Community Support Specialist - Family Residences and Essential Enterprises

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY
Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Community Support Specialist (CSS) provides training in independent living skills, including how to be responsible tenants and maintain psychiatric stability. The CSS assists the Program Supervisor in implementing agency policies and procedures.

DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Works with the people we support to help them identify and realize their personal life goals.
• Ensures fire safety equipment is in working condition and teaches individuals to utilize this equipment.
• Teaches individuals who to contact for emergencies including, but not limited to, medical, psychiatric, fire, lack of food, etc.
• Assists individuals in utilizing community/neighborhood services.
• Acts as a liaison between individuals, landlords, and various treatment team members.
• Teaches independent living skills necessary to sustain individuals in the community and prevent homelessness such as: apartment maintenance, socialization skills, budgeting, self-medication, personal care, travel training, shopping, cooking, and returning to school or the work force.
• Develops Individualized Support Plans in conjunction with individuals and treatment teams; encourages follow through on all goals in areas including but not limited to: housing stability, medication management, employment and vocational training, mental health treatment services, drug and alcohol assessment and referral, and referrals for community-based services.
• Encourages and supports individuals to maintain psychiatric stability through counseling, crisis intervention, attending a daytime activity, participating in treatment, and utilizing other available resources.
• Works with Health Home to ensure coordination of all services (Psychiatric & Physical)
• Assists individuals in complying with mandated treatment, such as AOT order specifications, and legal mandates, such as conditions of parole or probation.
• In OMH Supportive Housing Programs, CSS will be responsible for providing Tenancy Supports to individuals enrolled in the program:
o Community integration skill-building services: direct training and supports to assist individuals with community integration, including community resource coordination, treatment planning, and rehabilitative independent living skills training to help individuals transitioning into housing
o Stabilization services: direct services and supports to assist individuals living in a community setting, including tenancy support planning, rehabilitative independent living skills training, community resources coordination, and crisis planning and intervention to help individuals remain in housing
• Ensures that all required documentation (paper and electronic) is completed /processed appropriately, in a timely manner, and meets quality and compliance thresholds.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Responsibilities of All FREE Employees
• Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
• Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
• Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
• Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
• Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.
Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and may be changed by FREE at any time, with or without notice to the employee.

QUALIFICATIONS
• Education:
o High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Experience:
o At least 2 (two) full years of experience or Associate Degree in Human Services field
o Experience working with individuals diagnosed with mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders preferred
• Specialized Training, Licenses, Certifications:
o Not required, training will be provided upon hire as needed
• Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities:
o Proficient computer skills
o Proficient writing skills with grasp of basic grammar and spelling
o Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment with flexibility, keeping others informed and anticipating needs is essential
o Must be efficient, well organized, and have excellent communication skills
• Other Requirements:
o Valid NYS driver’s license and satisfy criteria to be a driver for FREE
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This role is performed in-person; travel required. In OMH and HUD Supported Housing Programs, MRST and OMH Apartment Treatment Program, CSS team members are required to utilize their own transportation to provide services.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
• Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours).
• Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets.
• Employee is required to reach with hands and arms.
• Employee is required to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch or stand on a stool as needed.
• Employee is required to be able to lift 25 pounds at a time.
Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE.
***************************** The Pay Range for this job is $21.00 - $21.98. This range is based on what FREE reasonably believes it will pay an employee as for said position at the time of the posting. Individual compensation will ultimately be determined based on a variety of relevant factors, including, but not limited to, an individual’s experience, qualifications, services provided, geographic location, relevant skills, and other factors permitted under federal, state, and local laws.
FREE is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected characteristic. In addition to federal law requirements, FREE complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in all of its locations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
This job description has been approved by all levels of management.