Supported Employment Specialist

Supported Employment Specialist Job Description

This is a professional level direct service position with the members of HERO House Bellevue Clubhouse as the primary recipients of services. The Supported Employment Specialist provides mental health rehabilitation and career development services to adults recovering from serious mental illness in a clubhouse model program (). Employment staffs main responsibility is supporting members job searches through working with them on job development and retention. Staff will also participate in general clubhouse engagement by helping members to experience the sense of belonging our program prioritizes with a focus on their strengths talents and interests.

By joining the HERO House Bellevue team you will find your place in a vibrant community that celebrates individual strengths talents and interests. As a Mental Health Employment Associate youll play a vital role in supporting adults recovering from mental illness in a nurturing and collaborative environment.

OVERALL FUNCTION: Carries out the services of the IPS Supported Employment program by assisting members obtain and maintain employment that is consistent with their vocational goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Engages members and establishes trusting collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment following IPS fidelity.

Assists members in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g. SSI Medicaid etc.) and how they will be affected by employment in order to support members in making informed decisions about employment opportunities.

Refers members to benefits counseling as needed.

Utilizes background information and work experience to assess members vocational functioning

Informing (researching along with) members of their rights as a person with a disability in the workplace

Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on their caseload.

Conducts a minimum of six employer contacts per week. Employer contacts aim to understand business needs explain program supports and highlight member strengths relevant to the position.

Provides individualized follow-along supports to assist members in maintaining employment.

Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by members that may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact with the employer.

Utilizes a variety of outreach services (phone email visitation) as necessary to members when they appear to disengage from the service. Attends meetings with mental health teams and coordinates vocational services with team members between meetings.

Has face-to-face meetings with Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (DVR) regularly to coordinate services for members.

Develops an individual employment plan with the member mental health worker and other treatment team providers and updates it quarterly.

Develops job support plans with the member.

Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community. For example meets member at community locations such as home workplace coffee shop library VR office family home etc. or takes member to apply for jobs investigate local GED or colleges etc.

Provides supported education for members who express interest in education to advance their employment goals.

Is responsible for a minimum of 12 job starts per year or maintaining 40% employment on caseload.

Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and experience equivalent to an undergraduate degree in mental health social services or business.

Experience working with people with serious mental illness providing employment services and knowledge of the work world are preferred.

Must be able to collaborate effectively within a team while also demonstrating the ability to take initiative and work independently when needed.

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full Time/Exempt/Regular

REGULAR WORK SCHEDULE: Primarily M-F 9-5 but may vary and includes some evening weekend and holiday hours.

REPORTS TO: Employment Director

Bellevue Clubhouse a program of HERO House NW located in Bellevue WA is a Clubhouse Accredited by Clubhouse International where members recovering from Mental illness come to reclaim their lives and rejoin their community.

REQUIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS/ABILITIES:

Must be proficient in Word Excel Outlook and the Internet.

Must have the ability to make presentations regarding supported employment to employers business leaders and VR counselors.

Prior experience working with people with disabilities and/or other disadvantaged populations is preferred

REQUIRED LICENSES CERTIFICATES REGISTRATIONS:

Must have a valid drivers license and be insurable under the HERO House NW Liability Insurance Plan.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT: A completed Bachelors Degree 1-year related experience and/or training preferred.

ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: High access to confidential records. Access to Consumer Case files and HIPAA protected information.

OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to pass a DMV and pre-employment security check (when applicable) and comply with the GWIK Drug/Alcohol Free Workplace

Bellevue Clubhouse a program of HERO House NW is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race color age sex religion national origin disability veterans status sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

Mental health support mental health rehabilitation behavioral health mental health recovery psychosocial rehabilitation behavioral support community mental health peer support mental health worker psychiatric rehabilitation mental health services case management social services client-centered support recovery-oriented care supported employment IPS Supported Employment Individual Placement and Support (IPS) vocational rehabilitation career development job placement job coaching job retention job readiness resume support employment specialist workforce development job search assistance employer outreach job matching career counseling job accommodation employment navigation career pathways clubhouse model member-driven services community integration recovery community community-based support community mental health worker collaborative support member engagement individualized services strengths-based approach disability rights vocational goals goal setting trust-building client-centered planning advocacy coaching and mentoring motivational interviewing service coordination case documentation caseload management treatment planning benefits counseling SSI SSDI Medicaid vocational planning DVR collaboration outreach services community visits employment plan supported education progress tracking human services social work social service specialist community support specialist nonprofit jobs mental health nonprofit direct service provider entry-level mental health employment counselor outreach worker job developer career coach community-based employment services.

Required Experience:

Manager