Job details
Qualifications
Bachelor's (Required)
Driver's License (Required)
BenefitsPulled from the full job description
Full Job Description
Baltimore City ACT
Full Time, Days with some evenings and weekends, M-F 8-4
General Summary:
A Supported Employment Specialist’s primary role is to provide assistance to individuals with disabilities to obtain and maintain competitive employment in normal community settings. This member of the multidisciplinary team conducts all phases of vocational services including engagement, assessment, job search, job development, and job support. They provide supportive counseling to enable clients to identify vocational strengths and challenges, establish vocational goals, and develop plans to reach them. In addition, the Supported Employment Specialist assists clients to recognize and target the symptoms of mental illness that interfere with their successful employment.
Principal Responsibilities and Duties:
Documentation
1. Consistently submit accurate documentation within 24 hours of service delivery.
2. Submit all monthly documentation by the established deadlines.
3. Remain up to date client records including annual paperwork and vocational plans.
Assertive Engagement and Outreach
1. Meets with clients within one week of referral for supported employment services.
2. Makes outreach attempts as part of initial engagement, and at least weekly when client contact ceases.
3. Demonstrates tolerance of different levels of readiness to work by using encouragement when a client appears unsure of working.
Assessment
1. Conducts a vocational assessment that includes, but is not limited to the client’s overall rehabilitation goal, work background, interests, talents and skills, preferences, coping strategies, and other work related factors.
2. Explores job possibilities with the client by visiting possible work sites, and doing informational interviews.
Job Search, Job Development, and Placement
1. The employment specialist and the client make contact with employers within the first month connecting with employment services. The purpose of the contact may be to secure a specific job or to gather more information about the work site.
2. Grows pipeline of business contacts and takes time to understand employers’ current business needs as well as expectations of the open positions.
3. Conducts job development by connecting with employers based on clients’ interests and abilities, and using extensive networking to identify potential job leads.
4. Works with employers to create customized employment positions when applicable (such as job carving, job sharing, modified job tasks, etc.)
5. Provides individualized follow-along supports to clients including crisis intervention, job coaching, advocacy and counseling to assist individuals with maintaining employment.
6. Provides individualized follow-along supports to employers.
Integration with Treatment Team
1. Communicates regularly with treatment team and outside agencies.
2. Attends daily team meetings and treatment planning meetings.
3. Promotes employment options in team meetings, even when other staff members may not identify particular clients as candidates for work.
4. Provides education and consultation to team members by sharing knowledge of the client in relationship to work.
5. Maintains an open approachable manor, treats others fairly and respectfully, and seeks and considers ideas from others.
Participation in Employment Team
1. Coaches others regardless of performance level. Shares specialized approaches and skills that will increase capabilities of team members.
2. Encourages team unity through sharing information or expertise, working together to solve problems and putting team success first.
3. Actively participates in team meetings/group supervisions weekly and presents client cases to team for guidance, shares successes, and shares job leads.
4. Contributes original and resourceful ideas in customized teaming sessions.
5. Builds rapport by listening to, discussing and negotiating with other staff/co-workers.
6. Seeks to resolve disagreements constructively.
Additional Competencies
1. Plans and provides work-related support services as necessary to include grooming and personal hygiene, securing appropriate clothing, wake up calls, and transportation.
2. Provides support with benefits counseling and education around work incentives to clients connected with supported employment services.
3. Works collaboratively with state vocational rehabilitation and other employment services/resources in the community.
4. Displays enthusiasm and sparks the same enthusiasm in others.
5. Models successful behaviors, a high performance work ethic, and constant self-improvement.
6. Promotes the mission and vision of the organization.
7. Provides on-call coverage, as needed.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
1. Must have a Bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, behavioral science or related discipline or significant experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental illness.
2. Minimum of one year of experience providing employment services.
3. Must have strong commitment to the rights and abilities of each person living with a severe mental illness to live in the community, work in a competitive job, and have access to helpful, adequate and continuous supports and services.
4. Skills sufficient to interact effectively with persons who have psychiatric disabilities in order to gain meaningful participation.
5. Skills and knowledge in performing supported employment activities including identifying and negotiating potential jobs, getting clients integrated into jobs, providing job coaching assistance, and client advocacy with employers and clients.
6. Ability to work autonomously with demonstrated creativity, initiative, and commitment.
7. Ability to prioritize tasks by importance and deadline and adjust priorities as situations change.
8. Effectively manage a high volume of work with competing demands, interruptions, and distractions without sacrificing poise, accuracy, or deadlines.
9. Knowledge of policies and procedures and the ability to follow them.
10. Must possess a valid Maryland driver’s license with less than 3 points, and a safe driving record. Will require use of own vehicle.
11. Must possess valid automobile insurance coverage and be willing to transport clients in own vehicle when necessary.
12. Completion of CPR, infection control, aggression management, first aid training and other required trainings and maintenance of certifications in all.
13. Must be flexible, punctual, and available to work weekends, evenings and holidays as necessary.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Evening shift
- Weekend availability
Education:
- Bachelor's (Required)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Work Location: One location
CLICK HERE to Apply!