IPS Employment Specialist

General Summary: Carries out the services of the IPS supported employment program by assisting clients to obtain and maintain competitive employment that is consistent with their vocational goals. When education or training is identified as necessary to achieve a desired career outcome, the vocational specialist will provide support to enroll and complete appropriate training/educational programs.

Essential Responsibilities/Tasks

• Engages clients and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive and integrated community job settings.
• Provides outreach services as necessary to individuals when they appear to disengage from employment services. Implement a variety of engagement strategies and outreach methods, including collaboration with mental health teams, mobile outreach, letters, and phone calls, as appropriate.
• Manages a caseload of 25 to 30 individual job seekers to provide career counseling, job development, and ongoing job support to maintain successful employment.
• Provide on- site job coaching as appropriate. Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community, preferably working directly with individuals and/or completing job development and networking activities.
• Promotes employment as an important part of mental health recovery, identify and develop solutions to issues and obstacles that might interfere with an individual's employment success.
• Assists clients in obtaining information about their benefits (e. g. SSI, Medicaid, etc) and how they will be affected by employment to help clients make good decisions about employment opportunities. Refer individuals to benefits counseling, as needed.
• Assist individuals to report earnings to appropriate authorities, as required.
• Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on their caseload, following the principles and procedures of IPS supported employment.
• Maintains a minimum of six employer contacts per week to learn about the needs of the business, describe supports offered by the program, and describe individual strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Provides instruction and support to employers as agreed upon by the individual served, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow- along contact between the vocational specialist and the employer.
• Provides timely interventions with employers and individuals served to prioritize job retention. Actively engages in problem solving with the individual, the mental health team, and when appropriate, the employer.
• Returns communication to the individual and employer in a timely manner, preferably within 24 hours.
• Prioritizes job starts by providing additional and regular support to the individual starting employment and during their orientation/training period. Move straits the ability to independently engage with employers and individuals in their community of choice, requiring an ability and willingness to work anywhere in Rhode Island.
• Participates in weekly meetings with mental health treatment team members and communicates directly with team members between meetings to coordinate and integrate vocational service into mental health treatment.
• Participates in direct communication with state vocational rehabilitation counselors actively working with the individual on a regular basis at least once per month to coordinate services.
• Provides individualized follow along-supports to assist individuals in maintaining employment. Writes and adjusts job support plans with the individuals incorporating input from the mental health team serving the individual. As appropriate, and with the permission of the individual, engages other stakeholders and supports in the development and implementation of the plan, including family, friends, colleagues and other natural supports.
• Successfully achieves and sustains state, contractual, and Thrive Behavioral Health expectations for employment outcomes for individuals served.
• Produce billing forms, logs, data collection, and clinical documentation in accordance with Thrive Behavioral Health standards and state and federal licensing regulations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or related field, or Rhode Island recognized certification as an employment specialist is preferred. A bachelor's degree in Human Services, business or related field with an equivalent combination of related experience is also acceptable.

Experience

Two years full-time experience in a program or environment providing supported employment or related employment services for individuals with disabilities is preferred. IPS employment specialist experience highly preferred.

Certifications, Licenses Requirements:

Supported Employment Professional Certification may replace one (1) year of experience in education or experience.

Valid driver's license and automobile insurance which meets Rhode Island minimum standards required, or the ability to obtain necessary transportation in order to perform the responsibilities/tasks of the job.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to assist individuals with disabilities in meeting the expectations of the position.

EEO/VET/LGBTQ+ Employer