Community Support Specialist

NORTH SUFFOLK COMMUNITY SERVICES INC•Chelsea, MA

About The Position

North Suffolk is looking for Community Support Specialists to join our team! As a Community Support Specialist you will participate in the engagement, assessment, and treatment planning process for persons served. You will work with a dedicated team of staff to address the needs and goals of the persons served in both community and group living environments. The team provides person-centered interventions and treatment plans in the areas of housing, risk mitigation, transportation, skill-building, money management, and medication administration to support persons served to live a self-directed life. What you'll do: Engage people and partner with them to improve their health and wellness, achieve symptom stabilization and self-management, and develop and/or restore skills impacted by mental illness. Gather information about community agencies to assist in the provision of services. Provide side-by-side support and coaching to help people socialize. Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities. Carry out the assigned interventions and action steps of the treatment plan, through the provision of direct support and rehabilitation services to people on an individual, group, and family basis (in conjunction with professional staff) in the office and in community settings. Collaborate with Housing Coordinators to help each person in finding a safe and affordable place to live – apartment hunting, finding a roommate, landlord negotiations, cleaning, furnishing and decorating. Participate in medication administration per MAP and DMH policies and protocol.

Requirements

High School Diploma/GED equivalent required.
In lieu of college degree, at least one year experience with population that has severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorder
Must be MAP and CPR/First Aid certified within five months of hire (training provided)
Massachusetts Drivers License required

Nice To Haves

Bachelors Degree highly preferred
Bilingual Spanish and American Sign Language skills desired but not required - please indicate language capability in application

Responsibilities

Engage people and partner with them to improve their health and wellness, achieve symptom stabilization and self-management, and develop and/or restore skills impacted by mental illness.
Gather information about community agencies to assist in the provision of services.
Provide side-by-side support and coaching to help people socialize.
Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities.
Carry out the assigned interventions and action steps of the treatment plan, through the provision of direct support and rehabilitation services to people on an individual, group, and family basis (in conjunction with professional staff) in the office and in community settings.
Collaborate with Housing Coordinators to help each person in finding a safe and affordable place to live – apartment hunting, finding a roommate, landlord negotiations, cleaning, furnishing and decorating.
Participate in medication administration per MAP and DMH policies and protocol.

Benefits

Paid Time Off – Two weeks’ Vacation per year (three weeks after 1 year of service), 12 Sick Days per year, and 11 Paid Holidays per year
Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
Health & Dental Insurance, with generous employer contribution
Employer Paid Life Insurance
403 (b) Retirement Plan with employer matching
Voluntary Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
Medical & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Access to Credit Union Banking
Access to State Tuition Remission Program (Worksite Specific)
Employee Referral Bonus Program
Discounted Movie Tickets
Comprehensive Training Program
Internal Advancement Opportunities