Community Support Specialist- Per Diem

Ascentria Care Alliance is currently looking for a Community Support Specialist  to add to our Developmental Disabilities team!

This is a per diem position based in the Worcester County area!

The Community Support Specialist directly supports individuals living independently in the community with a developmental disability and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the South Valley Area (Southbridge, Brookfield, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Grafton, Millbury, Northbridge, North Brookfield, Oxford, Sturbridge, Sutton, Webster, and Uxbridge). This position connects individuals to community resources and provides support/assistance around public benefit acquisition and management, housing, as well as assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) including meal preparation and nutrition, apartment maintenance, exercise, socialization, medical appointments, and utilizing public transportation/ADA.

Who are we? 

Ascentria Care Alliance is a nonprofit organization that has spent the past 150 years helping people in need. We empower people of all backgrounds to rise together and reach beyond life’s challenges by building stronger communities and helping people move forward together.  

Job Title: Community Support Specialist

Pay Rate: $20.37 per hour

The pay range is the authorized pay for this position and is displayed only for jobs based in Massachusetts and Vermont, where pay transparency laws require disclosure. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications, and other job-related factors.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with clinical supports on creation and implementation of Individual Support Plan (ISP), Behavior Plans, ADLs, Medication Treatment Plans, Assessments, and any other applicable documentation related to successfully supporting individuals in the community.
• Provide training, modeling and assistance in activities of daily living and health maintenance in order to enhance skill acquisition and maintain independent living. These may include but are not limited to; money management, medical appointments, meal preparation and nutrition, apartment maintenance, exercise, socialization and utilizing public transportation/ADA.
• Provide transportation for and escort individual to and from appointments as needed.
• Assist in obtaining public services to support independence such as, but not limited to: Social Security, Mass Health, ADA transportation, food stamps and fuel assistance.
• Assist individuals when moving from one location to another. This may include but is not limited to: moving furniture and/or boxes and using personal vehicle to transport client personal belongings.
• Serve as an advocate for individual at various community levels, evaluate effectiveness of advocacy efforts and make appropriate adjustments.
• Attend and participate in staff, team and PQI process meetings.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of one (1)year experience in human services required, preferably in community based settings
• Associate or Bachelor’s degree desired but not required. A degree may be considered in place of minimum experience requirement
• Demonstrated ability to provide crisis intervention in a calm and effective manner
• Demonstrated ability to implement treatment plans, set limits and manage client behaviors.
• Demonstrated ability to write accurate and professional documentation in on a daily basis.
• Basic Microsoft Office products skills.
• Valid Driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance is required to transport clients throughout the community.

Trainings Required:

• Certify in First Aid and CPR within 90 days of employment.
• Ascentria Organizational Orientation.
• Maintain mandatory training and certifications as required.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Ascentria we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Company Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• FSA and dependent care account
• 3 Weeks PTO and 9 Holidays!
• Tuition Assistance
• And many more!

Ascentria Care Alliance celebrates diversity and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with federal and state employment opportunity laws, qualified applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, pregnancy, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, or any other legally-protected category. Candidates who identify as BIPOC, multilingual or have lived experience with immigration or human services are encouraged to apply. 

Salary : $20