Community Support Technician (8)

*This Community Support Technician position will primarily be responsible for providing direct support to individuals with mental health needs, helping clients develop independent living skills and access community resources to improve daily functioning. Responsibilities include collaborating with case managers and service providers, conducting assessments, providing transportation, maintaining case documentation and supervising visitations within the Child Protection unit.

Under the general direction of the Social Services Supervisor and guidance of assigned Case Manager(s), the Community Support Technician is responsible for providing paraprofessional services to clients with serious and persistent mental health problems.  Duties include administering assessment tools, instructing and teaching clients in areas of independent living skills and use of community resources to improve independence and improved daily functioning.

• Provides paraprofessional services to clients.
  • Serves as an advocate for clients and serves as a liaison between the client and Case Manager or others.
  • Collaborates with other team members in the planning and implementation of interventions to meet client needs.
  • Provides consultation and works closely with other community agencies and providers in meeting client needs.
  • Supervises visitations within the child protection unit.
  • Instructs and teaches clients in independent living skills individually or in group settings.
  • Administers assessment tools.
• Participates in the development and/or implementation of the client's Individual Family Community Support Plan (ICSP). Meets weekly, individually, in group or community settings.
• Maintains case records and prepares progress reports. Documents case records and progress reports in SSIS system.
• Provides transportation services to clients to and from individual and group activities or appointments.
• Researches and assists in the design of curricula to teach basic living skills (e.g. housekeeping, money management, food preparation, shopping, personal hygiene, etc.), communication, social and interpersonal skills, and to promote community involvement.
• Employees must consistently report to work as scheduled and maintain regular attendance.
• Performs other duties of a comparable level or type, as required.
  • Attends internal and community meetings.
  • Attends Local Advisory Council Board, mental health unit meetings, staff meetings or training sessions.

High School Degree. A valid MN Driver's license. No previous experience required. 

Preference for 1-3 years of human service or social support service related experience.

Essential knowledge and specialized subject knowledge required to perform the essential functions of the job:

• Knowledge of parenting skills, child care methods, child development, home management, housekeeping skills, money management, basic nutrition, meal planning, personal hygiene and community resources.

• Knowledge of County, department and program policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of human behavior and social trends, problems and issues faced by clientele.
• Knowledge of mental health and unit goals.
• Knowledge of interviewing and intervention techniques.
• Knowledge of department programs, services, policies, procedures and organization.
• Fundamental knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge concerning the operation and use of computer equipment, general productivity software (i.e. spreadsheets, word processing, etc.) and human service customized applications and software for case management documentation.
• Knowledge of data privacy regulations and data retention schedules.

Skilled in:

• Teaching, role modeling and providing independent living skills, home management skills, nutrition and meal planning, hygiene and other homemaking and parenting to clients.
• Administering department assessment tools.
• Assisting in the design of program curricula.
• Adapting to varying lifestyles, environments and personal situations of clients.
• Following written and verbal instructions of Case Manager(s).
• Implementing child protection visitations.
• Applying tact, judgment and discretion in dealing with clients.
• Communicate effectively with clients, collaborating with other department staff in addressing needs of clients.
• Working and performing assignments under minimal supervision.
• Attends internal and community meetings.
• Attends Local Advisory Council Board, mental health unit meetings, staff meetings or training sessions.

Physical requirements associated with the position can be best summarized as follows:
Light Work:
Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects in the performance of the job.
Working Conditions:
Employee works primarily in an indoor office setting and is exposed to minimal adverse or hazardous physical or environmental conditions.  Employees are exposed to some disagreeable, hostile, uncooperative and/or angry clients or members of the public that can make the job less than desirable.  Potential hazards and risks can be minimized through departmental procedures, training, and general county risk management techniques employed by the County.