Community Support Specialist 3

Easterseals Southern California transforms lives every day. For over a century, Easterseals has championed inclusion and independence—delivering essential services like early childhood programs, autism services, employment and independent living support to more than 29,000 people each year. Through advocacy and education, we break barriers and create opportunities for the one-in-four Americans with disabilities. 

OVERVIEW OF POSITION: Supportsindividuals with developmental disabilities and other co-existing conditionswho are at risk of being placed in restrictive settings to establish acoordinated system of support and obtain access to community resources. Providesoversight to the coordinated life services support team; offers them guidanceand assistance with problem solving to ensure complex challenges are addressedand resolved. Conducts assessments of new referrals, evaluating the needs ofparticipants, resources available, recommends and facilitates the plan toachieve desired outcomes. Conducts ongoing comprehensive evaluation of theindividual plan, progress, and utilization of the available communityresources.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION:

• Conducts home visits to individuals with behavioral/emotional challenges and significant medical issues. Provides intensive personal life planning, assistance, effective involvement and coordination of all activities required to ensure a successful outcome for participant and their families.
• Responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating actions required to meet the goals of the individual. Conducts intake assessments of assigned individuals. Ensures health and safety of participants through development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of Individual Service Plan (ISP), Individual Program Plan (IPP), and crisis planning; as well as ensuring program design compliance.
• Develops a person-centered support network plan. Enhances capacity and knowledge of individuals and parents/caretakers of available services, and provides intensive support and assistance with accessing community resources and system navigation to expedite utilization of services.
• Acts as a point of contact and liaison between the individual and their family/care giver and social, health, mental health, academic, and government agencies involved. Coordinates and facilitates all meetings pertaining to the individual, and maintains the Regional Center up-to-date with progress of individual.
• Maintains effective working relationship with service line staff, participants and their family members, referral and community agencies. Attends in-service and training meetings as required.
• Ensures all required documentation, data collection, files and billing adhere to internal and external guidelines set forth by program design. Complies with all applicable regulations, and with ESSC policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Performs field observations of lower level support team members; reports results to Director of service. Based on observations, provides guidance particularly on complex cases to ensure a seamless continuum of care. Conducts training to associates as required. Provides program orientation to new hires.
• Provides guidance and assistance to Community Support Specialists on complex cases, and provides back-up support as designated and needed. Assists with oversight of associate’s attendance, billing and reporting obligations of assigned specialists, and monitors staffing ratios.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree with preference for programs related to Behavioral Science, Human Services, Social Work, or related field.|Must possess and maintain valid CPR and First Aid Certifications.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 5 years of recent related experience working in a full time capacity with individuals who have dual diagnosis (developmental disability and mental illness).
• Experience providing guidance to less experienced associates, and support them with complex cases.
• Experience with service delivery systems (Regional Center, Mental Health Services, DPSS, Criminal Court).
• Or a combination of experience, education and training that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the job successfully.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Ability to speak the primary language(s) of the participant and family is preferred.
• Knowledge of community resources and agencies that serve individuals with mental illness, developmental and/or physical disabilities.
• Ability to communicate effectively, through oral and written skills, and work cooperatively with a variety of individuals and groups. Ability to maintain positive, cordial and professional interaction with participants and their family/caregivers.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications, such as Word and Outlook, and video conferencing platforms. Able to learn and use IPad and/or other assigned devices.
• Sound critical thinking and problem solving skills to assess participant’s needs and analyze feedback from other service delivery systems to determine the best individualized service plans.
• Ability to demonstrate good judgement, exercise discretion, and maintain confidentiality in handling sensitive situations and documentation.
• Ability to properly interpret and comply with policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Excellent organizational, record keeping skills and ability to maintain high level of concentration and attention to detail; multitask, establish priorities and manage time, meet deadlines, perform duties under time constraints; and to be flexible and adapt to changing work demands.
• Ability to facilitate meetings, and strong public speaking skills.
• Ability to travel locally with own reliable transportation to conduct home visits in areas served by designated Regional Center, with own reliable transportation via the use of personal vehicle, and attend community and in-service meetings. Provide proof of valid California driver's license; possess clean driving record, proper auto insurance, and vehicle registration. Appropriate vehicle for transportation of program participants if program requires.
• Ability to provide proof of required vaccinations or positive titer showing immunity. A signed declination may be acceptable for certain vaccinations.
• Ability to pass post-offer medical examination and test for tuberculosis.
• Ability to obtain fingerprint/abuse index clearance from Community Care Licensing, if program requires.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a criminal record/fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation per Easterseals Southern California and/or program requirements.
• Must pass all drug testing required by ESSC.

Carrying/Lifting: Occasional / Up to 10 lbs.
Standing: Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day
Sitting: Frequent / Up to 6 hours per day
Walking: Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day
Repetitive Motion/Activity: Keyboardactivity, telephone use, writing
Visual Acuity: Abilityto view computer monitor and read newsprint
Travel: Aminimum of 50% of time (local travel)
Environmental Exposure: Frequentunpleasant or hazardous working conditions (e.g., noise, yelling,heat, dust, bio fluids, etc.)