Employment Specialist

Woods Services•Northfield, NJ

11d

About The Position

The Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) and Community Integration program provides comprehensive services, including evidence-based pharmacological treatment, supported employment and education services, individual and group psychotherapy, case management, family therapy, and recovery support in the community and clinical settings. This program services individuals ages 15-35 who have an ESMI diagnosis. The Employment Specialist will focus on assisting participants to continue, resume, or adapt their academic or vocational activities successfully, using the IPS (individual placement and support) model. This is a 40 hour full time benefitted position which includes some evenings required.

Requirements

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree
Prior experience as a support education or employment specialist.

Responsibilities

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.
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 (individual placement and support) supported employment.
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 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.
Provides timely interventions.
Returns phone calls and reacts to situations in a timely manner.
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 permission.
Provides supported education, using principles similar to supported employment, for clients who express interest in education to advance their employment goals.