Community Support Specialist (Relapse Prevention Team)

AltaPointe Health•Mobile, AL

About The Position

The Community Support Specialist on the Relapse Prevention Team provides intensive, community-based engagement and support to individuals identified as being at elevated risk for psychiatric hospitalization, crisis utilization, treatment disengagement, homelessness, substance use relapse, emergency department utilization, or other adverse outcomes. The role builds respectful, recovery-oriented relationships; conducts outreach and follow-up; helps address barriers to treatment; and supports transitions from higher levels of care. The position supports coordination of behavioral health, primary care, substance use, crisis, hospital, housing, transportation, employment, social service, and other community resources. It assists individuals with treatment and recovery plans, appointments, referrals, transportation, communication with providers, and access to community resources. The specialist monitors assigned individuals, communicates changes or safety concerns to appropriate qualified staff, follows approved crisis procedures, and supports relapse-prevention, crisis-prevention, safety, and recovery strategies developed by the treatment team. The role requires timely, accurate, objective documentation of contacts, services, outcomes, follow-up needs, and related activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable Alabama Medicaid, CCBHC, Joint Commission, and other regulatory requirements. The specialist participates in interdisciplinary treatment planning and case reviews, quality improvement and CCBHC initiatives, data collection, population health reporting, audit readiness, and compliance monitoring. The position does not independently diagnose, conduct licensed-professional clinical risk assessments, prescribe or administer medication, or provide clinical interventions beyond the employee’s qualifications and authorized scope of practice. Work may take place in outpatient clinics, community settings, hospitals, shelters, and patients’ homes when assigned. The role involves frequent community travel and physical activity, and requires the ability to respond appropriately during behavioral health crises and operate standard clinical equipment.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Must be at least 23 years of age.
Valid Alabama driver license, acceptable driving record, and proof of current liability insurance.
Within six months of employment, obtain knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult population.
Within six months of employment, obtain knowledge of cultural diversity.
Within six months of employment, obtain knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention, interventions common to acute psychotic consumers, and non-violent crisis intervention practices.
Within six months of employment, obtain knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation principles.
Within six months of employment, obtain knowledge of available community employment resources.
Within six months of employment, obtain knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults with psychiatric disorders.
Ability to perform frequent standing, walking, sitting, bending, reaching, and keyboard use; travel frequently within the community; and lift up to 30 pounds.
Ability to perform venipuncture and other clinical procedures.
Ability to respond appropriately during behavioral health crises and operate standard clinical equipment.
Ability to work in outpatient clinics, community settings, hospitals, shelters, and patients’ homes when assigned.
Work within the position’s qualifications and authorized scope of practice; independent diagnosis, licensed-professional risk assessments, medication prescribing or administration, and unauthorized clinical interventions are not permitted.

Responsibilities

Provide intensive, community-based engagement and recovery-oriented support to individuals at elevated risk of adverse outcomes.
Establish and maintain consistent, respectful relationships that honor individuals’ rights, preferences, autonomy, culture, and dignity.
Conduct outreach to individuals who miss appointments, disengage from services, or transition from hospitalization, crisis services, or other intensive care.
Identify barriers to treatment participation and work with the interdisciplinary team on practical ways to address them.
Support coordination of behavioral health, primary care, substance use, crisis, hospital, housing, transportation, employment, social service, and other community resources.
Participate in post-discharge follow-up and support continuity of care and transitions between levels of care.
Help individuals understand and follow treatment and recovery plans; assist with scheduling, reminders, referrals, transportation, and provider communication.
Assist individuals in identifying and accessing community resources related to housing, food, transportation, benefits, employment, education, and healthcare.
Maintain regular contact with assigned individuals and monitor indicators of increased risk or disengagement.
Communicate changes in functioning, living situation, support systems, treatment participation, substance use, or other relevant circumstances to appropriate team members.
Notify appropriate licensed or qualified staff when clinical reassessment, crisis intervention, medication evaluation, or a higher level of care may be needed.
Support individualized relapse-prevention, crisis-prevention, safety, and recovery strategies developed by qualified treatment-team members.
Recognize potential psychiatric, substance use, medical, behavioral, or environmental crises and follow approved response procedures.
Immediately communicate significant safety concerns and activate emergency services when required by policy, law, or immediate safety needs.
Assist with follow-up after crisis interventions, emergency department visits, crisis center encounters, or psychiatric hospitalization as directed.
Participate in de-escalation and crisis-prevention activities within the scope of training and position responsibilities.
Complete timely, accurate, objective, and clinically relevant documentation of assigned contacts and services, including interventions, responses, progress, barriers, follow-up needs, and disposition.
Maintain accurate records of outreach attempts, successful contacts, missed appointments, referrals, transitions, and follow-up activities.
Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings and collaborate with clinical staff, peers, primary care providers, and community partners.
Assist with integrated treatment planning, communicate significant physical or behavioral health changes, and participate in high-risk case reviews.
Participate in Performance Improvement activities, CCBHC quality initiatives, quality indicator data collection, population health reporting, audit readiness, and compliance monitoring.
Meet performance standards related to regulatory compliance, documentation, care coordination, patient satisfaction, interdisciplinary participation, quality improvement, and ethical conduct.