Community Support Specialist - Residential Mental Health

Thresholds; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 47,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan with match

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Mileage reimbursement

Cell phone reimbursement

Public service loan forgiveness

Licensure supervision at no cost

Licensure renewal reimbursement

Job summary

Thresholds in Chicago is seeking a Community Support Specialist to assist clients on their recovery journey in their own environment. You will participate in care planning, connect clients with resources, and help them navigate complex systems to access mental health services.

You will support daily living skills, drive clients to appointments and essential services, and apply harm reduction and trauma-informed practices within a collaborative, learning-focused team.

Qualifications

• Passion for mental health advocacy.
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills.
• Good writing skills.
• Strong time management and organization.
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Valid driver’s license, current car insurance, and daily access to own car.
• Willingness to provide transportation to clients.

Responsibilities

• Provide care planning and case management to connect clients with resources.
• Remove barriers to mental health services and help clients navigate complex systems.
• Assist with daily living skills and transport clients to appointments, benefits offices, or groceries.
• Collaborate with a supportive team and apply harm reduction and trauma-informed practices.

Skills

Passion for mental health advocacy

Effective communication

Good writing skills

Time management

Age 21+

Driver's license & car insurance

Transport clients

Education

High school diploma / GED + 5 years supervised clinical experience

Bachelor's degree in Psychology or Social Work

Bachelor's degree in unrelated field + 2 years supervised clinical experience

Master's degree in Psychology or Social Work

Job description

At Thresholds, we believe in meeting people where they're at - in their environment and on their journey to recovery. Community Support Specialists (CSS) provide mental health and substance use treatment support where it makes the most impact - in a person's community.

Working as a Community Support Specialist is a unique learning opportunity. Through care planning, you will be an integral part of a client's growth and recovery. You will remove barriers to mental healthcare through case management: connecting our clients with resources and helping them navigate complex systems. You will help clients strengthen daily living skills as you drive them to doctors' appointments, to benefits offices, or to the grocery store. Each day will be a little bit different, requiring you to adapt to your client's schedule, needs, and treatment plan.

The culture at Thresholds is collaborative and supportive, providing you with the tools and resources you need for the best client care. Opportunities for training and professional development, including clinical supervision, will deepen your knowledge and expand your clinical skills in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and other evidence-based practices. This invaluable experience will set you up for a variety of career paths and growth opportunities within our organization.

To succeed in this role, you need:

• Passion for mental health advocacy
• Effective communication and relationship-building skills
• Good writing skills
• Strong time management and organization
• To be at least 21 years old
• A valid driver's license, current car insurance, and daily access to your own car
• Willingness to provide transportation to clients

Many education and experience paths are eligible for this role:

• High school diploma or GED certificate and 5 years of supervised clinical experience
• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field
• Bachelor's degree in an unrelated field and 2 years of supervised clinical experience
• Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or related field

What Sets Thresholds Apart:

• Competitive Pay - Base Rate: $22.50 - $25.87 hourly / $46,800 - $53,800 annually
  • Based on education and experience
• Generous PTO4 medical insurance plans, dental insurance, & vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Robust employee assistance program (EAP)
• Mileage reimbursement
• Cell phone reimbursement (up to $50/month)
• Public service loan forgiveness
• Supervision for clinical licensure at no cost (CRSS, LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC)
• Reimbursement for professional licensure and license renewal

Thresholds is a mission-driven agency with a deep commitment to fostering an environment where all feel valued and respected, a place where every employee can be themselves, thrive, and support the agency's mission.

As a leader in mental health and substance use services, we pride ourselves in being recognized as a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and one of Chicago's 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For, in the category of companies with more than 1,000 employees.

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.