Community Support Professional

Job Description:

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Teaches, models, and coaches activities of daily living (ADL) (e. g., personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal preparation, money management, educational and vocational goal-setting, nutrition needs); monitors performance of ADL skills and provides therapeutic feedback.

2. Completes clinical assessment, as needed, and develops/implements individualized treatment/service objectives.

3. Teaches psychoeducation classes on recovery (e. g., medication side effects, ADL, communication skills, stress management strategies).

4. Plans and facilitates community-based activities (e. g., medical appointments, grocery shopping, leisure/recreation/socialization); facilitates access to community resources (e. g., AA/NA meetings, school, job placement).

5. Contributes to safe and therapeutic environment by practicing verbal de-escalation and, as authorized, other behavior management techniques.

6. Serves as “ambassador” of SCS and its clients by integrating clients into the community and educating community members about people with disabilities and about SCS’s services and programming.

7. Collaborates with community systems on behalf of individuals served (e. g., school, landlord, family, transportation provider, employer).

8. Provides transportation (e. g., driving SCS van or personal vehicle), ensuring adherence to standard safety practices (e. g., driver certification, seat belts, child safety seats); teaches and facilitates use of public transportation systems.

9. Provides personal care, as needed (e. g., personal hygiene, toileting, laundry, meal preparation, safe eating techniques).

10. Provides individualized crisis assistance, consistent with individual’s treatment/service plan (i. e, initiating Mental Inquest Warrant, facilitating care from another provider, completing suicide risk assessment).

11. Administers First Aid and CPR, as needed.

12. Supervises self-administered medication, serving as the program’s “point person” for supervised self-administered medication (SSAM), or administers medication, depending on the specific clinical program’s protocols.

13. Identifies assigned clients’ food and/or medication allergies and exercises reasonable care to avoid exposure to allergens.

14. Communicates information relevant to care, treatment, and services, with other SCS staff members and, as authorized, with non-SCS providers, to ensure appropriate level and quality of care.

15. May take responsibility for specific assignments within the program (e. g., Clubhouse food program, admissions at Crisis Stabilization Unit).

16. Provides formal training to Community Support Providers and Community Support Specialists and/or serves as mentor or shift leader.

17. Documents services and care provided by timely completing various forms in accordance with SCS and regulatory standards.

18. Maintains confidentiality of protected health information, consistent with SCS procedures and state and federal law.

19. Attends and participates in all required staff and service planning meetings and trainings.

20. Maintains and enhances skills for working with clients.

EDUCATION

· Bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology, social work*, or human services, or any other field relevant to care or services to individuals with disabilities.

· Successfully complete, within six months of hire, the department led or approved training program per Medicaid regulations.

· Completion of all required trainings within 6 months of hire date.

EXPERIENCE

· One year full time experience working with individuals who receive services for treatment of mental health or co-occuring disorder.

· Ability to handle assignments according to instructions, procedures, previous training, or accepted SCS practices, with limited discretion to revise existing methods or protocols or develop new ones.

· Ability to provide caring, nurturing attention and care to individuals with disabilities, including those who are medically fragile and/or have intense behavioral needs and/or otherwise pose a high level of risk, because of complexity of treatment/service needs and/or a complex diagnostic profile.

· Formal documentation by supervisor of ability to function independently as direct support professional and of proficiency in providing direct support services.

· Ability to communicate with verbal and nonverbal individuals.

· Good interpersonal skills.

· Teaching skills.

· Maturity and judgment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/REQUIREMENTS

· Position involves considerable physical exertion, lifting a maximum of 100 pounds, with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

· May include frequent lifting of patients.

· 18 years of age or older.

· Valid driver’s license.

· Proof of automobile liability insurance.

· Positive driving record.

Time Type:

Full time