COMMUNITY SUPPORT ADVOCATE

Job Description

The Community Support Advocate is an unique position designed to advise and support consumers, coordinate their rehabilitation plans with other agencies (including private providers, physicians, Division of Family Services, courts, Vocational Rehabilitation, Social Security, school systems, housing authorities, and others) ensuring access to and availability of services to which consumers are entitled, acting as an advocate for the consumer to satisfy his/her needs and maintain recovery and effective level of functioning. This is a full-time, salaried, professional position.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

1. Recruit Medicaid and private insurance consumers through appropriate agencies and/or assist consumers who should be eligible for Medicaid.
2. Deliver specific case management services as prescribed in the rehabilitation plan for a specific assigned caseload.
3. Provide expert knowledge of all agency and community resources that can be utilized to assist consumers in their continuing efforts to function.
4. Provide information and actively support and guide consumers’ efforts in making applications for resources and receiving services.
5. Accompany consumers to offer tangible support in cases of reluctance to attend open AA/NA meetings, other self-help meetings, stressful legal proceedings, and other life tasks that may be difficult for consumers.
6. Routinely check on consumer progress with objectives, encourage participation in necessary activities and completion of tasks according to the rehabilitation plan. Follow up as needed. Conduct periodic re-evaluations.
7. Assist in formulation of rehabilitation plans.
8. Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, assessments, rehabilitation plan reviews, discharge planning. Keep counselor and others informed of conflicts, problems and progress. Assure continuity and coordination of services delivered to individual consumers.
9. Participate in supervisory sessions, classes and other events necessary to perform duties. Provide experimental training in life skills and resource acquisition.
10. Make home visits and travel in service area to coordinate efforts.
11. Perform other tasks as assigned.
12. Document in consumers’ records and complete billing documents according to established time frames.
13. Produce assigned number of billable case management units each month.
14. May be required to transport consumers in personal vehicles.
15. Maintain appropriate level of insurance for transporting consumers in personal vehicle.
16. Monitor delivery of services and perform necessary follow-up.
17. Discharge planning.
18. Provide case management as assigned for inpatient and other outpatient service programs.

SUPERVISED BY:

Director of Community Support Services

POSITIONS SUPERVISED:

None

QUALIFICATIONS:

Must have BA, BS, BSW in social work, counseling or psychology from an accredited university or have four (4) years relevant experience. Must demonstrate skill in developing positive, productive consumer relationships and negotiating complex service systems to obtain needed services and resources for consumers.