IPS Supported & Educational Specialist

Centerstone•Clarksville, TN

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Carries out the services of the IPS Supported Employment program by assisting clients to obtain and maintain employment that is consistent with their vocational goals. Provides support for schooling and technical training for career advancement. Centerstone is a trauma-informed organization, endorsing an organizational culture built on understanding, recognizing and responding to those affected by trauma to strengthen resilience for our clients, staff and community. Centerstone is among the nation’s leading nonprofit behavioral health systems with thousands of employees dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives. A dynamic, well-established organization, we offer rewarding opportunities to serve all ages in a variety of settings.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or health related field required.
Effectively communicate via written, verbal, in person and virtual methods.
Ability to work independently and be part of a team required.
Ability to think critically and use data to assist participants required.
Belief in the concept of mental health recovery.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a behavioral health care environment with adults with mental illness is preferred.

Responsibilities

Engages clients 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.
Assesses clients' vocational skills and preferences on ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences.
With the client's permission, provides information and support to family members.
Discusses client's preference for disclosure of mental health status to employers.
Helps clients learn about different jobs/careers by assisting with meetings with workers/managers to ask about positions that interest clients, meetings with academic advisors, observing workers (one day or less in duration), and job fairs to speak with employers about different types of jobs.
Provides individualized follow-along supports to assist clients in maintaining employment.
Writes job support plans with clients and incorporates input from family members (with client permission) and the mental health team.
Adjusts plan according to clients’ needs and preferences.
Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients.
May negotiate job accommodations and follow-along contact by the IPS specialist with the employer.
Provides timely interventions.
Returns phone calls and reacts to situations in a timely manner. For example, returns client 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 clients within one week prior to job starts and within three days after job starts.
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 with mental health treatment.
Participates in face-to-face meetings with state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors at least once a month to coordinate services for clients.
Collaborates with individual counselors between meetings to assist clients.
Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community, for example, meets clients at their homes, workplaces, coffee shops, libraries, One-Stop offices, state VR office, family homes, helps clients follow up on job applications, and goes with clients to visit local GED programs and colleges.
Assists clients in learning about different education and vocational training programs related to client interests and academic aptitudes.
Focuses on mainstream education and certificate training programs only.
Provides supports with financial aid including the annual Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), understanding loan obligations, applying for scholarships, obtaining tools, equipment and computers.