ACT Team Vocational Rehab Specialist

Job Title: ACT Team Vocational Rehab Specialist Department: Behavioral Services

Reports to: Director of ACT Team Revision Date: 7/10/2020

Status: Non-Exempt

Job Summary:

Under the general direction of the Director and heir designee, in accordance with the objectives, policies and procedures of the ACT Team department and established professional standards, provide clinical treatment, psychosocial rehabilitation, and community support services designed to promote recovery by improving psychiatric symptoms, preventing relapse, teaching skills, providing direct assistance and securing community resources necessary for successful functioning in work, school, home and social relationships.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Provides vocational support to those with chronic, persistent mental illness in the community on an outreach basis.
• Participates in an on-call rotation, team must provide continuous coverage 24 hours a day, every day, including weekends and holidays.
• Medication Support: Rehabilitative counseling and skill development, regarding medications are provided under the supervision of the professional staff. Staff member may deliver medications from pharmacy, monitor medication response, side effects, observe clients filling their medication bar and report observations or concerns to the licensed professional/provider and/or NP/RN.
• Teach empowerment/self-help. Encourage and assist consumers to participate in self-advocacy.
• Provide health education, sex education, and counseling. Schedule routine and acute medical and dental care appointments. Accompany clients to appointments if necessary.
• Assists clients in exploring all dimensions of vocational, educational and leisure pursuits with clients to incorporate into their recovery.
• Teaches problem solving, coping and relationship skills to clients and their natural supports.
• Educates clients and their natural supports about mental illness.
• Teaches client to identify relapse triggers and develop a relapse plan.
• Service Planning: Develop with clients a comprehensive, individualized service plan that is goal oriented. Identify strengths and weaknesses, needs and goals. Identify risk factors regarding harm to self and/or others.
• Provide crisis counseling when necessary, including weekends and holidays.
• Engage clients in establishing trusting, collaborative relationships directed towards the goal of competitive employment in community settings.
• Assist Clients in learning how benefits will be affected by earned income.
• Develop individual employment plan with the client that incorporates information from the client’s employment goals.
• Encourage clients to think about long term employment goals, work history, strengths, justice involvement and other factors that are related to and may affect vocational goals.
• Complete career profiles for each client and assist client with updating the profile as new experiences occur.
• Provide support to clients in connecting to, engaging with and following through with education, volunteer, and/ or employment opportunities.
• Provide outreach services to potential employers, educators, community partners and other networking contacts to promote positive community connections.
• Work as a liaison between client and potential employer to assist with orientation, training and Engagement.
• Assist clients with identification of symptoms of mental illness that could interfere with employment and work with them to develop skills to cope with them.
• Plan and provide work related supportive services such as assistance with grooming, and personal hygiene.
• Vocational Specialist must be cross trained to other specialty roles in the ACT team to best support clients.
• Prepare and process routine correspondence and process incoming and outgoing mail.
• Schedule client appointments to meet the needs of customers and request and obtain past medical records for patients upon admission.
• Complete Release of Information by obtaining data from discharge releases and other agencies.
• Assist with discharge planning by making appointments with other agencies and Out-Treatment.
• Maintain case management list complete any reports as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities (Unit Specific):

• Ability to use computer programs, including order entry per policy as assigned.
• Ability to complete documentation accurately and in a timely manner.
• Ability to accurately identify information to properly file, collate, or report data.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred
• Minimum 6 months of direct care experience with serious mental health illness is required.
• Valid Driver’s license, clean driving record, and reliable vehicle required.
• Requires completion of ACT mandatory trainings within first year of employment, and BLS certified.

Working Conditions:

• Position requires the ability to drive frequently and the use of a personal vehicle.
• Requires the ability to sit and type at a computer frequently.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk frequently.
• Ability to climb flights of stairs, ability to lift a minimum of 40 pounds (or more) using proper body mechanics for personal and patient/client safety.
• Requires cross-training to other specialty roles in the ACT team to best support clients.
• Actively participate in-service programs, Quality Assurance and CQI; attend all mandatory classes, meetings and committees as required; complete department-specific requirements.
• Comply with DOH requirements for annual health assessments and required immunizations.

Pay Range: $23.61-$24.65/hr

Employee salary is based on commensurate experience and other qualifications.

About Oswego Health:
The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents throughout Oswego County. As a nonprofit healthcare system established in 1881, Oswego Health is proud to be Oswego County’s largest private employer. More than 1,300 employees spread throughout its 18 locations, work for the Oswego Health system, which includes the 132-bed community Oswego Hospital, a 32-bed psychiatric acute-care facility with multiple outpatient behavioral health service locations, The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility, and Springside at Seneca Hill, an independent retirement community. The health system also operates Oswego Health Home Care, the only hospital-based certified home healthcare agency in the County, as well as two outpatient centers, including the Fulton Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, physical therapy, and occupational health services, and the Central Square Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, and physical therapy services. In addition, the healthcare system includes Oswego Health Medical Practice, a multi-specialty medical group offering the community accessible, high-quality healthcare. 100+ physicians and advanced practice providers offer an extensive array of services across CNY, including primary care and specialty care in the areas of orthopedics, cardiology, ENT, gastroenterology, breast care, general surgery, urology, and bariatrics.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Oswego Health is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment-related matters, without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race), creed, color, religion, sex/gender, national origin, age, marital or familial status, disability, pregnancy-related condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, citizenship status, ancestry, arrest/conviction record, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, reproductive health decision making, relationship or association with a member of a protected category, or any other legally protected characteristic. Decisions affecting your position including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, training, tuition assistance, leaves of absence, disciplinary action, layoff/recall, and terminations will be made in accordance with this policy.