JOB SUMMARY:

The Community Support Specialist is responsible for advocating and linking clients to various community resources in an attempt to assist clients with attaining wellness and wholeness as they manage their mental illness.

• Provides case management services in the community setting as well as the office setting.
• Responsible for maintaining a client caseload of 20-25 clients.
• Educates, advocates, and links patients to community resources regarding medical, legal, housing, mental health and substance abuse programs.
• Prepares and maintains patient records (i.e. daily and monthly contact notes, bi-annual and yearly assessments, bi-annual and yearly service plans, and any other information pertinent to client care).
• Able to transport clients to and from appointments, as needed.
• Able to build a rapport with, and engage homeless individuals on the street or wherever their identified home may be.
• Able to submit billing documentation and billing authorization requests for clients by necessary deadlines.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age, specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures.
• Provides patient care to adults and, at times, geriatrics
• Assists individuals with applying for and obtaining benefits and entitlements, (e.g. Social Security benefits, and Identification cards).
• Makes appropriate referrals to outside community agencies and maintains communication with all outside agencies regarding patient care.
• Participates in daily team meetings with the rest of the team.
• Collaborates with team members and supervisor to address client and safety concerns.
• Support with marketing services of the case management program

REQUIREMENTS:

• Requires Bachelor Degree in a Human Services field.
• Minimum of 1 year experience working with the mentally ill (2 years of experience preferred).
• Requires MD State Driver's License with less than 2 points.
• Requires current CPR certification through the American Heart Association.