IPS/Youth Advancement Supervisor

PURPOSE OF POSITION

Covenant House New York (CHNY) is launching a new evidence-based model called Individual Placement and Support (IPS; https://ipsworks.org/) in our Covenant Works program, which assists young adults in achieving educational goals and finding and retaining employment. 

Youth Advancement and IPS Supervisor will oversee several IPS Specialists and the Youth Advancement Specialist. Reporting to the Director of CovWorks (DC), the IPS and Youth Advancement Supervisor (IPSYAS) will be responsible for relaunching this program, hiring and training IPS Specialists and the Youth Advancement Specialist providing field mentoring to staff, and ensuring program success. The IPSYAS must possess the ability to manage staffing in different locations throughout New York City (mainly distributed in multiple areas of Bronx). While working with youth is a priority, the IPS Specialists spend 2/3 of their time creating and sustaining relationships with potential employers, and the youth advancement spends ½ of his/her time in the field connecting and maintaining relationships with potential vocational and educational programs. Thus, the IPSYAS him/herself possess excellent interpersonal skills and must be able to develop and mentor their staff to become expert communicators who can tailor a presentation to the needs of the audience, and who excel in creating and sustaining professional relationships with a wide variety of hiring managers. The IPSYA Supervisor will also be responsible for compliance of program outcomes as defined by the Dartmouth Fidelity Scale. 

The IPSYAS will periodically meet clients receiving IPS services. The IPSYAS will also serve as a liaison to other departments and agencies while monitoring outcomes and implementing quality improvement plans as necessary. Additionally, the IPSYAS may at times provide IPS supported employment services for a caseload of up to four people.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 (Responsibilities to include but not limited to the following)

• Hires, trains and evaluates employment specialists. Develops expectations for specialists regarding employer contacts, the number of job starts each quarter, and employment rate (percentage of people employed on each caseload).

• Assigns the IPS and The Youth Advancement specialists to mental health teams. Attends each mental health treatment team monthly to enhance integrated services.

• Conducts weekly group supervision following the principles of IPS supported employment.

• Provides individual supervision for employment specialists and the Youth Advancement Specialist. Supervision includes some office-based sessions, as well as working side-by-side with specialists. Provides frequent (weekly or every other week) field mentoring for specialists who are new to their jobs, and those with outcomes that are less than desired.

• Collects client outcomes on a monthly basis. Shares outcomes for the program, as well as individual practitioners, with the IPS supported employment team each quarter. Helps team members set goals for improvement. Reviews individual outcomes with each practitioner and develops written plans for improvement. Helps specialists refine their skills so they can improve outcomes.

• Acts as a liaison to other department coordinators and administrators at the agency. Communicates regularly with mental health supervisors to ensure that services are integrated, to resolve issues, and to act as a proponent for employment.

• Works with the NYC ACCESS-VR to coordinate services. Requests monthly meetings between Vocational Rehabilitation counselors and IPS team members to discuss how to help people served by both agencies.

• Arranges for IPS supported employment fidelity reviews. Assists with the development of fidelity action plans based on recommendations from the fidelity report. 

• Ensures that the Youth Advancement Specialist is meeting educational and vocational placement goals.

• Leads or participates in IPS Steering Committee Meetings to help with IPS supported employment implementation and sustainability.

• Provides IPS supported employment services to a caseload as prescribed by the Director of CovWorks.

• Always reflects CHNY's values and principles on social media.

• Always uphold CHNY's mission, vision, and principles, standards of conduct, policies and procedures.

• Performs other duties as assigned and/or need.

Management and Leadership

• Always upholds CHNY’s mission, vision and principles, standards of conduct, policies and procedures.

• Performs other duties as assigned and needed.

SUPERVISORY DUTIES

• This position supervises IPS specialists.

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

Education & Experience

• B.A. in Education, Social Work, or Youth Development or related field required; Masters Degree in a relevant field preferred.

• Minimum of two years of experience as a supervisor or manager in youth development or work readiness programs.

Knowledge/Skills

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and writing ability; strong customer-service orientation; multi-tasker and able to earn trust and credibility.

• Has an outgoing personality, enjoys relating to people, and is easily able to make and sustain a wide network of professional relationships.

• Ability to create and deliver presentations tailored to the needs of the audience required.

• Highly motivated and target driven, with excellent communication and negotiation skills, and open to feedback.

• Flexibility in schedule and some evenings/weekends will be necessary.

• High competency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher.

• Strong supervision, collaboration and organizational skills.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and use appropriate discretion.

• Valid State Driver's License; regular travel between sites will be required.

• Bilingual preferred.

Schedule 9:00 am -5:00 pm

Salary range $57k -$60k

Compensation

Covenant House New York offers a rich package of benefits including but not limited to full medical, vision, dental, life and short and long-term disability insurance and other fringe benefits. Eligibility for medical benefits begins on the date of hire. PTO includes 3 weeks of vacation in the first year, 10 holidays, 13 sick days, 5 personal days and birthday days off. Benefits include a 403b with employer contribution after 12 months. There are also multiple additional optional benefits (including additional life, disability, accident and cancer insurance) available at significantly reduced rates.

"CH is a vaccinated employer. As such, prospective new hires will be required to provide proof of vaccination or be willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccination by the date of hire to be considered." 

Covenant House New York is an Equal Opportunity Employer