TLP Community Support Specialist (Full-Time)

UCAN (Chicago); Riverdale (IL); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Retirement Plan (401k)

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

UCAN is seeking a Community Support Specialist to work with the Transitional Teen Services treatment team. The focus is on teaching life skills, parenting skills, and mentoring teens and their children in a transitional living setting.

Responsibilities include daily observation, teaching daily living and interpersonal skills, and documenting client progress in UCAN systems. The role requires coordination with the TLP treatment team and adherence to program policies.

Qualifications

• The role requires strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct individual and group services to teens and teen parents.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Crisis intervention

Team collaboration

Data entry

Education

Associates Degree

GED or H.S. Diploma

Tools

Driver's license

Job description

Position Title

Community Support Specialist

Department

Transitional Teen Services (TTS)

Reports to

TLP Supervisor

Position Objective and Summary

The TLP Community Support Specialist works with the rest of the TLP treatment team to provide direct individual and group services to adolescent teens and teen parents and their children who live in a transitional living setting. The primary emphasis of service delivery for this position is on life skills and parenting skill development, mentoring and relationship building. This includes the ability to identify a client’s service needs, working directly with clients to teach needed daily living, coping and interpersonal skills; role modeling appropriate behaviors and ensuring client’s compliance with program rules and expectations, while following all UCAN policies, procedures and practice.

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

Service Delivery/Role Modeling

• Conducts daily observation of client’s behaviors, skills and emotional status
• Helps to assist clients in following their daily schedule and addressing issues of time management
• Assists clients through active teaching and demonstration with improving daily living, parenting, coping and interpersonal skills
• Monitors client’s compliance with program rules and expectations and reports all infractions to the appropriate TLP treatment team members
• Implements client service plans in areas that are applicable, monitors client progress, and communicates observations and assessment to TLP treatment team members

Documentation and Reporting

• Makes frequent reports to appropriate TLP treatment team members on progress of client’s behaviors, reports on all behavioral infractions and performs other record keeping functions as required by UCAN
• Maintains accurate, complete and timely client records as required by UCAN policy and procedures through case notes
• Enters case notes into the Profile and/or SACWIS System and ensures that billing quotas are maintained
• Reports client progress in TLP treatment team meetings
• Reports all possible critical incidents and unusual incidents to supervisor, management, or DCFS as required by UCAN or by mandated reporting law

Building Relationships and Networks

• Develops effective helping relationships with clients, their children and their families
• Works with TLP treatment team to coordinate client services
• Functions appropriately and effectively as part of a treatment team
• Understands and respects the importance of team decisions, and carries out these decisions consistently
• Is able to maintain generational boundaries with clients and treat all clients equitably and fairly

Job Knowledge Demonstration

• Knowledge of DCFS, UCAN, and Medicaid requirements for client interaction, service delivery and documentation
• Studies, learns and uses UCAN, DCFS and TLP procedures for providing services to clients
• Is familiar with all TLP rules and regulations, including the Level System
• Assesses and monitors the safety of clients in current living arrangement and makes any needed recommendations to TLP treatment team

Professionalism and Work Conduct

• Accepts feedback and ideas from team and supervisor and is constructive when giving feedback and ideas to others
• Discusses alternative problem solving and is open to new ideas and ways of doing things
• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of UCAN
• Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job related activities prepared and as scheduled
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and coworkers
• Operates from a strengths based perspective in terms of work with clients

Professional Development

• Attends regular supervision, staff meetings, required training, and other professional workshops to enhance job skills
• Sets annual developmental goals with supervisor to meet learning needs and interests, while also enhancing job performance and skills

Education /Job Experience/Certification

Performs other related tasks as required or assigned

• Associates Degree preferred with at least 1 year experience working with children and adolescents, OR
• GED or H.S. Diploma required with 3-5 years experience working with children and adolescents
• CPR/First Aid Certified or becomes so within 90 days of employment

Special Knowledge And Qualifications

• Ability to be flexible with scheduling needs and shifts
• Strong crisis intervention/de-escalation skills
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and a part of a high functioning team
• Experience or ability to use computers for data entry
• Car and valid Illinois driver’s license required
• Willing and able to work at different sites, as TLP program location(s) change

Benefits

At UCAN, we prioritize the health and well‑being of our team, as it is essential to our mission of serving the community. Our competitive benefits package is designed to help you and your family thrive.

Benefits You Can Choose From

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Voluntary Short‑Term Disability
• Voluntary Critical Illness Insurance
• Voluntary Accident Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Retirement Plan (401k)
• Tuition Reimbursement

Benefits Provided At No Cost To You

• Group Life and AD&D Insurance
• Group Long‑Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

UCAN is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.