Community Support Specialist(FT)

Pressley Ridge; Towson (MD); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Savings Account (HSA) with ERs'

Dental and vision plans

Retirement savings plan with employer

Paid Time Off

9 paid holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Job summary

Pressley Ridge seeks a Community Support Specialist to assist transition-aged youth with life skills, housing stability, and employment support in Maryland. The role emphasizes documenting progress, coordinating transportation, and collaborating with a team to ensure safety and positive outcomes for participants aged 16–21 involved with DHS/DJS.

The CSS will deliver weekly life skills modules, manage program records in Apricot, and participate in case planning.

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; college coursework in related fields is a plus.
• Experience with crisis intervention and active listening is required.

Responsibilities

• Support transition-aged youth in the community and in apartments.
• Document daily communication with participants to ensure safety and progress.
• Teach daily life skills and assist with self-sufficiency goals.
• Complete monthly apartment inspections and maintenance requests.
• Manage participant stipends and transportation support.
• Participate in case planning and incident reporting.

Skills

Communication

Active listening

Teamwork

Crisis intervention

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Electronic Health Record systems

Apricot database

Job description

Be the change you wish to see in the world! Come join our team to empower children and families in our communities to transform their lives and develop to their full potential.

We are in search of candidates with knowledge about the community and local services!

A good communicator(text/email/phone), with a desire to work with a team,
who agrees that education(life-skills) is important for youth aging out of the state system(foster care/Juvenile services) to avoid homelessness.
A natural helper, with patience, situational awareness and awareness of different learning styles.

• Monday-Friday
• 9:00 PM - 5:00 PM (8 hr. shift w/ flexibility)
• No Mandatory Overtime
• No On-Call Obligations
• No Nights or Weekends
• Bi-weekly pay
• Agency Vehicles Available for Youth Transport (valid license required)
• Option to Use Your Own Vehicle (valid license and insurance required)

Musts:

• Must be able to walk 1-3 flights of stairs
• Must have reliable transportation
• Must have experience utilizing electronic health record databases
• Must have fully available to program participants and team during work hours

Does this sound like a good fit for YOU?

The well-being of our employees and their families is important to us. At Pressley Ridge, we strive to provide the most competitive and comprehensive employee benefit programs that are affordable and help you and your family achieve and maintain your best possible health.

• Medical coverage available with a Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer match
• Prescription coverage
• Dental and vision plans
• Patient advocate and Medicare specialists available at no cost
• Dependent Care Flexible Savings Account
• Retirement savings plan with an employer match
• Free life insurance and AD&D
• Paid Time Off
• 9 paid holidays (7 recognized holidays plus a floating and birthday holiday per year)
• Tuition reimbursement (if applicable)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Position Summary

The Community Support Specialist (CSS) works within a team to support transition-aged youth who live independently in the community. The CSS provides daily life skills directly to either parenting or non-parenting participants, ages 16-21, who are committed to DHS, DJS or both, in Maryland. The CSS is also responsible for documenting daily communication with program participants, to ensure safety of the youth and security of the apartments during the workday. The CSS works diligently with the team to assist the youth in obtaining employment or other income, prior age-out, for self-sufficiency.

Clinical and Support

• Professionally manage a work environment to include, being available to assist after hours staff with participant challenges as well as responsible maintenance of required job tools (e.g. computer and cell phone).
• Act as Parent Trainer by providing primary support of parenting goals and feedback of participant progress.
• Use Program policies and procedures manual as written.
• Teach participants relevant life skills in their living environment on a consistent, weekly basis for up to one-hour a week, in an effort to meet their life skills outcome goals.
• Administer and evaluate knowledge on the Daniel Memorial skills. assessment,to establish goals with participants to work towards self-sufficiency and independence.
• Establish a professional rapport with the leasing offices to successfully problem-solve any complaints issued against the participants.
• Orient the participants into the program, specifically focus on teaching life skills modules pertaining to community living, home management and financial stability.
• Distribute weekly participant stipends, monthly bus passes and monthly clothing stipends.
• Complete monthly apartment inspections of the participants living space.
• Complete work orders for in-house maintenance issues with participant apartments.
• Complete post housing planning resources, procedures and documentation.
• Manage and facilitate all financial responsibilities pertaining to the participant.
• Actively participate in monthly participant case plan meetings.
• Complete assigned parts of participant individual treatment plans.
• Provide crisis-intervention for situations requiring immediate attention.
• Complete incident reports according to New Pathways policies and procedures.
• Provide on-call backup as needed.

Quality Improvement

• Gathers program data, as needed, and assist in the preparation of data and/or summarizing information.

Communication

• Communicates any/all information pertaining to a youth, including prescheduled appointments, to program staff.

Documentation

• Document and enter records of participant’s living environment and goal achievement performance in software system (Apricot).
• Completes written work that is legible, accurate and use professional language meet timelines for submitting paperwork established by the program and organization.
• Completes other required paperwork and documentation.

Professional Development

• Participates in workshops, conferences, seminars, etc., as appropriate to enhance skills.

Qualifications

Education/Credentials/Licensure

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
• College coursework in Education Human Services, Psychology, Social Work or Sociology. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Requires a valid state driver’s license, safe driving record, and current auto insurance.

Experience

• Requires two (2) years of experience working directly with participants in a community setting.
• Requires experience in crisis intervention with a specific focus in active listening and de-escalation.

Clearances

• State Police
• FBI
• Child Abuse Clearances
• CPSL Mandated Reporter-Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse training per state regulation.

Working Conditions

Physical Demands

This position requires operating electronic/office equipment 25% of the day. Works in weather conditions about 50% of the day. Transports clients 50% of the day. Fingers, thumbs, hands, wrists, elbows, legs, feet, and upper torso are used 25% of the day. Employee must meet minimum requirements for hearing, speech, and vision. Walking is required 25% of the day. Standing occurs 25% of the day. Sitting happens 25% of the day. This function routinely lifts 25 pounds. The maximum lift is 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Mental Demands

• Continually needs to concentrate and has distractions that interfere.
• Frequently needs to make quick decisions and performs multiple tasks.
• Occasionally handles diversity of problems.

Environmental demands

Environmental demands require this position in schools, homes, and the community.

Working Hours

Non-traditional schedule/ hours. Flexibility to meet children/ family and program needs.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.