Employment Specialist

Endeavor Health Services • Buffalo, NY

29d • $20 - $25

About The Position

Endeavor Health Services is hiring a full-time Employment Specialist to join our team at the 1131 Broadway clinic. The Employment Specialist functions as a member of the clinic treatment team and carries out the services of the IPS Supported Employment program by assisting participants to obtain and maintain employment that is consistent with their vocational goals. Provides support for schooling and technical training for career advancement.

Requirements

• Education and experience equivalent to undergraduate degree in behavioral health, social services, or business.
• Experience working with people with severe mental illness
• Ability to work as an effective team member is essential.
• Knowledge of electronic medical records and Microsoft products.
• A valid New York State Driver’s License and access to a motor vehicle to make community/home visits.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing employment services and knowledge of the work world are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Engages participants 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 participants in obtaining individualized information about how entitlements (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) will be affected by employment so participants can make decisions about employment opportunities.
• Refers participants to benefits counseling, as needed.
• Helps participants report earnings, as needed.
• Assesses participants’ vocational skills and preferences on an ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences.
• With the participant’s permission, provide information and support to family members.
• Discusses participant’s preference for disclosure of mental health status to employers.
• Helps participants learn about different jobs/careers by assisting with meetings with workers/managers to ask about positions that interest participants, 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 weekly employer contacts. Employer contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business, describe supports offered by the program, and describe participant strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Provides individualized follow-along support to assist participants in maintaining employment.
• Writes job support plans with participants and incorporates input from family members (with participant permission) and the behavioral health team.
• Adjusts plan according to participants’ needs and preferences.
• Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by participants.
• May negotiate job accommodations and follow-along contact by the IPS specialist with the employer.
• Provides outreach services as necessary to participants 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. For example, returns participant 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 participants within one week prior to job starts and within three days after job starts.
• Participates in weekly meetings with behavioral health treatment team and communicates individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational services with behavioral health treatment.
• Participates in face-to-face meetings with state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors at least once a month to coordinate services for participants.
• Collaborates with individual counselors between meetings to assist participants.
• Develops an individual employment plan with participants.
• Incorporates input from behavioral health team and family members, with client permission.
• Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community, for example, meets participants at their homes, workplaces, coffee shops, libraries, One-Stop offices, state VR office, family homes, helps participants follow up on job applications.
• Completes all required documentation in agency’s electronic health record.
• Maintains cultural sensitivity and competence with respect to agency consumers and their families, as well as other employees and suppliers.
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with all agency policies, procedures and governmental regulations including, but not limited to HIPAA.

Benefits

• We offer competitive salaries and an array of employee benefits, including medical, dental, company paid vision, company paid life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability, voluntary life, AD&D, and Short Term Disability, 401 (K) retirement savings plan with company contribution, 10 paid holiday, generous paid vacation, paid sick time, discounted pet insurance and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Eligible employer for college loan repayment through the PSLF program and other student loan forgiveness opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level