Community Support Specalist

BHG Careers•West Plains, MO

About The Position

Behavioral Health Group (BHG) is a provider of opioid addiction treatment services, offering medication-assisted treatment and counseling in conventional outpatient settings. The Community Support Specialist supports patients’ recovery through individualized, community-based services grounded in hope, respect, care, and harm reduction. The role works with medical staff and community partners to help patients address behavioral, physical, and mental health needs, build skills for independent functioning, and pursue recovery goals. Services may be delivered in patients’ homes and other community settings, as appropriate to the treatment plan. The specialist assesses patients’ needs, strengths, progress, and barriers; contributes to individual treatment and rehabilitation plans; provides education and assistance related to substance use disorders and medication adherence; and documents services and patient responses. The position also helps patients access emergency resources and referrals, supports relapse-prevention planning, and encourages self-advocacy, independence, and participation in recovery.

Requirements

Associate of Applied Science in Human Services or Behavioral Health from an approved institution.
Reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license.
Experience or demonstrated capability in one or more of the following: providing individual or group rehabilitation/habilitation and recovery/resiliency services; encouraging natural-resource use and teaching or modeling coping and management skills for psychiatric, developmental, or substance-abuse issues; supporting patients seeking or maintaining employment or education and functioning in families and communities; or helping patients meet goals in their Individual Treatment Plans.
Sufficient knowledge of the substance-abuse population, treatment planning, and human social services to support patient rehabilitation.
Ability to make science-backed decisions and use sound judgment with confidential and sensitive issues.
Ability to deal appropriately with patients and team members in stressful or undesirable situations and seek supervisory direction when necessary.
Strong customer-service and interpersonal communication skills; self-starter who works efficiently.
High integrity and sound judgment, with the ability to react quickly and make effective decisions.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently and under pressure while handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
Basic computer and word-processing skills.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or another related human-services field.
Experience or background in individual or group rehabilitation/habilitation and recovery/resiliency services, natural-resource support and coping skills, employment or education support, or assistance with Individual Treatment Plan goals.

Responsibilities

Inspire hope and help patients understand addiction as a treatable brain disease rather than a moral failing.
Use an individualized, multidisciplinary approach to care in coordination with medical staff.
Help patients identify and seek treatment for underlying mental and physical health conditions that affect addictive behavior.
Support patients’ independent functioning and rehabilitation through community-based services and individualized treatment plans.
Use evidence-based interventions to develop interpersonal, social, family, community, and independent-living skills.
Provide strength-based, harm-reduction-focused care using motivational approaches that promote self-advocacy and participation in recovery.
Facilitate recovery activities, define recovery concepts, and help patients develop and attain recovery goals.
Identify patients’ needs, strengths, skills, and resources; teach them how to use those resources and address obstacles to recovery.
Educate patients about substance use disorders, including symptoms, triggers, cravings, and the benefits and side effects of prescribed medications.
Provide individual assistance with adherence to prescribed medication regimens.
Work independently in patients’ homes and other community settings unless the treatment plan specifies otherwise.
Encourage recovery efforts, independence, self-care, and responsibility.
Participate in developing individual treatment and rehabilitation plans for patients on the caseload.
Provide individual support for emergency needs, including financial, medical, and housing assistance; follow up on referrals to promote re-engagement and recovery.
Apply knowledge of psychological concepts and evidence-based interventions, and coordinate mental health and other services with practitioners and community partners.
Assess the status of assigned patients on an ongoing basis, including strengths, progress, and barriers to treatment goals.
Document services provided, patient needs, interventions, progress or lack of progress, providers, service dates and times, and patient responses.
Identify relapse risk factors and develop strategies to support recovery and prevent relapse.

Benefits

Generous paid time off, holidays, and personal needs time.
Flexible schedules with early-in/early-out hours and no nights or Sundays.
Role-based training and advancement opportunities.
Choice of three benefits programs, including health, life, vision, and dental insurance.
Tuition reimbursement.
401(k) plan with discretionary match.
Competitive pay, quarterly bonuses, and incentives for certifications or licenses.
Discounts on services and entertainment.
Employee Assistance Program and self-care series.
Relocation assistance.