Employment Specialist

Community Counseling Center (CCC)•Perryville, MO

12d•Onsite

About The Position

As an Employment Specialist, you will be responsible for the delivery of the IPS Supported Employment program for assigned clients. This role involves engaging clients to achieve competitive employment in community job settings, assisting them with understanding how employment affects their benefits, and assessing their vocational functioning. You will also conduct job development, job search activities, and provide ongoing support to clients to help them maintain employment. Additionally, you will educate and support employers, provide outreach to clients, and collaborate with mental health treatment teams and vocational rehabilitation counselors. Documentation in clinical records and maintaining productivity standards are key aspects of this role. You will also be responsible for transporting clients and developing individual employment plans.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in mental Health, social services, or business required.
Must hold or obtain by start date, MO Class E Driver's License (Class D for IL Residents), and proof of continuous auto insurance.
Must meet CCC's Motor Vehicle Record standards policy and have reliable transportation.

Responsibilities

Engage clients with the goal of competitive employment in community job settings.
Assist clients in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI or Medicaid) and how they will be affected by employment. Refers clients to benefits counseling, as needed. Helps clients report earnings, as needed.
Assess 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 clients of psychiatric status to employers if the client wishes to disclose.
Conduct job development and job search activities to help clients find positions that match their interests and needs, following the principles and procedures of IPS supported employment.
Conduct a minimum of six face-to-face 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.
Provide individualized follow-along supports to assist clients in maintaining employment. Writes job support plans with clients, incorporating input from the mental health team. Adjusts plan according to clients' needs and preferences.
Provide education and support to employers, with clients' agreement and consent, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact by the employment specialist with the employer.
Provide outreach services, as necessary, to clients when they appear to disengage from the service. Uses a variety of methods to provide outreach.
Participate 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.
Document in clinical records according to IPS standards and policy and procedures.
Maintain work productivity standards as established by supervisor and in accordance with assigned caseloads.
Participate in face-to-face meetings with vocational rehabilitation counselors at least once a month to coordinate services for clients.
Responsible for transporting clients in agency and/or personal vehicle as deemed necessary and appropriate to meet program requirements.
Develop an individual employment (and/or education) plan with clients. Incorporates input from mental health team and family members, with client's permission.