Supported Employment Specialist, Psychiatry

University of Maryland Medical System•Baltimore, MD

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Program Coordinator, the Supported Employment Specialist provides vocational rehabilitation to people with serious mental illnesses. The role focuses on helping clients obtain competitive work in integrated community settings and providing support to promote success in the workplace. The specialist helps consumers find jobs that pay competitive wages alongside coworkers who do not necessarily have disabilities. The position delivers supported employment services in the community in accordance with departmental procedures and State of Maryland EBP certification requirements. It includes job development, outreach, on-the-job coaching and support, coordination with mental health treatment, and completion of required documentation. The specialist also contributes to client safety initiatives, addresses observed safety risks, reports adverse events and near misses, and communicates potential risks in processes, procedures, or devices.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mental health, social services, business, personnel management, or vocational services.
Two years of professional experience performing counseling, crisis intervention, or equivalent related experience in human services, marketing, public relations, or business.
Possession of or access to an automobile and a Maryland state driver’s license.
Knowledge of emotional factors and their impact on vocational behavior and the labor market.
General knowledge of personal computers to enter vocational-services data, generate reports from existing software, and complete documentation in the electronic medical record.
Knowledge of counseling skills, the job market, and clinical, social, and emotional factors of mental illness that may influence employment success.
Ability to work as an effective team player.
Ability to provide strong advocacy for people facing challenges in the workforce.
Effective verbal and written communication, listening, and interpersonal skills for working with clients, employers, case managers, therapists, and psychiatrists.
Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide appropriate care to the client populations served.
Knowledge of principles of growth and development across the life span and ability to assess data reflecting clients’ population-specific and age-specific needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with people with serious mental illnesses.
Experience with vocational services and knowledge of the work world.
Working knowledge of a broad range of occupations and jobs.
General knowledge and experience in job development.

Responsibilities

Provide supported employment services to clients in the community in accordance with departmental procedures and State of Maryland EBP certification requirements.
Begin job development as soon as a client expresses a desire to work.
Develop activities that integrate clients with coworkers who do not have psychiatric disabilities, such as company-sponsored recreational activities and job fairs.
Assist with outreach services, which may include phone or home visits and transporting clients to and from the program.
Provide on-the-job coaching and support as needed and at the consumer’s request.
Provide clinical coordination services, as defined by EBP guidelines, to integrate supported employment efforts with mental health treatment.
Complete daily visit, monthly summary, and semi-annual documentation as required by EBP and program guidelines.
Ensure client safety while performing job functions and participate in hospital, department, or unit client safety initiatives.
Take action to correct observed risks to client safety.
Report adverse events and near misses to the appropriate management authority.
Identify possible risks in processes, procedures, and devices, and communicate them to those in charge.