North Suffolk is looking for Community Support Specialists to join our team! As a Community Support Specialist you will participate in the engagement, assessment, and treatment planning process for persons served. You will work with a dedicated team of staff to address the needs and goals of the persons served in both community and group living environments. The team provides person-centered interventions and treatment plans in the areas of housing, risk mitigation, transportation, skill-building, money management, and medication administration to support persons served to live a self-directed life.
We are looking for Community Support Specialists who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing or fluent in American Sign Language to join our team!
What you'll do:
- Engage people and partner with them to improve their health and wellness, achieve symptom stabilization and self-management, and develop and/or restore skills impacted by mental illness.
- Gather information about community agencies to assist in the provision of services.
- Provide side-by-side support and coaching to help people socialize.
- Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities.
- Carry out the assigned interventions and action steps of the treatment plan, through the provision of direct support and rehabilitation services to people on an individual, group, and family basis (in conjunction with professional staff) in the office and in community settings.
- Collaborate with Housing Coordinators to help each person in finding a safe and affordable place to live – apartment hunting, finding a roommate, landlord negotiations, cleaning, furnishing and decorating.
- Participate in medication administration per MAP and DMH policies and protocol.
What you’ll need:
- Education:
- High School Diploma/GED equivalent required.
- Bachelors Degree highly preferred
- Experience:
- In lieu of college degree, at least one year experience with population that has severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorder
- American Sign Language fluency is required for this role
- Skills:
- Must be MAP and CPR/First Aid certified within five months of hire (training provided)
- Massachusetts Drivers License required
Competitive & Comprehensive Benefits
- Paid Time Off – Two weeks’ Vacation per year (three weeks after 1 year of service), 12 Sick Days per year, and 11 Paid Holidays per year
- Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
- Health & Dental Insurance, with generous employer contribution
- Employer Paid Life Insurance
- 403 (b) Retirement Plan with employer matching
- Voluntary Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
- Medical & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Access to Credit Union Banking
- Access to State Tuition Remission Program (Worksite Specific)
- Employee Referral Bonus Program
- Discounted Movie Tickets
- Comprehensive Training Program
- Internal Advancement Opportunities
Skills Required
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- At least one year of experience working with people with severe and persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorder, in lieu of a college degree
- Fluency in American Sign Language
- MAP certification within five months of hire; training provided
- CPR and First Aid certification within five months of hire; training provided
- Massachusetts driver's license
- Bachelor's degree
What We Do
Since 1959, North Suffolk Community Services has been on a mission to provide mental health services to individuals, and especially children, in relatively under-served surrounding communities. Today, our staff of 900+ assists families, children and individuals in 4 clinics, 38 residences and 74 programs. North Suffolk Community Services touches the lives of more than 10,000 people a year. To learn more about North Suffolk's services visit, http://northsuffolk.org https://www.facebook.com/NorthSuffolkOrg
