Community Support Specialist
Thresholds, a social justice agency, which provides home, health, and hope to people who seek our services, has been awarded "101 Best and Brightest Employers to Work For" and the Chicago Tribune's "Chicago's Top Workplaces" for multiple consecutive years! Come join our committed team who help individuals struggling with mental Illness to reclaim their lives. In addition to Chicago and many other collar counties, we provide services in Lake County area,
The Community Support Specialist – Master’s level is responsible for providing evidence based mental health interventions and supports necessary to assist individuals with mental illness to achieve recovery goals. Services are primarily provided in a person’s own environment where they need us most. Personal Protective Equipment and Social Distancing are required during all services.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provides direct service to members through group counseling/therapy, case management, job support, and crisis intervention, either in the community or on-site at a Thresholds location.
- Under the supervision of a QMHP or LPHA, gathers member information and assesses the need for service, makes recommendations for treatment, identifies and investigates existing natural resources and supports, explains options available to the member and assists in the application process.
- Identifies risk factors related to the relapse and development of relapse prevention plans and strategies.
- Develops and reviews members’ Individual Treatment Plans (ITP). This requires face to face meetings with member or guardian to identify goals, objectives, specific mental health services needed, and identification of staff responsible for delivering the services.
- Teaches members independent and community living skills, such as housekeeping, shopping, meal preparation, and personal hygiene as well as the development of functional, interpersonal, support system and coping skills.
- Provides support to members with collateral sources, including other agencies, Social Security Administration, medical providers, Chicago Housing Authority, etc.
- Advocates and assists with problem solving/resolution that will help the member access and utilize support from the community or support system.
- Performs comprehensive member assessments, with the team and team leader, in order to identify the member’s mental health service needs and to make recommendations for treatment.
- Supports and promotes member self-advocacy and participation in decision making, treatment and treatment planning.
- Works cooperatively with inpatient hospital staff, keeping logs and other records of all contacts as required by agency practice.
- Performs and participates in crisis intervention when necessary.
- Encourages prescribed use of medication. n the event that there is any disruption to the medication schedule.
- Assures that all Thresholds procedures regarding the handling of member’s funds are followed and that both the members and the Thresholds administration are assured that all safeguards, reports, and accounting meets the highest standards.
EDUCATION
- Must, at a minimum, meet Office of Mental Health Rule 132 credential requirements for a Qualified Mental Health Professional including a Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology or closely related field.
EXPERIENCE
- Experience working with persons diagnosed with mental illness preferred.
REQUIREMENTS
- Current and valid driver’s license.
- Daily access to a personal vehicle is required. Must obtain and maintain $100,000/$300,000/$100,000 bodily injury and liability insurance. Subject to validation every six months.
- May be required to provide transportation for members of the program using a Thresholds provided vehicle or personal vehicle. Must meet all insurance carrier’s requirements. Subject to annual Department of Motor Vehicles license verification.