Community Support Specialist—Community Bridge
Job Classification:
Non-Exempt Pay Rate: $19.00 p/hr Shift: Mon-Fri 3p-11p
Position Overview
The Community Support Specialist (CSS) advances the Mission and Values of CHS by building, fostering, and inspiring excellence in the Agency's ability to: Serve as the leading resource for homelessness support, information, and best practices and protocols in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Provide exceptional and compassionate social support services.
Integrate the voice of consumers with program quality initiatives and services.
Collaborate with and act as a resource for other organizations, providers, and professionals locally and nationally.
Embrace and exhibit the highest ethical standards.
Maximize and monitor fiscal and other resources.
Build an environment which is safe, confidential, and welcoming.
Eliminate the devastating impact of stigma through cultural awareness and advocacy.
As a direct care staff member, the CSS provides case management and supportive services in a respectful manner to residents in the CHS Residential Programs. They are expected to work and communicate directly with other staff members supportively and cooperatively, complete required documentation on a weekly basis, maintain file upkeep and community building, manage crisis situations, and attend required training programs, as well as staff and community meetings. The CSS is cross trained on all residential programs and will work across all residential sites, as needed. Key Responsibilities
Develop a professional and therapeutic relationship with residents.
Maintain and model appropriate personal boundaries in accordance with CHS’s professionalism policy.
Provide direct case management to residents regarding their goals, personal needs, and interests. Assist with applying for benefits and accessing public resources. Provide individuals with guidance regarding decision making, long and short-term goal planning. Meet a minimum of weekly with residential caseloads to review goal plans and progress.
Perform safety and security checks inside and outside of the facility at a frequency identified by the Program Manager.
Clean the staff office, resident showers, common spaces, and turning over vacant rooms as needed.
Distribute pre-packaged meals to residents in accordance with safe food handling and health and safety regulations.
Follow communication protocol and address complaints, behavioral problems, etc. promptly.
Collaborate with the participants case management team to develop individualized goal plans with the residents to set short-term and long-term goals for housing and employment and ensure goals are being met.
Assist with planning and coordinating in conjunction with participant’s case management team for participant enrollment in life skills workshops and training sessions on topics such as budgeting, meal planning, household management, conflict resolution, communication skills, and tenant rights and responsibilities.
Facilitate opportunities for residents to connect with local community resources, volunteer opportunities, educational programs, and employment services.
Complete required daily written documentation in a timely manner. This includes incidents reports, progress notes, goal record sheets, and other case record forms. Ensure that weekly progress notes include the individual behaviors, activities, goal progress, any changes, daily interactions, needs, strengths, etc. to provide a thorough overview and on-going log.
Provide individualized coaching and support to help residents develop essential life skills and increase self-sufficiency.
Complete data entry of information into the agency database and any funder-specific site for reporting purposes on a timely basis.
Understand and be responsible for performing all duties in accordance with the agency and program policies and procedures. Identify appropriate procedures for various situations.
The CSS…