Overview

Community Support Team is an intensive community-based rehabilitation team service that provides direct treatment and restorative interventions as well as case management. CST is designed to,

1. reduce presenting psychiatric or substance abuse symptoms and promote symptom

stability,

1. restore the recipient’s community living and interpersonal skills,
2. provide first responder intervention to deescalate the current crisis, and
3. ensure linkage to community services and resources.

The Role and Responsibilities of the Community Support Team Leader

The Community Support Team Licensed or Provisionally Licensed Team Leader drives the delivery of the CST service. The CST Team Leader must ensure that service includes a variety of interventions that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and are delivered by the appropriately credential staff, who maintain contact and intervene as one organizational unit.

The Team Leader must provide direct clinical interventions with each recipient while encouraging a team approach. The team approach involves structured, face-to-face, scheduled therapeutic interventions to provide support and guidance in all areas of functioning in life domains: emotional, social, safety, housing, medical and health, educational, vocational, and legal.

The Team Leader drives the delivery of this rehabilitative service. Under the direction of the Team Leader, CST services are delivered to recipients, with a team approach, primarily in their living environments and include but are not limited to the following interventions as clinically indicated:

• Individual therapy
• Behavioral interventions such as modeling, behavior modification, behavior rehearsal
• Substance abuse treatment interventions
• Development of relapse prevention and disease management strategies to support

recovery

• Psychoeducation for the recipient, families, caregivers, and/or other individuals involved

with the recipient about the recipient’s diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment.

• Psychoeducation regarding the identification and self-management of the prescribed

medication regimen, with documented communication to prescribing practitioner(s)

• Intensive case management

o assessment

o planning

o linkage and referral to paid and natural supports

o monitoring and follow up

• Arranging for psychological and psychiatric evaluations and
• Crisis management, including crisis planning and prevention

The Duties of a Community Support Team Leader

The Team Leader is responsible for the following:

• Providing individual therapy for recipients served by the team.
• Behavioral interventions such as modeling, behavior modification, behavior

Rehearsal.

• Designating the appropriate team staff so that specialized clinical expertise is

applied as clinically indicated for each recipient.

• Providing and coordinating the assessment and reassessment of the recipient’s

clinical needs.

• Providing clinical expertise and guidance to the CST members in the team’s

interventions with the recipient.

• Providing the clinical supervision of all members of the team for the provision of

this service.

• Providing an individual supervision plan is required for all CST members.
• Determining team caseload by the level of acuity and the needs of the individual

Served.

• Facilitating weekly team meetings of the CST
• Monitoring and evaluating the services, interventions, and activities provided by

the team

Minimum Education, Training and Experience required:

The Licensed Qualified Professional will be a Licensed Professional (LP) holding a valid

license issued by the governing board regulating a human service profession in the State

of North Carolina. Individuals licensed as a Clinical Addiction Specialist, Clinical Social

Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, Professional Counselor, Psychiatrist, or

Psychologist. The specific requirements for each of the above licensed professionals are

listed below.

• Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist means an individual who is licensed as

such by the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board.

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker means a social worker who is licensed as such

by the N.C. Social Work Certification and Licensure Board.

• Licensed marriage and family therapist means an individual who is licensed as

such by the North Carolina Marriage and Family Licensing Board.

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) means a counselor who is licensed as

such by the North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Counselors.

• Psychiatrist means an individual who is licensed to practice medicine in the State

of North Carolina and who has completed a training program in psychiatry

accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

• Psychologist means an individual who is licensed to practice psychology in the

State of North Carolina as either a licensed psychologist or a licensed

psychological associate.

In addition, the following Trainings are required within the first 30 day of hire:

• CST Service Definition – 3 hours
• Crisis Intervention – 3 hours
• PCP Instructional Elements – 3 hours

Within 90 days of hire:

• Introduction of Motivational Interviewing Training – 13 hours
• Person Centered Thinking – 12 hours

Trainings required annually:

• A minimum of 10 hours of continuing education

Licenses or Certificates Required:

1. Must become NCI certified.
2. Must receive training in population served.
3. Must receive training in client rights and confidentiality.
4. Must become privileged in delivery of Community Based Services
5. CPR/First Aid, Preventive Disease will be required.
6. Valid Driver’s license is also required.

This staff member is expected to demonstrate commitment, competence, people skills, and adaptability. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee assigned. They are not intended to be construed as an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of the assigned.