Supported Education Specialist #668

At LifeWorks NW, our work strengthens the health and wellbeing of individuals and families at every stage of life. Our mission is to promote a healthy community through high-quality, culturally responsive mental health, addiction, and prevention services that create real, lasting change. Guided by our values of recovery and resilience, relationships, and results, we partner closely with clients and communities to reduce stigma and build pathways to stability and hope. If you want your work to make a meaningful difference beyond the walls of an office, we invite you to join us.

The Supported Education Specialist assesses the severe and persistent mentally ill client case load for educational capabilities, provides training assistance, offers continuing support, and assists clients to explore educational possibilities and make education placements. Encourages schools, administrators, and community providers to recognize clients' abilities to be productive and successful in these settings and assists with creating individualized accommodations in school settings to optimize academic outcomes. Services are offered in a community based or home visit setting.

Location: This position is based out of LifeWorks NW's Beaverton site.

Pay/Benefits: $25.39-$32.71 per hour plus Full benefits.

Salary Placement Notice:
The posted salary range reflects the compensation potential for this role. Most candidates will be placed between the entry level and midpoint of the range, depending on their experience and qualifications. However, more seasoned professionals with extensive exact or similar experience may be considered for placement toward the higher end of the range. Final salary offers are made in alignment with internal compensation processes in accordance with Oregon Pay Equity laws.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Interviews individuals and, if applicable, family members or team members in the client support system to complete the strengths based educational assessments to identify clients' skills and strengths, interests, goals, dreams, aspirations and resources available to reach their goals.
• Counsels individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational situation.
• Develops an education focused service plan based on clients' interests, abilities, strengths and needs. Service plans will have measurable goals and objectives based on the diagnosis and will specify type, frequency, intensity, and duration of service. Service plans will be client driven and follow-ups will be completed on time, assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
• Assists clients with financial aid applications and scholarships that may assist in achieving academic goals.
• Researches possible educational opportunities for clients by contacting school counselors, school administrators, and any other means of reaching potential employers or educators.
• Establishes and maintains connections with schools and organizations offering educational opportunities.
• Identifies barriers to client's educational goals, such as finances, scheduling, and transportation problems. Works with clients to develop strategies for overcoming barriers.
• Maintains close contact with clients during educational placements to resolve problems and evaluate placement adequacy.
• Performs interventions as needed with assigned clients previously placed who may be at risk of school failure.  Work closely with teachers, counselors and clients to resolve issues as soon as possible.
• Coordinates and consults with other team members to keep team informed of issues and progress.
• Counsels individuals, groups, families, or communities regarding educational placement and retention issues
• Refers clients or families to community resources including school counselors, tutors and financial aid advisors
• Provides crisis intervention to clients when difficult situations occur
• Monitors and tracks educational status and performance. Provides accurate and timely written reports.
• Ensures timely record maintenance of, billings, completed releases of information, and Service Activity Logs (S/AL's). Maintains client records in compliance with agency and confidentiality guidelines. Completes documentation in an electronic health records system.
• Serves as back-up for other staff when needed.
• Checks e-mail/voice mail daily/throughout the day when working responding to contacts within 48 hours for routine matter (urgent matters may require a more immediate response)
• Required to transport clients in a personal vehicle and/or LifeWorks NW vehicle.

Qualifications:  

• This position requires a valid and active QMHA credential certification through MHACBO.
  
• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or a behavioral health related field OR three years of comparable experience working with individual who have severe and persistent mental illness.
• Must have a minimum of an additional year of experience in the behavioral health field working with people with disabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively; understand mental health assessment, treatment and service terminology and individual, group, family and other counseling techniques; program policies and procedures for services and supports identified in an Individual Services and Supports Plan.
• Demonstrated ability to provide culturally-competent treatment services to diverse client populations and maintain a cooperative working relationship with others in a culturally diverse environment.
• Ability to provide educational services and compliance with confidentially in accordance with federal, state and/or funding source requirements.
• Knowledge of community resources enabling appropriate referrals for specific client needs.
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word.  Ability to master proprietary software including electronic health record system required.
• Requires valid driver's license, proof of current automobile insurance coverage, verification of safe driving record from DMV, and ability to meet LWNW driving requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer

www.lifeworksnw.org

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