Supported Employment and Education Specialist

Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene•Brooklyn, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. is seeking to fill the full-time position of Supported Education and Employment Specialist for OnTrackNY. The OnTrackNY Program is an innovative treatment program at South Beach Psychiatric Center Coney Island/Sheepshead Bay clinic. The program serves adolescents and young adults who are within two years of experiencing the onset of non-affective psychosis. Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an evidence-based approach assisting individuals with mental illness to obtain rapid competitive employment and mainstream educational opportunities. SEES workers are fully integrated into the mental health service and will work as part of a small multidisciplinary team providing coordinated and assertive treatment in the earliest stages of illness.

Requirements

Bachelors degree in mental health-related field, social services, or related field

Nice To Haves

One year of experience providing employment or education services.
One year of experience working with adolescents and/or adults diagnosed with mental illness.

Responsibilities

Engaging participants and establishing trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of education or competitive employment in community job settings.
Collaborating with other team members to deliver the SEE support within the context of the model (e.g., engaging with participants to do fun activities, practicing cognitive or social skills that can then help them get a job, etc.)
Working closely with family members, or loved ones to educate them on how to support the young person with work/school goals.
Helping family or loved ones navigate employment and educational systems, identify resources that can be helpful to them, and/or providing other support to families as needed to help the young person with their recovery.
Providing job development and job search services directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on their situation and the situation of their support system, following the principles and procedures of the IPS approach to employment.
Conducting a minimum of 4 employer contacts per week.
Providing support to the individual and the family for education goals in the community, including contact with staff at high schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.
Providing individualized support to assist participants in maintaining employment or education.
Arranging access to entitlements counseling for the individual and/or family.
Spending 50% or more of scheduled work hours in the community - For example, meeting participants at community locations (e.g. home, workplace, school, coffee shop, library, etc.); taking participants to apply for jobs; investigating local employment options; or meeting with employers regarding job development.
Linking transitioning participants to services that can support work and school goals post-discharge from OnTrackNY.