Support Specialist - Supported Living Services

Hopeservices; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Hope Services seeks a Support Specialist to implement progress toward consumer goals, provide 1:1 home and community support, and supervise household staff. The role includes promoting independence, ensuring consumer rights, and reporting incidents.

The position requires a Bachelor's degree in a related field and 3 years of approved experience in rehabilitation or social work; familiarity with Circle of Support and Person Centered Planning is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field plus 3 years of approved experience in rehabilitation or social work or equivalent combination.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily supervision for direct service, substitute and volunteer staff in consumer households.
• Offer 1:1 support in the consumer’s home and community as outlined in the Personal Plan.
• Participate in Circle of Support and implement Person Centered Planning Process.
• Facilitate Circle of Support and build relationships with client, family, friends and others; advocate for consumers.
• Develop consumer participation in community activities and coordinate Outreach rides to work.
• Complete forms, incident reports, case recordings, and billing; assist with medication monitoring systems.
• Help consumers find housing, roommates, and needed supports; maintain client records and reports.
• Maintain professional relationships with clinicians and community partners; represent HOPE in the community.
• Act as a mandated abuse reporter and perform other duties to ensure program efficiency.

Skills

Community services

ISP objectives

Client rights advocacy

Housing market knowledge

Health & Safety

Education

Bachelor's degree in rehabilitation, social sciences, special education, health, public administration, social work, or related field

Job description

Support Specialist - Summary

Implementation and documentation of progress towards consumer goals, promoting self‑reliance and independence. Supervision of assigned roommates/companions. Responsible for consumer protection, rights, grievance procedures, fair hearings, and incident reporting.

Support Specialist - Essential Functions

1. Assures adequate staffing through scheduling, recruitment, hiring, training and orientation of direct service, substitute and volunteer staff as assigned. Provides all aspects of supervision of assigned staff in the households of consumers.
2. Provide 1:1 support in the consumer’s home and community as identified in their Personal Plan. Provides support on 24‑hour pager.
3. Assist and participate in the Circle of Support and implementation of the Person Centered Planning Process.
4. Facilitation and development of Circle of Support to build relationships with client, family, friends, neighbors, SARC, clients, relief staff, and roommate. Acts as advocate on behalf of consumers served.
5. Development and expansion of consumer participation in typical and generic community activities as chosen by the consumer. Schedule Outreach rides to and from work.
6. Complete required forms and accountability documentation, incident reports, case recordings, billing, and other required documentation. Assist consumers with developing medication monitoring systems to ensure medication regimes are followed.
7. Assist consumer in finding housing, roommates and training needed supports.
8. Maintains all assigned client case records, quarterly progress reports, Outreach billings and monthly billings.
9. Responsible for maintaining a professional relationship with consumers, family members, doctors (medical, specialist, clinics) and appropriate others. Represents HOPE in the community.
10. Acts as a mandated abuse reporter.
11. Perform other duties, as assigned, to assure efficiency of program services.

Support Specialist - Qualifications Required

The Support Specialist should possess a Bachelors Degree in rehabilitation, social sciences, special education, health, public administration, social work, or an approved related field plus 3 years of approved experience in rehabilitation or social work or an approved equivalent combination of education and experience.

Support Specialist - Required Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of community services
• Implement ISP objectives
• Knowledge of client rights/advocacy
• Knowledge of housing market and transportation
• Health & Safety considerations

Environmental Conditions

Extensive driving around town and in the consumer community; exposure to climatic conditions, heat, cold, humidity, dampness, sun, pollens; work nights occasionally and weekends; lifting/carrying supplies for consumer supports to and from locations, walking, standing, visual/auditory acuity while supporting consumer in the community; position is community based and in consumer homes, climbing stairs to reach the consumer is occasionally necessary; work alone as well as closely with others, sitting for periods of time in meetings and in office environment; produce work on computers/office equipment.

Hope Services is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees not regardless of, but with consideration and appreciation for race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex, age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family or parental status, or any other status.