Family Support Specialist

Description

POSITION TITLE: Family Support Specialist (ECM) (Temporary poistion ends on 12-31-26)  

PROGRAM/LOCATION: Family Services Program/ San Luis Obispo/ Lompoc 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Family Support Specialist is part of the Family Services Team and is supervised by the Behavioral Health Navigation and Family Services Program Manager. This position promotes mental health recovery, wellness, empowerment, and advocacy, and will uphold and promote the philosophy of TMHA in all duties performed.  

This position will work with Cencal to provide Enhanced Care Management to members. ECM is a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to healthcare that aims to improve outcomes for high-need populations.  This involves coordinating medical, behavioral, and social services to address the full range of patient needs, with a focus on those with complex and chronic conditions. The intention of ECM services is to help people who have not been able to get the needed help in terms of Mental Health, Substance Abuse treatment, and linkages to community resources to help minimize recidivism. The role of the ECM Care Manager is to help create a supportive network of services and resources for the client to prevent incarceration and support long-term permanent housing goals.

HOURS/ SALARY EMPLOYEE PERKS:

Part-Time, non-exempt position. 20 hours per week. Anticipated hiring range is $23.00-$24.00. Includes a generous individual benefits package that includes critical illness benefits, accident benefits, 403b retirement (with up to a 5% employer match) paid sick time and a variety of helpful employee perks as well. (*Full Salary Schedule $23.00-$28.25per hour). 

EMPLOYEE PERKS:

A few of our helpful employee benefits include membership discounts to various local fitness centers. We offer years of service gift cards to businesses of your choice. We offer gift cards for walking, biking, or carpooling to work as well as 20% discount for shopping at our Growing Grounds Downtown Store/Nursey/ Farm. We host two employee appreciation events for employees and their families yearly. We practice Trauma Informed Care Principles, Guidelines for Collaborative Conversations, and encourage the use of pronouns. We mindfully promote equality, respect and diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and all the fascinating characteristics that make us different! TMHA is also a pet friendly workplace (upon approval)!

Mission Statement:

Transitions-Mental Health Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating stigma and promoting recovery and wellness for people with mental illness through work, housing, community, and family support services.  

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:

Transitions – Mental Health Association is a leading non-profit agency committed to providing comprehensive mental health services and support to individuals and families by inspiring hope, growth, recovery and wellness in our communities.  TMHA has decades of experience with teams of compassionate staff. TMHA is a driving force in improving mental health and wellness in our communities and a supportive and inclusive work environment that values diversity and individual contributions. 

Responsibilities and Duties:

Welcoming Environment

1. Engage with clients and family members when they arrive at either the clinic or office for their appointments.

2. Help foster and maintain a welcoming environment for clients and family members of ECM services.

3. Act as a client advocate, ensuring the client’s needs and preferences are central to care decisions.

Resource & System Navigation 

4. Understand how the Behavioral Health and/or Cencal systems work and be able to communicate the process to clients and family members.

5. Be knowledgeable of current community resources and how clients and family members can best access them.

6. Coordinate and link the client to needed mental health, substance abuse, and housing resources. 

7. Assist clients with paperwork for their appointments.

8. Help clients keep their scheduled appointments by making reminder calls and providing information on how to reschedule if needed.

ECM

9. Conduct outreach to identify and engage eligible individuals in ECM services, using multiple strategies and modalities for engagement.

10. Conduct ECM assessments of clients’ needs, including medical, behavioral, and social factors.

11. Develop, implement, and monitor personalized care plans in collaboration with clients, their families, healthcare providers, and community resources with the program manager’s support.

12. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of care plans and make adjustments as needed to client goals with the program manager’s support.

13. Serve as the primary point of contact for the client, relevant family members, and other supports.

14. Operate as part of the client’s multi-disciplinary care team.

15. Coordinate care across multiple providers and services, ensuring seamless integration of medical and social care.

16. Travel locally to deliver services to clients in the community where they live, work, or frequent.

17. Attend workshops, meetings, and trainings as requested by supervisor.

Data Collection

18. Participate in data collection and evaluation activities, which may include surveys, interviews, and focus groups, as specified by the Manager.

19. Maintained concise and comprehensive case records on all participants seeking services.

20. Document services and case notes in the agency’s Electronic Health Record within 72 hours of each service and in compliance with agency policy, as well as contractual, state, funding source, and federal regulations.

General

21. Promote, encourage, and maintain trauma-informed practices in all services and activities. 

22. Practice and promote, both individually and in team meetings, the Collaborative Communication Guidelines in order to facilitate clear, empathetic, and person-centered communication. 

23. Develop and nurture supportive working relationships with Behavioral Health and Cencal staff.

24. Meet weekly with the Program Manager. Make recommendations to the Program Manager for program changes or enhancements.

25. Protect the privacy and confidentiality of participants.

26. Maintain a consistent schedule.

27. Respond to emails, phone calls, and all correspondence in a timely and professional manner.

28. Complete required hours of in-service training and attend all required meetings.

29. Understand, implement, and ensure recovery and wellness standards and philosophy in all programs, promoting the tenets of hope, personal responsibility, self-advocacy, education, and support. 

30. Assume other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Program Manager and Program Director.

Job Environment:

1. Light, physical activity.  May include moving or lifting up to 25 lbs.

2. Involves moderate risks that require safety precautions and the risk of exposure to potential crisis situations.  

Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

1. The Family Support Specialist will be an individual (consumer or family member) who possesses insight and experience with mental health services, providing empathy and understanding of the circumstances facing clients, and may interact with staff to determine client needs.

2. Basic knowledge of mental illness, TMHA programs, and community services.

3. Strong grounding in TMHA’s mission.

4. Completion of a high school diploma or equivalent preferred.

5. Must be proactive regarding self-care, with the ability to identify triggers and burnout. 

6. Strong interpersonal skills, collaborative work style and strong oral/written and communication skills.  

7. Well defined organizational and time management skills. 

8. Ability to work independently and flexibly.

9. Ability to handle intense situations, display good judgment and decision-making skills, and remain calm and clearheaded under pressure. 

10. Able to work effectively with a variety of people and personality types regardless of age, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or socio-economic level.

11. Ability to possess and maintain good physical and mental health.  

12. Ability to work well within a team and maintain a professional, respectful attitude in the workplace.

13. Ability to be willing to work with supervisor oversight and direction. 

14. Attendance is an essential function of this job that requires face-to-face interaction with clients and/or other employees.

15. Ability to mindfully promote equality and respect diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all of the other fascinating characteristics that make us different.

16. Demonstrate the ability to successfully deliver culturally responsive services.

17. Knowledge of the various dimensions of diversity, including mental health, gender, race and ethnicity. 

18. Must use reasonable precautions in the performance of one’s duties and adhere to all applicable safety rules and practices while acting in such a manner as to assure at all times, maximum safety to one’s self, fellow employees, clients, and other persons contacted through TMHA business. 

19. Conditions of employment include: 

• Must be at least 18 years of age; possess a valid CA Driver’s License, at least 2 years driving experience, reliable transportation, proof of auto insurance, and DMV driving record that meets TMHA’s current vehicle insurance requirements.  May be required to utilize personal vehicle and auto insurance. 

• Must comply with a TB assessment (possibly a TB test if needed to confirm a negative tuberculosis result) and receipt of a criminal record clearance through fingerprinting.

• Must be able to successfully complete First Aid and CPR training.

Physical Demands:

1. Seeing

2. Hearing

3. Speaking

4. Stooping/Bending

5. Moving around the office

6. Moving between offices/clients

7. Driving

8. Climbing

9. Lifting/carrying heavy items

10. Computer use

11. Pushing/pulling/dragging items

12. Standing for long periods

13. Working outside

14. Using hands/fingers