Vocational Specialist

The Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT) is designed to serve as a comprehensive treatment team providing for the periodic service needs of consumers with severe and persistent mental illnesses. The majority of services are provided in the consumers home/community. This employee will function as a clinical member of the ACT Team providing needed psychotherapy rehabilitation and support services under the supervision of the team leader and/or the team psychiatrist. The employee (along with the entire team) is expected to help consumers avoid re-hospitalization/episodes of crisis care; achieve overall quality of life person consumers report. Although all services provided are included in the person centered-plan and performed under the supervision of the program director and psychiatrist such supervision does not involve immediate oversight of all job functions. Therefore this is employee conducts most of his/her work independently with a high degree of freedom to act based on clinical judgement.

Essential Functions (List the tasks duties and responsibilities of the position that are most important to get the job done. The responsibilities should be listed in the order of importance with the highest priority functions first. To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

Services Provision:

Engages consumers on the topic of school or work particularly competitive employment educating them about their opportunities and the benefits of working and school.

Completes a prevocational assessment that is focused on beneficiarys strengths and preferences and on the job assessments where appropriate.

Conducts job development where the vocational specialist builds relationships with local businesses and educates them about the services that the vocational specialist provides collects information about the positions and ideally determines potential for job carving options.

Facilitates individualized job placement according to beneficiarys preferences per the evidence based supportive employment model.

Provides job coaching and ongoing supports assisting the client in learning the job skills navigating the work place managing work relationships with other employees and supervisors.

Provides benefit counseling directly as well as connects clients to experts for more extensive benefits counseling as needed.

Facilitates the person centered planning process for clients.

Serves as a consultant or educator to fellow ACT Team members on supported employment.

Serves as on call staff following ACTT procedures of on call.

Responsibilities may also include providing treatment rehabilitation and supportive services. These include individual and group services (symptom education behavioral symptom- management techniques and crisis intervention); case management/support (e.g. assisting consumers with meeting their needs in the areas of housing financial supports physical health vocational interests and recreations and socialization); support with activities of daily living (such as skill training and/or assistance in the areas of money management performance of household activities meal preparation and grooming/personal hygiene).

Assessment: To conduct a vocational assessment on clients in order to inform work with client and share assessment with the team. To provide ongoing assessment of consumers symptoms and response to treatment rehabilitation and supportive services.

Coordination/Liaison: To coordinate services with all team members. Must communicate promptly and effectively any changes in a consumers status to the rest of the ACT Team. To develop relationship with clients employers and find potential employers for clients. To coordinator services with other providers (e.g. residential staff Social Security local housing authorities and inpatient facilities) as well as coordinate with housing providers in the community. To serve as liaison between the consumer/team and family members.

Documentation: To document the consumers progress and maintain a permanent record of each intervention/activity performed on behalf of the consumer according to established and approved policies and procedures. To update service plans as the needs of the consumers change. To assume primary responsibility for completion and/or oversight of documentation for a defined caseload.

Education: Masters degree in Social Work or related field; Bachelors in a human service field

Experience: One year of relevant experience for Masters level or 3 years for Bachelors degree. At least 1 year experience providing employment services or advanced education that involves field training in vocational services. Specific experience in the areas of psychosocial rehabilitation housing and case management would enhance an applicants ability to perform the duties of this position.

Specific skills/abilities: Flexibility sensitivity to varying cultural issues; acuity in psychosocial assessment; a demonstrated ability to share information with members of a team in a timely and accurate manner; strong organization skills and skills in the area of time management. This position also requires skills in being able to do outreach to employers in order to create employment opportunities for clients.

Specialized knowledge licenses etc: Posses knowledge of treatment modalities for persons diagnosed with several mental illness. They should be familiar with the characteristic symptoms of severe and persistent mental illnesses (such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) and have a general knowledge of psychotropic medications (their use and potential side effects). Training and experience in using motivational interviewing with clients preferred. Experience and/or training work from the Individual Placement and Supports Supported Employment treatment model preferred. Must have valid SC/NC drivers license.

Preferences (Optional): (Preferred attributes for the position which are not absolutely required in the minimum qualification - e.g. masters degree bilingual).

Bilingual (English-Spanish) is desired.

Sensitivity and ability to form lasting relationships with person who may have difficulty trusting.

Ability to establish effective working relationships with members of community organizations and work collaboratively with professionals consumers and family members.

Ability to engage in creative problem-solving.

Ability to work in high stress environment.

Commitment to client rights and personal preferences in treatment.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements: (Please list work conditions for physical or other important issues which relate to the job; the conditions listed should be representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions).

Usual office conditions

Home visits to residences that may be dirty/excessive smoke-filled (cigarettes)

Searching for clients in areas known for street drugs drug use and related crime

Meeting with clients who have decompensated and become agitated/threatening