Resident Support Specialist Nursing Assistant PPW Program

The Ness Center; Mandeville (LA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Northlake Behavioral Health System seeks a compassionate CNA Resident Support Specialist for the Pregnant and Parenting Women Program. You’ll support mothers and their children in a structured residential setting, focusing on life skills, recovery encouragement, and daily program activities.

The role combines caregiving with coaching, crisis intervention, and coordination of health-related needs, while maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of mental health and addiction recovery principles.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to set professional boundaries and stay calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Provide life skills coaching and resident support for mothers and children.
• Assist with independent living skills, routines, and personal responsibility.
• Encourage participation in activities and educational programming.
• Monitor self-administration of medications when nursing staff are off-site.
• Assist with medical appointments and prescription coordination.
• Communicate changes in resident well-being to clinical staff.
• Support crisis intervention and maintain a safe residential environment.
• Complete assessments, progress notes, and incident reports.
• Participate in meetings, supervision, and required trainings.
• Assist with admissions, discharges, transfers, and general operations.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with policies and regulations.

Skills

Mental health knowledge

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Professional boundaries

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Position: CNA Resident Support Specialist - Pregnant and Parenting Women Program

Status: Full Time, Non Exempt

Schedule: 12-hour Night Shift, 7pm to 7am

About the Program

The Ness Center's Pregnant and Parenting Women (PPW) Program provides residential substance use treatment and support to pregnant women and mothers working toward recovery. Mothers can bring their children, from birth through age 11, to live with them while receiving treatment. Our program helps women strengthen their recovery, develop parenting and independent living skills, and build healthier futures for themselves and their families.

Position Summary

The CNA Resident Support Specialist plays an important role in creating a safe, structured, and supportive environment for mothers and their children. This position goes beyond traditional caregiving. It combines resident support, life skills coaching, recovery encouragement, and assistance with daily program activities.

We are looking for someone who is compassionate, patient, dependable, and passionate about helping others. The ideal candidate understands that recovery takes time, progress looks different for everyone, and sometimes the greatest difference comes from having someone who believes in you.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Life Skills and Educational Counseling
  Build supportive, professional relationships with residents and encourage their participation in recovery and daily program activities.

• Assist residents in developing independent living skills, healthy routines, personal responsibility, and effective coping strategies.

• Encourage participation in recreational activities, educational programming, group activities, and daily responsibilities.

• Support residents in navigating everyday challenges, conflict resolution, and personal goal development.

• Monitor residents' self-administration of medications when nursing staff are off-site, in accordance with established procedures.

• Assist with medical appointments, prescription coordination, and other health-related needs as assigned.

• Recognize and communicate changes in resident behavior or well-being to appropriate clinical staff.

• Assist with crisis intervention and maintain a safe, supportive residential environment.

• Complete required assessments, progress notes, incident reports, and other program documentation.

• Participate in staff meetings, clinical meetings, supervision, and required training.

• Assist with admissions, discharges, resident inventories, transportation, and general program operations as assigned.

• Maintain confidentiality and comply with organizational policies, licensing requirements, and applicable regulations.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience/Qualifications

Education: High School Diploma or equivalent

Experience: Experience working with individuals in recovery, residential treatment, mental health, or human services strongly preferred; Experience with domestic violence, child and family services, or justice-involved populations is a plus.

Licenses/Certifications: If required to drive, must possess a valid Driver’s License, clean driving history, and successfully complete the company-provided Defensive Driving course.

Skills: Knowledge of mental health and substance use disorders; Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills; Ability to maintain professional boundaries, exercise sound judgment, and remain calm in challenging situations; Genuine compassion, patience, and a desire to help individuals and families build healthier lives.

Competency: Position and Age-Related

HIPAA/42 CFR Part 2: Has access to and adds information to the Medical Record. May only access medical record of assigned patients.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Northlake Behavioral Health System is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or class.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Provisions

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability. Applicants are entitled to reasonable accommodations, absent undue hardship, to effectively participate in the application and hiring process. If you believe you require an accommodation for the application or interview process or for the position for which you are applying, please reach out to [e-mail].