Supported Housing Specialist

CareLink Community Support Services has a current opening for full-time, benefits eligible, Supported Housing Specialist at our Supported Living Services program in Lansdowne, PA.

For over 60 years, CareLink Community Support Services has been dedicated to helping people with disabilities to live in the community with dignity and independence. Our rehabilitation services and professional staff provide the supports that people with serious mental illness, physical disabilities and other developmental challenges need to be active, productive members of their communities.

Individuals working in this capacity are accountable for implementing quality rehabilitative programming and ensuring the health and welfare of up to but no more than 25 service participants. This position is responsible for supporting community integration. The goal of this position is to promote the pursuit of independence for all individuals participating in service. The essential functions are established based upon the agency mission, values, and goals.

Salary:

Starting at $15.50

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, tuition reimbursement, 403(b),

• Paid time off and paid holidays.

• Long term disability coverage, employee assistance program,

• Basic life insurance, and basic AD&D coverage at no cost to employees.

• Voluntary, employee paid, benefit plans including short term disability, supplemental life insurance and AD&D.

• Critical illness and accident coverage are also available.

Job Summary

This position is responsible for promoting recovery, wellness, and self-determination for individuals participating in services by implementing, supporting, and documenting activities that promote recovery. This position is responsible to provide resource management and other supports to individuals in service and to promote the pursuit of independence for all individuals participating in service.

Essential Functions

• Assess the needs of the person in service initially for strengths and available resources.

• Participate in the development and implementation of service/recovery plans reflecting the individual's preferences, goals, lifestyles, and interests.

• Serve as an advocate on behalf of the individuals in service and encourage them to assume a proactive role in their rehabilitation process.

• Conduct home visits of assigned caseload.

• Assess and identify gaps in service delivery and recommend alternative action plans.

• Maintain and monitor an assigned caseload of individuals in service by supporting individuals residing in the community and establishing and reinforcing links to the local community on behalf the individuals in services.

• Assist where appropriate the individual in service accessing community healthcare resources including preventative and necessary follow-up services.

• Utilize local resource networks for referral to enhance program continuity.

• Assess, teach, evaluate, and supervise individual's skills in the areas of daily living, meal planning, housekeeping, career needs, and social, recreational, and community activities.

• Maintain and submit required program reports and documentation, including progress notes, service plans, and incident reports.

• Complete written documentation daily that reflects the individual's recovery and progress on their goals as well as staff interventions.

• Respond appropriately to safety/emergency situations.

• Drive agency vehicles in a safe manner following the applicable traffic laws for purposes of supporting individuals and/or the program.

• Provide consistent and positive feedback to individuals we serve.

• Provide individuals with opportunities to make informed decisions and support them in their decisions.

• Actively uphold and advocate for individuals' rights.

• Use knowledge of basic recovery principles and methods of rehabilitation in the performance of your job.

• Assist individuals to participate in appropriate daily activities that promote recovery.

• Use person centered language (non-judgmental or negative) in written documentation.

• Communicate with individuals using language that promotes respect, acceptance and hope for their recovery

• Work creatively with people in recovery with respect to their cultural heritage or cultural identification, age, disability, religious or spiritual identification.

• Actively provides opportunities and support to the individual in finding and expressing spiritual growth/well-being.

• Encourage and support individuals in developing positive relationships with family and significant others.

• Monitor, assess and report each individual's need for additional or replacement clothing or personal items and notify Program Supervisor.

• Educate, discuss, and encourage residents to address their daily and long term physical health.

• Assist individuals who are on smoking precautions to maintain safety.

• Encourage and assist individuals through modeling, verbal teaching, and/or direct assistance with maintaining cleanliness and orderliness of their residence and in appropriate personal hygiene.

• Review emergency procedures with individuals on a regular basis.

• Assess, teach, evaluate, and supervise individual's skills in the areas of daily living, meal planning, housekeeping, career needs, and social, recreational, and community activities.

• Assist individuals in the planning, initiation and participation of social and recreational activities based on their interests.

• Support individuals in accessing the community through use of agency or public transportation.

• Provide the individual with opportunities and supports to access the community resources in achieving their goals.

• Encourage and support individuals in developing positive relationships with family and significant others.

• Locate and access community medical resources for individual needs as applicable.

• Participate in staff meetings and complete a minimum of 18 training hours per year.

• Adhere to agency/site policies and procedures and perform job within professional standards.

• Perform occasional administrative activities, including but not limited to filing, copying, compilation, and collation of paperwork.

• Complete paperwork/documentation as required.

• Follow instructions accurately and thoroughly while completing assigned tasks within expected time frames.

• Attend and participate in staff meetings with the goal of improving services.

• Attend training programs with the goal of improving services.

• Attend and participate in supervision on an on-going basis.

• Performs job in a safe manner.

• Reports/addresses safety concerns in a timely manner.

• Reports/documents maintenance issues in a timely manner.

• Monitor kitchen, housekeeping and linen supplies for replacement and notify Program Supervisor.

• Adhere to the dress code policy and the site dress code procedures.

• Adhere to supervisor's requests and display ability to take direction.

• Show initiative and demonstrate good judgment.

• Work as scheduled to assure coverage.

• Work flexible schedule as needed.

• Have and project a positive attitude and image to individuals, family members, and outside contacts.

• Cooperate with other staff and exhibit positive attitude toward position and agency mission.

• Use appropriate communication channels.

• Respond appropriately to safety/emergency situations.

• Drive agency vehicles in a safe manner following the applicable traffic laws for purposes of supporting individuals and/or the program.

• Performs other duties or special projects as required or as assigned.

Other Functions

• Attends and participates in regular supervision.

• Responds appropriately to emergency situations.

• Performs job within framework of agency, site, and professional standards.

• Participates in staff meetings and training programs.

• Attends and participates in agency events.

• Adheres to agency/site policies and procedures including HIPAA requirements.

• Cooperates and coordinates with Regional Director on all operational issues.

• Projects a positive attitude and image to staff, participants, family members, and outside contacts.

• Uses appropriate communication channels.

• Completes assignments independently and within specified time frames.

• Participates in achievement of agency objectives, goals, and mission.

• Displays motivation and interest in working creatively with people who have mental illness/disabilities.

• Demonstrates the ability to make sound judgements regarding the welfare of people served.

• Displays ability to take direction.

• Demonstrates knowledge of basic principles and methods of clinical psychology and psychiatric rehabilitation.

• Follows agency dress code.

• Adheres to supervisor's requests.

• Cooperates with other staff and exhibit positive attitude toward position and agency.

• Contributes to the growth and development of services.

• Shows initiative and demonstrate good judgement.

• Follows instructions accurately and thoroughly.

• Works as scheduled to assure coverage.

• Performs job in a safe manner.

• Reports/addresses safety concerns in a timely manner.

Qualifications

Required Education: High School Diploma or GED

Preferred Education: Bachelor's Degree

Field of study: Mental Health, Health, Human Services or related field

Work Experience: 2 to 3 years

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations Required: Valid Driver's License

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products.

• Strong collaborating skills, and an ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with frequent deadlines; high energy, self-motivated and proactive.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to multitask and be flexible with regard to workload and assignments.

• Ability to exercise judgment.

• Knowledge of psychotropic medications preferred.

• Knowledge of basic principles and methods of rehabilitation required.

• Motivation, interest and ability to work empathetically with people who have mental illness required.

• Ability to work independently and effectively handle multiple tasks required.

• Ability to work as a leader required.

• Ability to make sound judgments regarding the health/welfare of consumers required.

• Ability to handle confidential information required.

• Ability and willingness to drive agency car/van required.