Certified Work Incentive Counselor - Individualized Placement Services

EOE Statement 

• At HOPE, we are committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion.  Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the community we serve.  We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer.

SUMMARY 

• This position is to provide counseling and assistance to individuals who are considering or anticipating changes in their employment situation.  This position is to provide information and guidance to IPS employment specialists and provide participants assistance in obtaining comprehensive, individualized work incentives planning.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:  

• Provide guidance on benefits, work incentives, and employment services available to consumers.  
• Provide comprehensive, individualized work incentives planning for participants prior to job start 
• Provide information and assistance about reporting earnings to SSA, housing programs, etc., depending on the person’s benefits. 
• Facilitate access to work incentives planning when clients need to make decisions about changes in work hours and pay. 
• Work incentives planning includes SSA benefits, medical benefits, medication subsidies, housing subsidies, food stamps, spouse and dependent children benefits, past job retirement benefits and other source of income. 
• Provide information to beneficiaries on health benefits coverage options that may be available.  
• Show knowledge of SSA’s SSDI and SSI disability program and work incentives as well as other federal, state, and local work incentive programs and be able to communicate this knowledge in an effective and easy-to-understand manner.  
• Provide presentations and outreach to the community, in accordance with SSA guidelines.  
• Promote employment and self-sufficiency through the use of work incentives.  
• Maintain effective and ongoing communication with the IPS team(s).  
• Adheres to agency policy and procedures, CARF and DMHSAS standards and criteria, federal and state confidentiality rules and regulations and any special funding source requirements. 
• Attend agency staffing’s and other meetings as specified by the Director (weekly staff meetings, weekly IPS meetings, etc.) 
• Supports and promotes a service environment for individual in need of behavioral health and/or co-occurring services that is recovery focused, welcoming, and attentive to the needs of individuals who may have experienced trauma in their lives.  Attends annual core competencies training in relationship to individuals with co-occurring disorders or who have experienced trauma in their lives. 
• Reports and documents services in accordance with agency policy and procedures. Adheres to HOPE policy and procedure of having documentation completed by the end of the next business day. 
• May be required to work evening or weekend hours. 
• Performs other related duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor’s Degree in social services or similar field preferred.  At least two years of documented experience working with persons with disabilities or personal experience with a disability.
• Experience with the service system, benefits, entitlements and supports utilized by people with disabilities.  

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS 

• In order to provide client transportation in private or agency vehicles, must possess current, valid Oklahoma license, and meet HOPE's vehicle insurance requirements. HOPE will annually obtain copy of Motor Vehicle and Record from the State Department of Public Safety. 
• Required to complete and maintain IPS related certifications and trainings. 
• Required to obtain and maintain DMHSAS CM Certification 
• Obtain and maintain SOAR Certification. 
• Obtain and maintain CWIC Certification. 
• Required to complete Therapeutic Options or approved safety training and annual updates. 
• May be required to obtain and maintain First Aid and CPR Certifications. 

LANGUAGE SKILLS 

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence and clinical writing/documentation in medical records chart. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to families, clients, and other employees of the organization. 

REASONING ABILITY 

• Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to seek out supervisory assistance for additional training when needed and make application of techniques or other skills to meet essential job duties and responsibilities. 

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• Ability to relate to persons with severe mental illness and/or substance use in a positive, helpful, and constructive manner. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and tactful working relationships with co-workers; to express ideas and facts clearly and concisely in written or oral form. 
• Personality and mature presentation of oneself demonstrating the ability to work with various systems while maintaining objectivity and cooperative attitude. 

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 frequently required to talk or hear. 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; and climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee must have vision enough to read written or typed data. Must have hearing and speech enough to communicate effectively with staff, clients, and public in person or by phone. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing 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 occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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