Community Support Specialist bei Pressley Ridge

Be the change you wish to see in the world! Come join our team to empower children and families in our communities to transform their lives and develop to their full potential.

We are in search of candidates with knowledge about the community and local services!
A good communicator(text/email/phone), with a desire to work with a team,
who agrees that education(life-skills) is important for youth aging out of the state system(foster care/Juvenile services) to avoid homelessness.
A natural helper, with patience, situational awareness and awareness of different learning styles.

***This position offers a 9a-5p schedule(no weekends unless you volunteer), paid training, overtime(if needed), and a full benefits package.***

Does this sound like a good fit for YOU?

Pressley Ridge Benefits

The well-being of our employees and their families is important to us. At Pressley Ridge, we strive to provide the most competitive and comprehensive employee benefit programs that are affordable and help you and your family achieve and maintain your best possible health.

• Medical coverage available with a Health Savings Account (HSA) with 50% employer match
• Prescription coverage
• Dental and vision plans
• Patient advocate and Medicare specialists available at no cost
• Dependent Care Flexible Savings Account
• Wellness incentive (up to $250)
• 403b with up to 9% employer give/match
• Free life insurance and AD&D
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 9 paid holidays (7 recognized holidays plus a floating and birthday holiday per year)
• Tuition reimbursement (if applicable)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Rate: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour depending on experience. 

Position Summary

The Community Support Specialist (CSS) works within a team to support transition-aged youth who live independently in the community. The CSS provides daily life skills directly to either parenting or non-parenting participants, ages 16-21, who are committed to DHS, DJS or both, in Maryland. The CSS is also responsible for documenting daily communication with program participants, to ensure safety of the youth and security of the apartments during the workday. The CSS works diligently with the team to assist the youth in obtaining employment or other income, prior age-out, for self-sufficiency.

Essential Responsibilities

1. Orients participants into the program, specifically focus on teaching life skills modules pertaining to community living, home management and financial stability.
2. Administers the Casey Life skills assessment, to establish life skills needs and strengths, within 30 days of placement.
3. Teaches participants relevant life skills, in their living environment, in an effort to meet their life skills outcome goals as established by COMAR and program policies.
4. Establishes a professional rapport with the leasing offices, community services, various DSS Ready-By-21 workers, local employers to better serve program participants.
5. Completes regular apartment inspections of the participants living space.
6. Completes work orders for in-house maintenance issues with participant apartments.
7. Manages and facilitates all financial responsibilities (Obtaining employment, stipends, personal budgets, credit reports, etc.) pertaining to the participants.
8. Actively participates in participant case plan meetings.
9. Contributes to participant’s monthly progress note and quarterly individual treatment plans.
10. Provides crisis-intervention for situations requiring immediate attention.
11. Complete incident reports according to OLM and Pressley Ridge’s policies and procedures.

Qualifications  

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

• Valid Driver’s License with acceptable driving record and proof of current automobile insurance and reliable transportation is strongly preferred.

Working Conditions  

1. Physical Demands:

1. Ability to lift/carry at least 20 pounds (laptop, files, etc.)
2. Must be able to operate a computer keyboard and a smartphone, required. (manual dexterity)
3. Must be able to operate agency vans as well as personal vehicle safely during required work hours
4. Must be able to manage stress well

2. Environmental Factors:

1. Ability to negotiate diverse living and community environments
2. Ability to negotiate diverse/multi-level buildings and living environments that do not have elevators
3. Required local travel is 25% of the time.
4. 80% community work setting/20% desk work

3. Working Hours:

1. Must be able to work full-time weekly business hours on a consistent basis with the flexibility to adjust hours based on the needs of the participants and the organization.