COMMUNITY SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Allendale; Lake Villa (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Allendale Association seeks a dedicated professional to provide home and community-based service coordination, case management, and crisis intervention for youth and families. The role emphasizes crisis assessments, stabilization planning, and linkage to community resources to prevent unnecessary out-of-home placements.

You will collaborate with the Therapeutic Service Coordinator, participate in mandatory meetings, and maintain accurate, compliant documentation in the EHR.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field, or a high school diploma with 5 years of documented mental health or human services experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Valid driver’s license with good driving record.
• Experience in crisis intervention and coordination of home/community-based services.

Responsibilities

• Assists with Family Finding and possible discharge resources.
• Coordinates with Allendale Therapeutic Service Coordinator.
• Conducts crisis/safety assessments in home and community settings.
• Develops and implements crisis stabilization plans to ensure safety.
• Counsels youth and families to resolve problems affecting adjustment.
• Identifies community resources and strengthens natural support systems.
• Attends court, DCFS hearings, Plan of Care meetings, and other meetings.
• Enters service documentation into Allendale’s EHR and maintains records.
• Participates in on-call rotation for crisis response.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Written communication

Verbal communication

Case management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Services or related field

High school diploma + 5 years mental health experience

Job description

GENERAL FUNCTIONProvides home and community-based service coordination, case management, crisis intervention and prevention services to youth and families to reunify, preserve, and/or stabilize families and divert or minimize involvement in child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems or inpatient psychiatric hospitalization.SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIESAssists with Family Finding and possible discharge resources.Coordinates with Allendale Therapeutic Service Coordinator.Conducts crisis/safety assessments in home and community settings.Develops and implements crisis stabilization plans that ensure safety of youth and related family members and reduces placement in out of home settings including juvenile justice and foster care.Counsels youth and families to resolve or cope with problems or behaviors which adversely affect the youth and impact his/her ability to adjust to family, school, or community settings.Assists youth and caregivers in identifying, accessing, and utilizing community resources and services as well as strengthening families natural support system.Facilitates the discovery, development and linkage between clients and their home communities such as taking clients on tours of schools and educational resources, identifying accessible community resources, employment opportunities, transportation, etc.Coordinates with Therapeutic Service Coordinator to facilitate initial visitation to do a home study and subsequent Quarterly Home Studies and meet with the family/ visiting resource.Continues to work with clients, funding sources and discharge resources for 6 months post discharge from residential treatment to include, but not limited to, weekly clinicalconsultation, in person visitation that begins weekly then phases to less frequent over time.Attends various scheduled internal meetings. Attends court, ACR’s, DCFS hearings, Plan of Care Meetings, Child Family Team Meetings, and as-needed school meetings. Ensures the participation of the youth as clinically indicated.Prepares, updates, and maintains various records including consents for treatment, emergency information, transfer and discharge notices, and medication review questionnaires. Enters service documentation into Allendale’s Electronic Health Record (EHR).Obtains consent for and makes referrals to foster care or alternative programs and arranges pre-placements.Contacts outside agencies regarding discharge resources. Follow-up as needed.Serves as a resource for parenting information and problem-solving.Identifies youth and families’ strengths and needs for treatment planning and subsequent coordination and provision of services, and actively contributes to the development and monitoring of client-specific and family-centered treatment plans based on appropriate assessments and developmental needs and in consultation with other members of the team.Facilitate access to translation/interpretation services to CSSP clients.Develops and maintains relationships with other providers, including mental health providers, schools and law enforcement.Prepares, updates, and maintains records related to client and family care.Works with other team members to coordinate client/family care and ensure provision of effective and efficient service delivery.Monitor and coordinate the collection, summarization, and analysis of data related to client’s individual program goals and behavioral plans.Attends and participates in internal and external meetings to discuss client progress, address concerns and review and modify program plans as needed.Participates in clinical consultation, coordination, and technical support to members of the treatment team; and attends and participates in staffing and case monitoring activities.Maintains knowledge of current trends in the field; and attends appropriate training programs.Participates in on-call rotation for crisis response.EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCEA. REQUIRED: 1. Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field or a high schooldiploma with a minimum of five years documented experience in mentalhealth or human servicesExcellent written and verbal communication skillsValid driver’s license with good driving record