Employment Specialist 

Maryland Assertive Community Treatment Team

 Pathways to Housing DC is an innovative and nationally recognized nonprofit organization committed to ending homelessness for individuals with serious mental illnesses, co-occurring substance abuse disorders and/or other medical challenges in our Nation's Capital and Maryland. Pathways is one of the originators of “Housing First”, in which we believe housing is a basic human right, and not earned.

An 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.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Meets with clients within one week of referral for supported employment services.
• Makes outreach attempts as part of initial engagement, and at least weekly when client contact ceases.
• Demonstrates tolerance of different levels of readiness to work by using encouragement when a client appears unsure of working.
• 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.
• Explores job options with the client by visiting possible work sites, and doing informational interviews.
• Grows pipeline of business contacts and takes time to understand employers’ current business needs as well as expectations of the open positions.
• Provides individualized follow-along supports to clients including crisis intervention, job coaching, advocacy and counseling to assist individuals with maintaining employment.
• Attends daily team meetings and treatment planning meetings.
• Plans and provides work-related support services as necessary to include grooming and personal hygiene, securing appropriate clothing, wake up calls, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, behavioral science or related discipline or significant experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental illness.
• Minimum of one year of experience providing employment services.
• 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.

• Skills sufficient to interact effectively with persons who have psychiatric disabilities in order to gain meaningful participation.
• 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.

• Must possess a valid Maryland driver’s license with less than 3 points, and a safe driving record. Will require use of own vehicle.
• Must possess valid automobile insurance coverage and be willing to transport clients in own vehicle when necessary.

BENEFITS: 

• 15 vacation days, paid sick leave, and 10 paid holidays
• Health Insurance
• Pathways’ paid LTD, life insurance, and EAP 
• 403b Match
• Many additional employees paid services such as legal coverage, short term disability, and pre-tax commuter benefits