Employment Specialist

Bridgeway•Normal, IL

17d•$19 - $21

About The Position

The Employment Specialist provide Community Employment Services (CES) to persons with disabilities - individuals with identified psychiatric, developmental, and/or physical impairments with the desired outcome being long term, stable, competitive community employment. Community Employment Services utilize the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) evidence-based fidelity model that includes engagement, intake, assessment, service planning, individualized rapid job search, advocacy, linkage, counseling, on-the job training/coaching, and community support services. To learn more about this position, please read the summarized list of duties below: Additional responsibilities include job development, competitive placement, job retention, personalized benefit planning, and follow along supports. The population to be served includes adults and adolescents with disabilities (16 years and older). Coordination and treatment planning with the interdisciplinary team is an integral component of Community Employment Services. Work with an identified caseload of consumers enrolled in Community Employment Services to facilitate successful employment for each consumer commensurate with his/her abilities, strengths, preferences, desired outcomes, cultural diversity and other identified needs. Assure orientation of new consumers within Community Employment Services. Reopenable for educating consumers, employers, interdisciplinary team staff, DRS counselors and other stakeholders about benefits and costs associated with disclosing a disability as part of the job search. Provide transportation for consumers placed in community employment, developing alternate resources/natural supports for ongoing transportation. Monitor a caseload of people and assist in making referrals and coordinating needed services.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience
Mental Health Professional (MHP) status
Must have reliable transportation, valid driver's license and meets organization's insurability requirements
Employment with Bridgeway is conditional upon completion of all background checks.

Nice To Haves

one year of experience in vocational rehabilitation is desirable
some experience working with persons with serious mental illness, developmental disabilities and/or other disabilities

Responsibilities

job development
competitive placement
job retention
personalized benefit planning
follow along supports
Coordination and treatment planning with the interdisciplinary team
Work with an identified caseload of consumers enrolled in Community Employment Services to facilitate successful employment for each consumer commensurate with his/her abilities, strengths, preferences, desired outcomes, cultural diversity and other identified needs.
Assure orientation of new consumers within Community Employment Services.
Educating consumers, employers, interdisciplinary team staff, DRS counselors and other stakeholders about benefits and costs associated with disclosing a disability as part of the job search.
Provide transportation for consumers placed in community employment, developing alternate resources/natural supports for ongoing transportation.
Monitor a caseload of people and assist in making referrals and coordinating needed services.