Community Support Specialist at Northpointe Behavioral Healthcare System – Kingsford, Michigan

Northpointe is a Community Mental Health (CMH) organization providing services to individuals with serious mental illness, emotional disturbance, substance abuse disorders, and intellectual/developmental disabilities across Iron, Dickinson, and Menominee counties in the UP of Michigan. Northpointe itself was established in 1995 but has roots as a CMH dating back to 1964. Our presence can be found through remote emergency services, in school and home-based programs, and in clinical and residential home settings.

Job Purpose

The Community Support Specialist provides support to individuals to maintain living in an independent setting. The goal of this position is coach, prompt, and train individuals to learn skills necessary to maintain or achieve independence, create an opportunity to achieve goals, and to foster community inclusion.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• A review of this description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by the supervisor.

Essential Duties

• Assists clinical staff in administering and documenting therapeutic activities as trained per the individual plan of service.
• Safely transports and accompanies individuals to and from community needs according to the individual plan of service, including assisting passengers to enter and leave vehicles, using proper loading and unloading procedures and ensuring seat belt use by passengers.
• Attends and participates in staff/team meetings. • Advocates and ensures that Recipient Rights are respected and protected.
• Observes and documents individuals’ behaviors involving interaction with others, physical health, communication, feeding patterns, toileting, etc. to facilitate assessment and development of treatment goals, if required.
• Provides verbal, nonverbal, behavioral, or physical interventions according to Northpointe training.
• Interacts with individuals and involves them in activities that are a part of their daily routine, adapting them as necessary so the individual can participate to the fullest extent.
• Provides prompts and cueing with bathing, personal hygiene, and dressing according to plan of service.
• Records data into the individuals’ electronic medical record.
• Maintains a safe and therapeutic environment for individuals, coworkers, and the community at all times.
• Provides prompts and cueing with housekeeping and/or routine maintenance in order to maintain a safe and clean environment.
• Maintains a safe driving record.

Education, Certifications, and/or Experience

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED)
• Experience working with individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disability preferred.
• Experience working in a caregiving role preferred.
• Valid driver’s license preferred.
• Certification as a nursing assistant preferred (re-certification required for compensation).