SUMMARY OF POSITION:
 
The Employment Specialist is responsible for providing community based Employment Services to persons diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental illness. Employment Specialist’s essential job duties include: assisting the consumer with refining interview skills, development of consumer resumes and/or master applications, establishment of relationships with potential employers, Job Development, Job Placement and for the completion of consumer IPS Vocational Profile and/or ES Employment Plans.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
 

• Assist in preparing persons for successful employment and retention (interview skills, developing resume/master application), identifying individual needs and skills.
• Complete IPS Vocational Profile and/or ES Employment Plan, Job Development and Placement, Job Coaching, and Follow Along activities. Utilize professional judgment and decision-making in regards to aspects of employment services and implementation of evidenced based IPS Model.
• Complete all necessary paperwork, including progress notes and Vocational Rehabilitation Forms in a timely and accurate manner.
• Maintains knowledge of agency technology programs and/or systems (i.e. Avatar, Time on Demand, Image Now etc) needed to do the job and uses them effectively.
• Complete progress notes in AVATAR within 72 hours of service provided.Progress notes will need to clearly reflect the supports provided, employers contacted and next scheduled meeting time.
• Provide on-site job analysis, consultation, and recommendations for work site and job modifications when appropriate.
• Instruct person served in job duties and expectations, demonstrate how to do the job, retraining and coaching as needed.
• Advocate and intervene for consumers with employers consistent with consumer needs and abilities when requested (also see Disclosure Form for information on what the consumer is comfortable with disclosing to employers on their behalf.)
• Explore and locate new employers for potential consumer placements, including cold calls to identified job leads, establishing positive community relationships.
• Maintain professional relationships with Tri-County Staff, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and other identified providers.
• Assist consumers in getting to potential job sights and employment opportunities/meetings.
• Working as a member of a team, insure that monthly budget goals are met by turning in necessary VR paperwork in a timely manner to ensure that budget is met.
• Attends regular scheduled Employment Services staff and Treatment Team meetings.
• Ensures that the Consumer’s CS Worker/Treatment Team is informed of consumer progress while in the Employment Services program.Employment Services Specialist is also responsible for inviting CS Worker to quarterly meetings with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
• Maintains required training and certifications.
• Other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements:
2-year degree from Junior College or Technical School (Emphasis in Social Services preferred)
CPR/First Aid certification
Valid Driver's license and insurance
Annual TB Screening
Up to 1 year position-related experience

Preferred:
Bachelor's degree
1-3 years of position-related experience

 

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