Community Support Team Paraprofessional

Job Description

Job Description

JOB IDENTIFICATION 
Department: Community Support Team (CST)
Job Code: Full-Time / Part-Time/ Contract CST PP Reports to: CST Team Lead
Employees Supervised/Directed: N/A

JOB SUMMARY 
The primary role of the Community Support Team Paraprofessional is to assist in the delivery of this 24/7/365 service, utilizing a team approach, including provision of services that will include direct and indirect interventions. CST is provided in a variety of locations. The team community-based mental health and substance abuse rehabilitative services and supports through a team approach necessary to assist adults in achieving rehabilitative and recovery goals. 

Community Support Team (CST) provides direct support to adults with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnosis of mental illness, substance use, or comorbid disorder and who have complex and extensive treatment needs.  This service consists of community-based mental health and substance use services, and structured rehabilitative interventions intended to increase and restore a beneficiary’s ability to live successfully in the community.  The team approach involves structured, face-to-face therapeutic interventions that assist in reestablishing the beneficiary’s community roles related to the following life domains: emotional, behavioral, social, safety, housing, medical and health, educational, vocational, and legal.  

CST is provided by Paraprofessionals according to 10A NCAC. 27G. As a service provider, the Paraprofessional must assist the consumer to develop critical daily living and coping skills, gain access to necessary services, and reduce psychiatric and addiction symptoms. This includes, but is not limited to: assessing client needs, arranging services, implementing comprehensive service plans, working in conjunction with Community Support Team Leader (LP), paraprofessional, certified peer support specialist, substance abuse counselor, and associate professional staff, advocating on the behalf of the client, completing required documentation, and other duties as assigned. The clinician seeks to provide continuity of care and enable clients to improve their quality of life and attain the highest level of independence. Services offered by the team include assistance and support for individuals in crisis situations; service coordination; psycho-education and support for individuals and their families; development of symptom monitoring and management skills; monitoring medication self-administration and compliance. The Paraprofessional has the ability to deliver services in various environments, such as residential, school, workplace, and community settings. These interventions are community-based and focused on promoting recovery, symptom reduction, increased coping skills, and achievement of the highest level of functioning in the community, and other goals as developed according to the Person-Centered Plan (PCP). 

NOTE: The AP must be qualified to provide services to Adults (age 18 and older) with mental health and substance abuse
issues exhibiting knowledge, skills, and abilities required by the population and age to be served.

General Role Requirements:  
This is an intensive community-based rehabilitation team service that provides direct treatment and restorative interventions as well as case management. CST is designed to provide: 
a. symptom stability by reducing presenting psychiatric or substance use disorder symptoms;  
b. restorative interventions for development of interpersonal, community, coping and independent living skills;  
c. psychoeducation;  
d. first responder intervention to deescalate a crisis; and 
e. service coordination and ensure linkage to community services and resources.

This team service consists of a variety of interventions available 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year, and delivered by the CST staff, who maintain contact and intervene as one organizational unit.  CST services are provided through a team approach, however discrete interventions may be delivered by any one or more team members if clinically indicated. Not all team members are required to provide direct intervention to each beneficiary on the caseload. 

Supervision Requirements:
Clinical supervision for the CST Staff is provided by the licensed Team Lead who has the knowledge, skills, and abilities required by the population served. Supervision is provided and individualized to all team members by CST Team leader, according to supervision requirements specified in 10A NCAC 27G.0104. PP’s are required to participate in supervision as outlined in the individualized supervision plan. 

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 
● Provides psycho-education as indicated in the Person Centered Plan.
● Assists with crisis interventions
● Develops, the initial Person Centered Plan and its ongoing revisions, and ensures the implementation of
the Person Centered Plan (PCP).
● Assists the Team Leader with behavioral and substance abuse treatment interventions
● Assists with the development of relapse prevention and disease management strategies   
● Participates in the initial development, implementation, and ongoing revision of the PCP.
● Communicates the beneficiary’s progress and the effectiveness of the strategies and interventions to the Team Lead as outlined in the PCP. 
● Linkage and referral to formal and informal supports. 
● Monitoring and follow up.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Valid driver's license (this is a condition of employment) including personal vehicle insurance coverage. Must maintain proficiency in company sponsored training and certifications and privileging if required. The following are conditions of employment: 

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
• General Orientation, HIPAA, Client Rights, Confidentiality, CPR, First Aid (includes Seizure Mgmt), EBPI, Medication Administration, if applicable, Blood-borne Pathogens, Workplace Safety, Cultural Diversity, Incident Reporting, CST Service Definition training, Crisis Response, (within 30 days of hire) Person Centered Plan Instructional Elements (within 30 days of hire for staff responsible for writing) which can be provided by Premier Service of Carolina, Inc. 

Non-licensed staff (QPs, APs, PP, NCPSS) shall be trained in and provide only the aspects of these practice(s) or model(s) that do not require licensure and are within the scope of their education, training, and expertise. Non-licensed staff must practice under supervision per the policy. It is the responsibility of the licensed (or Associate Level licensed, under supervision) supervisor and the CABHA Clinical Director to ensure that the non-licensed staff practice within the scope of their education, training, and expertise and are not providing any services that require licensure. All the follow up training, clinical supervision, or ongoing continuing education requirements for fidelity of the clinical model or EBP(s) must be followed.

Mandatory Trainings
In addition to the required trainings for all CST staff, non-supervisory CST staff, within 90 days of hire to provide this service or shall complete the following training requirements:  
● 13 hours of Introductory Motivational Interviewing (MI) training by a MINT Trainer (mandatory 2-day training). 
● 12 hours of Person-Centered Thinking (PCT) training from a Learning Community for Person Centered Practices certified PCT trainer. 
● 12 hours CBT- Cognitive Behavior Therapy
*Annually - Follow up or ongoing training required by modality selected for service delivery (minimum of 10 hours CBT Training) 
● 15 hours of Permanent Supportive Housing Training
● 3 hours of Trauma Informed Care
● 3 hours of Basics of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Functional Assessments

 

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS
The Paraprofessional shall have at least one year of experience working with beneficiaries with mental health or substance use disorders and have the knowledge, skills, and abilities required by the population and age to be served. 

Education/ Certification/ Skills
"Paraprofessional" within the mh/dd/sas system of care means an individual who, with the exception of staff providing respite services or personal care services, has a GED or high school diploma; or no GED or high school diploma, employed prior to November 1, 2001 to provide a mh/dd/sa service. Supervision shall be provided by a qualified professional or associate professional with the population served. The supervisor and the employee shall develop an individualized supervision plan upon hiring. The parties shall review the plan annually.

Work Environment
Work is performed primarily in the client’s living environment and in the community and may involve exposure to cigarette smoke, domestic animals/pets, household pests, uncomfortable heating/cooling, and other issues related to the domestic location in which service is delivered. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk and hear; and taste and smell. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to drive and operate personal vehicle safely and adhere to all applicable state and traffic laws. 

Ethics and Compliance Responsibilities of All Employees 
No employee, supervisor or manager of Premier Service of Carolina, Inc. has the authority to direct any other employee to do anything that violates company policies; local, state or federal laws or regulations. Premier Service of Carolina, Inc will take prompt action up to and including termination of employment on the first offense for failing to comply with these policies, laws, regulations and standards and/or failing to report conduct which violates these policies, laws, regulations and standards. Premier Service of Carolina, Inc. delivers high quality, safe and caring support services to individuals in a variety of settings. Commitment to quality is paramount, and the culture also endorses growth and development, sound financial management, and strong adherence to a Corporate Compliance Plan and the Code of Ethical Conduct. Premier focuses on complying with all Federal, State and Company regulations and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. This includes but is not limited to, ethical billing practices and the preservation of individual and public property and monies.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to write legibly and/or possess basic word processing skills, or be willing to learn. Documentation requirements consist of a full service note for each contact or intervention. Requires flexibility in scheduling and availability to adequately meet the service needs of the consumer/family and other team members. Must have reliable transportation and be willing to travel locally. 

Note: This job description does not list all your job duties. The position description and job requirements above have been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the subject position. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each job satisfactorily. Occasionally your supervisor or manager might request that you perform other reasonable duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Review of your performance is based on your performance of the duties listed in this Job Description at any time. This Job Description is not a contract for employment. Therefore, either you or Premier Service of Carolina, Inc may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without notice, with or without cause.

Flexible work from home options available.