Supported Employment Specialist

Community Counseling Solutions • Boardman, OR

2d • $25 - $36 • Hybrid

About The Position

Provides culturally competent services of the IPS Supported Employment program by assisting clients obtain and maintain employment that is consistent with their vocational goals. The position works closely with other involved community partners and is professional in all aspects of service delivery. Additionally, this position assists administration in meeting the behavioral health needs of the community.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in social work, psychology or other human service related field is required, or a high school diploma and three years of equivalent training and work experience; or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required.
• Develops relationships with employers by learning about their business, hiring practices, hiring preferences, etc. over multiple visits.
• Investigates the local business community in order to learn about different employers and types of jobs available.
• Utilizes good client interviewing skills in order to learn about individual preferences, past experiences, hopes and concerns regarding employment.
• Effectively collaborates with mental health practitioners, VR counselors, family members and other members of the vocational unit.
• Utilizes a strengths-based approach when serving clients by recognizing each person’s skills, experiences, personal values that support employment.
• Employs a recovery-based orientation including the belief that people learn from their experiences, develop new skills, and achieve life goals over time.
• Keeps current with, and applies, new work methods, skills and technologies to complete work.
• Assist with finding and accessing resources such as work incentives planning, local schools, available transportation, etc.
• Uses a problem-solving approach when faced with challenging or difficult situations.
• Conducts work in community settings.
• Assists individuals to analyze each work experience for lessons learned, using input from employers, the worker, mental health practitioners, VR counselors, family members or others.
• Writes person-specific plans that are congruent with each person’s goals and includes specific steps that will be taken to meet those goals.
• Provides timely documentation that meets requirements of various funding sources including VR, Medicaid, and others.
• Must possess, or have the ability to acquire, knowledge of symptoms and challenges faced by people with mental illness and addictions. Must have, or possess the ability to acquire, knowledge about relevant OAR’s.
• Must have the ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing and have the ability to work independently and complete all designated tasks and/or assignments in a thorough and timely fashion.
• Must have skills to professionally work with the public and the ability to coordinate services across various agencies and community groups.
• Must have knowledge, or the ability to acquire knowledge, about the recovery model.
• Must possess the ability to represent the interest of the customer and the agency in a favorable light in the community.
• Must have the ability to work well with teams and other groups of individuals.
• Must be computer literate and have the ability to type and utilize word processing and other software programs/systems.
• The position requires the handling of highly confidential information. Must adhere to rules and laws pertaining to client confidentiality.
• Must pass all criminal history check requirements as required by ORS 181.536-181.537 and in accordance with OAR 410-007-0200 through 410-007-0380.
• In addition to a pre-employment background check, each employee, volunteer and contractor shall be checked on a monthly basis against the OIG and GSA exclusion lists, as well as other federal and state agency lists. If it is discovered that an employee, volunteer or contractor is excluded or sanctioned it will be the cause for immediate termination of employment, volunteering, or the termination of the contract.
• Must pass a pre-hire drug screen.
• Must hold a valid driver’s license as well as personal auto insurance for privately owned Vehicles utilized for CCS business such as client service purposes, travel between business offices and the community, to attend required meetings and trainings.
• Must show proof of $300,000 or more liability coverage for bodily injury and $100,000 or more liability coverage for property damage, and maintain said level of coverage for the duration of employment at CCS.
• The employee’s insurance is primary with CCS insurance being secondary. CCS reserves the right to deny any employee the use of a vehicle owned by CCS.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Engages clients and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers without psychiatric challenges.
• Assists clients in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g. SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment in order for clients to make good decisions about employment opportunities. Refers clients to benefits counseling, as needed.
• Assesses client’s vocational functioning on ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. With the client’s permission, provides education and support to family members. Discusses client’s preference for disclosure of psychiatric status to employers.
• 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 supported employment.
• Provides individualized follow-along supports to assist clients in maintaining employment.
• Conducts a minimum of six employer contacts per week. Employer contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business describe supports offered by the program and describe client strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients that may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact with the employer.
• Provides outreach services as necessary to clients when they appear to disengage from the service. Uses a variety of methods to provide outreach.
• Attends weekly meetings with mental health treatment team and communicates individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational services into mental health treatment.
• Has face-to-face meetings with vocational rehabilitation counselors at least once a month to coordinate services for clients.
• Develops an individual employment plan with the client, mental health worker, other treatment team providers and updates it quarterly. Develops job support plans with the client using input from the client, mental health workers, family members, past employment experiences and information about current job.
• Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community. For example, meets client at community locations such as home, workplace, coffee shop, library, etc. or takes client to apply for jobs, investigate local GED or colleges, etc.
• Provides supported education, using principles similar to supported employment, for clients who express interest in education to advance their employment goals.
• Must report all abuse to appropriate legal office, complete all necessary paperwork and investigations, and develop safety plans as required.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• Health, dental and vision insurance
• 6% initial 401K match
• Potential for tuition reimbursement
• Paid vacation tiers ranging from accrual of 1 day to 4 days per month (Annual rollover cap of 220 hours, additional hours can be paid out at 50% at the end of the fiscal year)
• 9 Paid holidays, Community service day
• Floating holiday & 2 mental health days provided after 1 year introduction
• Workplace Flexibility schedule options available after 1 year (work from home hours vary by position & schedule)
• Relocation Benefit of up to $4,000 if moving over 100 miles, $ depending on distance. This is available to be included w/ job offer
• Employee Assistance, Wellness Benefits, Dependent Care & Long-Term Disability Insurance

What This Job Offers

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