including parents, teachers, counselors, and other professionals involved in the client's care.
  
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor or as deemed necessary by the department.
  
• Preparing for and facilitating PSR group sessions as pertinent to client treatment plan goals.
  

• ACT/ACT TAY/IMPART Only: Knowledge of the basic elements of ACT, the theory behind the ACT model, the core processes that ACT teams follow, and the types of services that ACT team members provide.
  

• Knowledge of case management and rehabilitation methods, principles and techniques as they relate to mental health and/or substance use disorders.
  
• Knowledge of the problems encountered by persons with mental health and/or substance use disorders and how to access the various community resources available.
  
• Knowledge of the methods and modalities as well as the legal requirements and court procedures related to treating mental health and substance use disorders.
  
• Ability to problem solve and communicate ideas clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing to produce clear and concise reports.
  
• Ability to be self-motivated to provide high-level performance while meeting the complex needs of the clients and their families.
  
• Ability to multi-task and coordinate services from a variety of community resources, while maintaining proper communications with all staff (e. g. admissions, process, and discharge plans).
  
• Ability to establish effective relationships with youth and their families via telephone and personal contacts.
  
• Ability to follow direction and accept supervision.
  

• An individual with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or other human services specialized field of study; or
  
• An individual with a Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field and two years of related work experience; or
  
• Any four-year combination of higher education and two years of related work experience, or
  
• An Associate's of Applied Science in Behavioral Health Support will also fulfill educational requirements; or
  
• An individual with four years of qualifying experience*.
  

• Providing one-on-one or group services with a rehabilitation/habilitation and recovery/resiliency focus;
  
• Teaching and modeling for individuals how to cope and manage psychiatric, developmental, or substance use disorder issues while encouraging the use of natural resources;
  
• Supporting individuals in their efforts to find and maintain employment and/or to function appropriately in family, school, and community settings;
  
• Assisting individuals to achieve the goals and objectives in their individual treatment plan.
  

• Successful completion of background check including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect and fingerprint check.
  
• Completion of New Hire Orientation at the beginning of employment.
  
• All training requirements including Relias at the beginning of employment and annually thereafter.
  
• Current driver's license, acceptable driving record and current auto insurance.
  
• Obtain trainings to assist in professional development meeting DMH Standards.
  
• Extensive knowledge of the policies, procedures, and regulations of the program to which the employee is assigned.
  
• Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age to operate a company-owned vehicle.
  
• Must be at least twenty-three (23) years of age to operate a company-owned fifteen (15) passenger van.
  
• Must have reliable means of transportation in order to transport clients in personal vehicle.