** Community Support Specialist**

**Job Category****:** Community Based **Requisition Number****:** COMMU002245 Showing 1 location **Job Details**

**Description**

The Community Support Specialist (CSS) works with a team of providers to support transition-aged foster youth who are living independently in the community. The CSS works directly with participants in the Maryland Foster Care and /or Juvenile Services system ages 16-21 with a specific focus on educating and assessing the participants life skills in early child development, financial literacy, community living, safety and housing

**Essential Roles and Responsibilities**

- Work directly with parenting or pregnant participants in the Maryland Foster Care and /or Juvenile Services system ages 16-21 with a specific focus on educating and assessing the participants life skills in early child development, financial literacy, community living, safety and housing

- Professionally manage a virtual work environment to include, being available to assist after hours staff with participant challenges as well as responsible maintenance of required job tools- i.e. computer, cell phone.

- Assists the parent trainer by providing secondary support of parenting goals and feedback of participant progress

- Report any findings of child abuse or neglect by a participant toward their child to CPS

- Teach participants relevant life skills in their living environment on a consistent, weekly basis for up to one-hour a week, in an effort to meet their life skills outcome goals

- Administer and evaluate knowledge on the Daniel Memorial skills assessment, to establish goals with participants to work towards self-sufficiency and independence

- Establish a professional rapport with the leasing offices to successfully problem-solve any complaints issued against the participants

- Orient the participants into the program, specifically focused on teaching life skills modules pertaining to community living, home management and financial stability

- Distribute weekly participant stipends, monthly bus passes and monthly clothing stipends

- Work directly with the participants in identified challenging areas and actively respond/be available to participants as they work towards successful completion of documented goals

- Document and enter records of participant's living environment and goal achievement performance in software system (Apricot)

- Complete monthly apartment inspections of the participants living space

- Complete work orders for in-house maintenance issues with participant apartments

- Complete all NICHAC processes, procedures and documentation

- Manage and facilitate all financial responsibilities pertaining to the participant

- Actively participate in monthly participant case plan meetings

- Complete assigned parts of participant interval treatment plans

- Provide crisis-intervention for situations requiring immediate attention

- Complete incident reports according to Mother/ Baby Independent Living policies and procedures

**Working Conditions**

**Physical Demands:**

Ability to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds with assistance.

**Environmental:**

- Familiarity with and ability to navigate Baltimore metropolitan area

- Ability to negotiate multiple diverse physical buildings and community settings

- Ability to make decisions in the best interest of the organization

- The incumbent works from a "virtual office," which encompasses the Mother/ Baby Independent Living Main Office, the participants' homes at appointment times, the Parenting Office, etc.

- All CSS's are subject to the Virtual Office Policy, which can be found in the Employee Handbook.

**Working Hours**

- Must be available to work full-time weekly business hours on a consistent basis, with flexibility to adjust hours to meet the needs of the participants and the organization

- Required travel is 25% - 50% of time.

**Clearances:** State Police/FBI per state regulations; Child and Adult Protected services.

Current Driver's License with acceptable driving record and proof of current automobile insurance; Reliable transportation is strongly preferred

**Qualifications**

**Skills**

**Behaviors**

**Required**

**Team Player****:** Works well as a member of a group

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**Motivations**

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**Education**

**Required**

High School or better.

**Preferred**

Bachelors or better in Human Services or related field.

Some college or better in Human Services or related field.

**Experience**

**Required**

a. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with participants and employees b. Ability to negotiate basic computer packages and databases (Word, Excel,Outlook) c. Ability to seek out and utilize supervision process d. Ability to work as a member of an core service team e. Experience in crisis intervention with a specific focus in active listening and de-escalation f. Ability to provide life skill services to a caseload up to fifteen participants

**2 years:** Experience working directly with participants in a community-based setting

**Licenses & Certifications**

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractors legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)