Community Support Specialist

Community Solutions for Children, Families, and Individuals; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

403(b) retirement plan

3 weeks vacation

13 paid holidays

Sick leave program

Longevity bonuses

Training opportunities

Job summary

Community Solutions seeks a Community Support Specialist to assist clients and families within the Housing First Continuum across Santa Clara and San Benito counties. The role reports to the Program Manager and requires driving a California license for client visits, with a hybrid work schedule.

Qualifications include a high school diploma with four years of direct service experience; a bachelor’s degree and CADC are preferred, as well as bilingual abilities.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED with four years of direct service experience.
• Bachelor's degree and CADC preferred.
• Bilingual/bicultural candidates encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Conducts screening, intake and assessments to determine needs and referrals.
• Provides rehabilitation counseling, advocacy, crisis intervention, and referrals.
• Completes program documents and maintains charts per regulations.
• Coordinates services with other providers and supports client progress.
• Teaches life skills and connects clients with community resources.
• Maintains excellent customer service with internal and external customers.

Skills

Direct service

Advocacy

Crisis intervention

Bilingual

Education

High School diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree

CADC certification

Job description

POSITION TITLE: Community Support Specialist

JOB TYPE: Regular, Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Union, Benefitted

PROGRAM: Housing First Continuum

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: Director and/or Designee

SUMMARY

Since its founding as a teen drop-in center in 1972, Community Solutions (CS) has grown in both depth and breadth of services in response to the growing and changing needs in the community. As one of the most comprehensive nonprofit human services agencies in Santa Clara County and the surrounding areas, CS provides prevention, intervention, treatment, and residential services to more than 6,400 clients annually, helping them overcome the challenges posed by mental health issues, substance abuse, trauma, severe family dysfunction, sexual and domestic violence, and human trafficking.

Under general supervision of the Program Manager and/or designee, the Community Support Specialist is responsible for assisting clients and their families by providing services, as required by contracts. Services are provided throughout Santa Clara County and San Benito County.

Education and Experience

Required

• High School diploma or GED and four (4) years direct service work experience in a related field.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor (CADC).
• The individual will preferably be bilingual and bicultural.

Knowledge

Required

• Empowerment, advocacy and support techniques for victims/survivors of violence, people with mental illness or substance abuse issues required.

Preferred

• Working knowledge of wellness and recovery concepts.
• Working knowledge of community resources in Santa Clara County and surrounding areas.
• Knowledge of case management, group and individual re-habilitation counseling, and linkage-referral.

Special Requirements

Must be able to receive a criminal records clearance as required by specific programs, licensing regulations and Community Solutions practices. Position requires an automobile to perform routine job duties.

License

Possess a valid California driver’s license, current car insurance and a good driving record as documented by a DMV report and consistent with the Agency’s liability insurance requirements.

What You’ll Be Doing in the role of Community Support Specialist

• Conducts screening, intake and assessments as required. Assesses clients’ needs and goals to determine appropriate resources, including the referral to professional services without delay. Promptly implements individual and family Transformational Care Plans (TCP), maintains detailed documentation and monitor’s progress.
• Provides rehabilitation counseling, advocacy, crisis intervention, parenting classes/education and referral services for clients using evidenced based practices and the wellness & recovery model. Supports client developmental growth, rehabilitation and/or treatment and monitoring medication support services in collaboration with the psychiatrist.
• Completes detailed program documents in accordance with agency, program and regulatory requirements.
• Maintains all charts within Agency regulations.
• Assesses clients’ needs to determine appropriate resources, including the referral to professional services without delay. Coordinates services with other advocacy programs, the legal system, other community-based providers, and informal supporters as needed.
• Teaches life skills, assists individuals and families with educational and support activities, accesses appropriate community services and rehabilitation counseling.
• Maintains excellent customer service skills with internal and external customers.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with appropriate community organizations and system providers, based on client and program needs.
• Employee must have the ability to operate their personal or Agency motor vehicle to participate in client visits, provide daily transportation of clients and/or other assigned Agency business.
• Responds to phone calls and emails within 24 hours on business days unless extenuating circumstance exist. Resolve outstanding issues collaboratively using strength-based solutions focused approach.
• Attends and participates in Agency meetings and contributes to continuous quality improvement activities to enhance team and program development.
• Consistently uses strength based and solution focused problem-solving skills.
• Successfully completes all training requirements for this position to ensure agency and contract compliance.
• Participates in on-call and after hour’s rotation, as assigned. Flexible schedule may be required to work some evenings and weekends.
• Performs first aid as needed based on training and certification.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Community Solutions is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are a team of dedicated professionals with backgrounds as diverse as the impact we achieve. We are committed to diversity in our workforce and equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Working at Community Solutions

• 100% of premiums paid by employer for full-time employees and eligible dependent children
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with 5% employer match
• 3-weeks paid vacation to start
• 13 paid holidays; 96 sick hours per year (inclusive of self-care/mental health days)
• Longevity bonuses
• Generous family medical leave for eligible employees
• Student Loan Forgiveness Program
• Staff learning and development and robust in-house training opportunities
• Employee-led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resource Group

Physical Requirements

Different positions may require specific physical capacities that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; lift and move objects weighing up to 25 lbs.; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment, including computer, telephone, calculator, copiers, and FAX.

Work Environment and Location

This position is located within commutable distance to our Gilroy headquarters or San Jose office and is open to a hybrid work schedule, with occasional needs to be able to travel into our offices and work in the evenings or weekends.

Special Requirements

• Must be able to meet and receive a criminal records clearance as required by specific programs, licensing regulations and Community Solutions practices.
• License: Possess a valid California driver’s license, current car insurance and a good driving record as documented by a DMV report and consistent with the Agency’s liability insurance requirements.
• Requires an automobile to perform routine job duties.
• COVID-19 Vaccination: Please note that Community Solutions has adopted a COVID-19 vaccination policy to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees and clients. As a condition of employment, Community Solutions employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a reasonable accommodation is approved or as otherwise required by law.

Note: This job description outlines primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but is not intended to be a comprehensive description of job responsibilities. We expect each employee to offer their services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.

All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills aptitudes and abilities to perform each duty proficiently.

Candidates for this position must be legally authorized to work directly as an employee for any employer in the United States without visa sponsorship.