Community Employment Specialist

Suncoast Center • St. Petersburg, FL

16h • Hybrid

About The Position

This role involves assisting individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and forensic involvement in finding and maintaining employment. The specialist will work both in the office and in the community, establishing relationships with employers and advocating for clients. The position requires strong documentation skills, participation in team meetings, and adherence to company policies and ethical standards.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Knowledge of employment related practices required.
• Previous experience with individuals with a severe and persistent mental illness and forensic involvement.
• Must be 21 years of age.
• Negative Drug Screening prior to hire and throughout employment.
• Clear Criminal Background Check throughout employment with Suncoast Center and local checks prior to hire and annually along with DCF Level II prior to hire and as required by DCF.
• Must have valid Florida Driver’s License Motor Vehicle checks prior to hire and annually with acceptable driving record maintained throughout employment along with reliable vehicle, valid registration, and valid vehicle insurance.
• Computer Literate
• Ability to function and operate as a team player, showing dignity and respect for all.
• Ability to comply with all equal employment opportunity and ethical standards and regulations.
• Ability to take direction in a respectful and productive manner from supervisors and managers.
• Ability to work, as scheduled, in a timely fashion, and with an attitude oriented to service.
• Ability to have cordial and professional relationships both within the organization and with vendors, clients and third parties.
• Ability to understand and comply with Suncoast Center, Inc. policies and procedures.
• Ability to render compassionate care and equal commitment to serve clients in need of healthcare assistance.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling preferred
• If appropriate, the ability to produce all appropriate paperwork and reports consistent with contractual, state or federal standard, and to prepare and submit such paperwork on a timely basis.

Responsibilities

• Meets individually with persons served to assist them in determining employment possibilities using respectful and competency-based words and actions that take cultural differences into consideration and promote recovery by ensuring individual choice is valued.
• Ensures that whatever employment objectives are reached with the person served that these objectives are written on the person’s treatment plan with the plan of action accurately delineated.
• Establishes relationships with employers in the community to refer, support and advocate for persons served. Keeps a binder with all employer contacts and relevant information documented in it.
• Serves as a supportive link between the person served and the employer to advocate and assist with obstacles encountered when entering the work force and maintaining gainful employment.
• Completes all documentation correctly and in the required time frame including progress notes with objective to treatment plan clearly stated, timecard, and other documentation as requested by the team leader or needed to ensure all records are complete.
• Participates in daily staff organizational meetings and treatment planning review meetings. Discusses cases appropriately at staffings. When not able to be present at a daily meeting, calls in with specific review of client contacts over the previous 24-hour period.
• Provides other services to individuals served and/or the Team as needed and assigned by the team leader.
• Meets with the team leader for supervision when necessary to discuss cases and ensure excellence in clinical practice.
• Accomplishes individual goals

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with 0 copy for Teledoc Appointments
• EAP Supports
• Company Paid Basic Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Long term Disability
• Options to secure additional Life/AD&D as well as short term disability
• Paid time off
• 10 company paid holidays
• Professional development options through our Learning Management System and live trainings
• 403b with up to a 5% company match
• Monthly Social Committee Events

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees