The Employment Specialist (ES) will be the primary source of job development services for participants in the program. The ES will work with participants on resume building, interview preparation, and job support. Learning the participant’s background, job history, and education experience will also build rapport with participants and help them find suitable employment using a strength-based approach. The ES will spend 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community. The ES will spend time outreaching to local employers to build trust and relationships. This helps the ES to learn more about the employers and companies in order to do more effective job matching with participants. Daily responsibilities may include meeting clients at various locations, such as home, work, the library, or a coffee shop to work on securing or maintaining employment through supportive techniques. Also, duties may include meeting with potential employers, One-Stop, Vocational Rehabilitation, participant’s family members, and/or community partners. The ES also helps provide transportation for job-related activities or to learn more about educational opportunities in the area.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists clients in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment in order for clients to make good decisions about employment opportunities. Refers clients to benefits counseling, as needed. Helps clients report earnings, as needed.
• Assesses clients' vocational functioning on ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. With the client's permission, provides education and support to family members. Discusses client's preference for disclosure of psychiatric status to employers.
• Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on his/her caseload, following the principles and procedures of IPS supported employment.
• Conducts a minimum of six employer contacts per week. Employer contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business, describe support offered by the program and describe client strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Provides individualized follow-along support to assist clients in maintaining employment. Writes job support plans with clients and incorporating input from the mental health team. Adjusts plan according to clients’ needs and preferences.
• Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients, which may include negotiating job accommodation and follow-along contact by the employment specialist with the employer.
• Provides outreach services as necessary to clients when they appear to disengage from the service. Uses a variety of methods to provide outreach.
• Provides timely interventions. Returns phone calls and reacts to situations in a timely manner. For example, returns client phone calls within 24 hours. Goes to see employers about job loss or job problems within 24 hours. Follows up on job leads within 48 hours. Meets with clients within one week prior to job starts and within three days after job starts. Participates in weekly meetings with mental health treatment teams and communicates individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational services into mental health treatment.
• Participates in face-to-face meetings with vocational rehabilitation counselors at least once a month to coordinate services for clients.
• Develops an individual employment (and/or education) plan with clients. Incorporates input from mental health team and family members, with permission.
• Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community. For example, meets clients at community locations such as home, workplace, coffee shop, meeting with potential employers, library, One-Stop, VR office, family home, etc. or takes clients to apply for jobs, investigate local GED or colleges, etc.
Provides supported education, using principles similar to supported employment, for clients who express interest in education to advance their employment goals.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• HS Diploma or GED required.
• Education and experience equivalent to undergraduate degree in mental health, social services, or business.
• Experience working with people with severe mental illness,
• experience providing employment services, and knowledge of the work world are preferred.
• Ability to work as an effective team player is essential.
• Work is performed in climate-controlled office setting, where exposure to conditions of extreme heat/cold, poor ventilation, fumes and gases is unlikely.
• Noise level is moderate and includes sounds of normal office equipment (printers, fax machine, phones, etc.)
• No environmental hazards are encountered in normal performance of job duties.
Work requires a flexible work schedule due to internal and external meetings. Occasional travel may be required; must have reliable transportation.

WORK CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Work is performed in both a climate-controlled office setting, as well as outreaching to encampments and other urban environments where the employee would be exposed to variable weather conditions performing their job outside.
• Noise level is moderate and includes sounds of normal office equipment (printers, fax machine, phones, etc.) as well as encountering outside noises like cars, freeway sounds, etc.
• Required to work in area inhabited by unsheltered persons, to include working in dirty environments and dealing with challenging individuals.
• Potential exposure to stressful and/or physically challenging situations that could result in risk to one’s safety.
• Work requires a flexible work schedule due to internal and external meetings. Occasional travel may be required, with valid Driver’s license.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.
• Physical ability to lift and carry 50 pounds.
• Visual and auditory ability to identify and response to environmental and other hazards of the site and staff behavior.
• Physical mobility and endurance to perform tasks while standing/walking for long periods of time (60 minutes or more).
• Ability to safely and properly use office equipment.