Employment Specialist

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Engages clients and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers who do not necessarily have disabilities.
• Assists clients in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment in order for clients to make good decisions about employment opportunities. Refers clients to benefits counseling, as needed. Helps clients report earnings, as needed.
• Assesses clients' vocational functioning on ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. With the client's permission, provides education and support to family members. Discusses client's preference for disclosure of psychiatric status to employers.
• Helps clients learn about different jobs/careers by assisting with meetings with workers/managers to ask about positions that interest clients, meetings with academic advisors, observing workers (one day or less in duration), and job fairs to speak with employers about different types of jobs.
• Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on his/her caseload, following the principles and procedures of IPS supported employment.
• Conducts a minimum of six employer contacts per week. Employer contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business, describe supports offered by the program and describe client strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Provides individualized follow-along supports to assist clients in maintaining employment.
• Writes job support plans with clients and incorporating input from the mental health team.
• Adjusts employment plan according to clients' needs and preferences.
• Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact by the employment specialist with the employer.
• Provides outreach services as necessary to clients when they appear to disengage from the service. Uses a variety of methods to provide outreach.
• Provides timely interventions. Returns phone calls and reacts to situations in a timely manner. E.g. returns client phone calls within 24 hours. Goes to see employers about job loss or job problems within 24 hours. Follows up on job leads within 48 hours. Meets with clients within one week prior to job starts and within three days after job starts.
• Participates in weekly meetings with mental health treatment team and communicates individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational services into mental health treatment.
• Develops an individual employment and/or education plan with clients. Incorporates input from mental health team and family members, with client permission. Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community, for example, meets clients at their homes, workplaces, coffee shops, libraries, One-Stop offices, state VR office, family homes, helps clients follow up on job applications, and goes with clients to visit local GED programs and colleges.

SUMMARY OF OTHER JOB DUTIES:

• Reinforce and counsel on the use of appropriate work skills and habits such as grooming, job behavior, and communication with co-workers.
• Complete intake and assessment documents.
• Perform additional vocational services in this contract as assigned by the Program Director

QUALIFICATIONS:

1) Required knowledge, skills & abilities:

Ability to work as an effective team member is essential.

• Willingness to embrace change
• Computer skills using Windows
• Confidentiality: Job requires and adheres to California law regarding Welfare and Institution Code 5328
• Car Insurance and valid driver's license.

2) Minimum educational level:

• Bachelor's Degree in Special Education, Psychology, Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work or Occupational Therapy or related field or equivalent professional experience in this field.

3) Experience required:

• One-year experience in the educational or counseling of people with Mental Health disabilities.