ABOUT THE PROGRAM: Community Support Program
The Community Support Program is a community based rehab model designed to assist persons with serious mental illness to live independently. Community Support Specialists provide assistance with learning skills to live independently, accessing community resources, finding appropriate and affordable housing, receipt of entitlements, linking with appropriate treatment sources, coordination of care with collateral providers, assistance with money management (including representative payee or conservatorship, if necessary) and any other goals they have for their recovery. Community Support Specialists can function as a liaison with services to the state acute care facility as well as general hospitals as necessary. Community Support Specialists attempt to teach clients the skills necessary for that individual to meet their own needs. Community Support Specialists provide advocacy services for their clients to receive appropriate clinical services, housing benefits and human rights. The Community Support Program can be time limited or long-term, based on the needs/LOCUS score of the client.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conducts Clinical and Risk Assessments, LOCUS, Co-occurring Screens and Functional Assessments.
- Collaborates with individuals to create individualized, person centered treatment plans and documents clients progress during treatment.
- Use Motivational Interventions to assist clients in meeting their goals and moving along their paths to recovery, utilizing stage wise interventions
- Provide psycho-educational rehabilitation services group and individual for recovery from psychiatric and substance abuse disorders
- Support individual with linking and engaging with natural (family, friends) or community supports
- Develop crisis plans(WRAP) for clients and work with other staff to respond to crisis situations as needed
- Provide skills teaching, such as assisting clients in obtaining/ maintaining housing and utilities; learning how to use transportation services, planning and preparing nutritional meals, engage and communicate with family and friends, be safe in the community, care for children and other family members, and solve everyday problems that arise.
- Provide intensive skill building interventions and support for self-management, self-advocacy, health and well-being, relapse prevention, and using community resources
- Participate in family education and support activities
- Assist clients how to identify and combat negative self-talk. Utilize personal lived experience in Recovery to model hope for clients
- Maintains documentation in compliance with agency and program standards.
- Participates in staff meetings, supervision, trainings and other meetings as assigned.
- Additional duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Valid Recovery Support Certification: High School Diploma required, Life experience.
Experience: RSS 2+ years working with identified populations; self identifies as an individual with Mental Health and or Substance use disorder in long term Recovery. Individuals who identify themselves as having a mental illness or substance abuse are encouraged to apply.
Licensure/Certification/Registration: Advocacy Unlimited: Recovery Support Specialist Certification required or must obtain within one year of hired. Valid Driver’s License required, Use of personal vehicle required for position
Training: Basic computer skills required.