Youth Community Support Worker

Tri-County Mental Health, DBA Beacon Mental Health; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Beacon Mental Health is seeking a Community Support Worker to provide community-based services to youth with serious and persistent mental health needs and functional impairments. You will collaborate with families to support life goals within the youth’s community and living environment.

Hours are flexible and include some evenings to meet the needs of the youth and families Beacon Mental Health serves.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred; Bachelor’s considered with experience.
• Active driver’s license and minimum state-required auto-insurance.
• Reliable transportation required.
• CPR/First Aid Certification required.
• 1–3 years prior work-related experience preferred.
• Knowledge of behavioral health diagnosis and symptoms.
• General knowledge of community resources; willingness to research as needed.

Responsibilities

• Provides community-based services to assigned caseload using independent judgment and decision making regarding appropriate treatment.
• Provides crisis intervention supports during psychiatric/substance-related crises, including safety planning or referrals for hospitalization or additional treatment.
• Maintains contact with hospitalized clients to aid reintegration into living environment.
• Completes documentation in an electronic health records system within three business days of services provided.
• Coordinates care with treatment providers and other agencies.
• Develops person-centered treatment plans reflecting life goals and choices.
• Collaborates with Health Care Home team to address clients’ overall health via wellness coaching.
• Completes required paperwork in a timely manner and maintains productivity standards.
• Maintains knowledge of agency technology programs and required trainings.

Skills

Crisis management

Communication

Multi-tasking

Confidentiality

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Equipment use

Education

Master’s degree preferred

Bachelor’s degree considered with experience

Driver’s license

Auto-insurance

Reliable transportation

CPR/First Aid Certification

Job description

Position Summary

Provides Community Support services to youth diagnosed with serious and persistent mental health needs and who have significant impairments in functioning due to their mental health diagnosis. CS Workers provide community-based services to the children and families, and the services are focused on assisting the youth and family in achieving individualized life goals within their community and living environment. Hours are flexible, and include some evenings, in order to meet the needs of the youth and families Beacon Mental Health serves.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provides community-based services to assigned caseload, utilizing independent judgment and decision making regarding appropriate treatment needed.
• Provides crisis intervention supports to consumers experiencing a psychiatric or substance related crisis, and utilizes professional judgment in determining interventions needed, including the need for safety planning, or referral for hospitalization or additional mental health treatment.
• Maintains ongoing contact with hospitalized clients, including participation in staffing and discharge planning, so that consumers can successfully reintegrate into their living environment.
• Completes documentation in an electronic health records system, within three business days of services provided, which clearly reflects interventions provided and medical necessity of those interventions.
• Coordinates care for consumers, with treatment providers and other agencies.
• Develops Person-Centered treatment plans initially and annually, which are strengths based, and which reflect the consumers and family’s life goals and individualized choices according to DMH/agency timelines.
• Works in collaboration with Health Care Home team to provide assistance to clients regarding their overall physical health by using wellness coaching techniques.
• Completes initial and annual Crisis and Wellness Plans, Client Rights and Responsibilities, and all other required paperwork in a timely manner.
• Maintains knowledge of agency technology programs and/or systems needed to do the job and uses them effectively.
• Maintain required training and certifications.
• Maintains required agency productivity standards.
• Other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned by supervisor

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

Education/Certifications:

• Master’s degree preferred, Bachelor’s considered w/experience.
• Active driver’s license and minimum state-required auto-insurance.
• Reliable transportation required.
• CPR/First Aid Certification required.

Experience Required:

• 1 to 3 years prior work-related experience preferred.

Required Knowledge:

1. Knowledge of behavioral health diagnosis and symptoms.
2. General knowledge of community resources and/or the willingness to research as needed

Skills/Abilities:

• Strong crisis management skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• The ability to use and troubleshoot basic business equipment.
• The ability to interact with a wide range of individuals.
• Strong ability to multi-task with a high level of accuracy and timeliness in project output.
• The ability to maintain a high level of client confidentiality.
• Ability to problem solve quickly and prioritize tasks for optimum efficiency.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to drive to local destinations within the catchment area. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in this work environment will vary depending on clientele and situations.