Community Support Specialist

Community Connections; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 40,670 - 59,700; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare service organization in Washington is seeking a Community Support Professional to provide rehabilitative services for consumers with mental health needs. You will develop therapeutic relationships and coordinate treatment plans while engaging in direct support activities in the community. Candidates must have a passion for helping vulnerable populations and an understanding of mental health challenges. This role requires hands-on engagement and a commitment to consumer rights and recovery.

Responsibilities

• Develop therapeutic relationships with consumers.
• Participate in the assessment of consumer functions.
• Implement treatment plans addressing various consumer needs.
• Support consumers' independent living skills and community coping.
• Provide crisis support and make referrals to community resources.
• Spend at least 62.5% of time in direct consumer contact.
• Coordinate care to achieve treatment plan goals.

Job description

SALARY: $40,670-$59,700 (Salary based on experience)

POSITION SUMMARY

Community Support is a core service at Community Connections. In teams of 6-12 staff we provide medically necessary services to vulnerable, mentally ill consumers who need support with rehabilitation and recovery. The heart of these services is a rehabilitative therapeutic relationship with each consumer. Our goal is to understand the full person, with all their strengths, resources, and challenges. Mental Health is our central focus, but we fully understand that circumstances of housing, addiction, physical health, financial resources, and supportive relationships influence mental health both positively and negatively. The understanding that we develop in collaboration with our consumers supports action steps that are detailed in the treatment plan. We chose action steps that are most likely to promote positive outcomes and to be respectful of consumer rights and responsibilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop a rehabilitative therapeutic relationship with each consumer.
• Participate in the assessment of consumer function and consumer goals per training provided.
• Participate in the development and implementation of the consumer’s treatment plan (ISP) which effectively addresses (as needed) co-occurring problems of mental illness, substance misuse, violent victimization, chronic medical illness, involvement in the criminal justice system and homelessness.
• Support each consumer’s interpersonal and community coping skills that enhance functioning and adaptation in home, school, and work environments.
• Support each consumer’s symptom self-monitoring and self-management to minimize the negative effects of psychiatric symptoms which interfere with the consumer’s daily living, financial management, personal development or school or work performance.
• Support each consumer’s independent living skills by helping the consumer develop social skills and networks that ameliorate life stresses resulting from the consumer’s mental illness.
• Provide assistance and support for the consumer in stressor and crisis situations; Engage additional emergency resources as needed (e.g. Supervisory Staff, Community Response Team, 911).
• Make referrals to community-based resources as needed.
• Coordinate care to maximize positive outcomes to progress toward treatment plan goals.
• Provide mental health education, support, consultation and coordination of care to consumers’ families and/or their support system, all of which is directed exclusively to the well‑being and benefit of the consumer.
• Spend at least 62.5% of their overall time in direct contact with consumers and network members.
• Spend about 62.5% of his/her time in the field including home visits and hands‑on support with community resources.
• Participate in psycho‑educational and skill development groups as appropriate.
• Participate in required supervision that supports good client care, administrative proficiency, skill development, and professional development.
• Participate in required on‑going training activities.
• Complete all required paperwork on time.
• Complete all other duties as assigned by Clinical Manager (supervisor).

Equal Opportunity Employer
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