Family Support Specialist - FSS

General Summary: This person is an integral member of the children’s BHH team supporting children and their families experiencing struggles with mental health and substance use. As a member of the team, the Family Support Specialist works to provide input on the best options and referrals for client and families as well as giving feedback on how to adequately tailor support to effectively meet client’s needs. The FSS meets individually with clients and their families and conduct group meetings as appropriate. An important aspect of this role is that the FSS is an individual who has a family member who is either currently receiving or has received services related to the diagnosis of a mental illness, and who is willing to self-identify on this basis with clients and families. This self identification enables them to adequately educate families on how to effectively navigate the Maine behavioral health system, a key part of the position. Hired specialist will have completed or will need to complete within 9 months a designated Maine Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) curriculum for peer supports and receives and maintains that certification.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Accept referrals and provide in-home and community support peer level services to assigned clients of agency and their families 
• Under the direction of the supervisor and case manager, assist clients with achieving their treatment goals in a manner that complies with the required practice, licensing, and ethical standards
• Under the direction of the case manager lead,  monitor plan goals and objectives for continued relevancy and progress and help entire team to tailor interventions to match treatment goals
• Collaborate with internal and external providers as appropriate to help ensure that client care is individualized 
• Work with clients and their families in accordance of HIPAA guidelines and ethical parameters of certification
• Under direction of program supervisor, maintain accurate files and records in accordance with Day One policies and to ensure compliance with all Federal and State regulations  
• Keep records confidential and secure
• Ensure all necessary releases of information are in place
• Complete all required documentation within defined timeframe
• Provide case manager lead with necessary information on each session
• Meet service expectations and performance management targets
• Be cooperative with providing assistance for other departments as needed
• Attend and actively participate in weekly supervision, group supervision and other meetings as directed by supervisor

Values:

• Client and people centered: celebrates diversity in the workplace and welcomes all clients, families, and employees.
• Accountable: maintains an atmosphere of trust by working as a team member, showing respect for others, and the people we care for, and uses open and honest communication.
• Leader: promotes the services offered through various components of Day One and collaborates with relevant providers to advocate for our clients and families.
• Quality: meets professional development needs by attending trainings and participating in all scheduled group and individual supervisions.

 Confidentiality:

On an ongoing basis strictly adheres to all Day One, Federal and State policies and procedures regarding the confidentiality of client, employee and Agency information.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  N/A

Requirements and Skills Needed for Position:

• Minimum of a High School diploma or equivalent.    
• Ability to read and understand simple instructions, correspondence and federal and state regulations.  Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and group situations to clients and staff and other providers.  
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers and fractions.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding in order to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form.   Ability to solve practical problems and design and implement work processes.
• CIPSS certification or the ability to be provisionally certified
• Meet agency standards for attendance and punctuality
• Exercise good judgment and sound professional boundaries in carrying out job functions
• Show a high tolerance for interruptions and varied routine
• Possess the ability to keep client information confidential
• Demonstrate the desire to “take charge” of areas of responsibilities
• Be successful in consistently meeting deadlines
• Have good documentation skills - accuracy in maintenance of records
• Possess the ability to handle multiple tasks and demands
• Be responsive to the needs of clients
• Listen effectively and use necessary communication methods to convey messages in a respectful, professional and trauma-sensitive manner
• Work well independently

COVID-19 considerations:
Day One supports all people receiving the vaccine but has chosen to issue mandatory masking in all of our facilities in lieu of a vaccine mandate at this time. We are committed to providing an environment of physical and emotional safety.