Employment Specialist

The Employment Specialist provides direct vocational assessment, job development, and job coaching services to participants of the Lehigh Valley Assertive Community Treatment ACT program, as well as leading the ACT team engaged in similar activities. The Employment Specialist will participate in identifying needed support to overcome barriers to employment. These services include assessment, pre-vocation collaboration, training interventions toward attainment of work (paid or unpaid), identification or development of jobs that best match the skills and interests of individuals, facilitation of job applications and contracts, and follow-along support to enhance job retention. Providing education, resources, and motivational coaching to team members will be integral to the team’s maturation and ability to support participants effectively in these activities. The foundation of all activities will focus on individual recovery through meaningful community participation, contribution, and membership.

 

The Employment Specialist is responsible for establishing a collaborative relationship with all team members and the participant for planning and implementing work-related services. While adhering to specific procedures and policies, the Employment Specialist will assist to empower individuals with serious and persistent mental illness to gain meaningful work experience that will support their recovery and overall success in the community. 

 

RHD is a different kind of company – no divisive walls, no cubicles, and no private offices. Our experience has shown that in a relaxed atmosphere where employees have the chance to deal openly and directly with each other, the work environment is significantly better, communications are clear, and attitudes remain positive. We emphasize group decision-making and decentralization, so that staff has maximum authority, creativity, freedom, and support to help meet the needs of the people we serve, without cumbersome centralized bureaucracy. We believe that RHD demonstrates its commitment to employees by listening and responding to employee concerns. Eligible employees of RHD are provided with a wide range of benefits. Eligibility depends on a variety of factors including salary level and job status. In addition, RHD provides a wide range of employee resources that include a credit union, employee assistance, and internal education and leadership development programs. Recently RHD announced a unique partnership with Capella University that includes discounts on tuition and scholarship assistance. 

Lehigh Valley ACT's recovery-focused, multidisciplinary, assertive community treatment programs provide intensive, individual support for people in Lehigh and Northampton counties who are working to overcome the barriers to recovery from mental illness. Assertive Community Treatment Teams provide Psychiatric assessment, medication education, and monitoring, treatment for co-occurring disorders, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, psychosocial services, and education (including Wellness Management and Recovery, SAMSHA evidence-based IMR), and intervention to help strengthen the individual’s networks. Blended Case Management Services afford the collaborative coordination of services and resources supportive of recovery and growth. Individuals work with case managers to increase personal and financial independence, overcome barriers compromising access to treatment, build and expand capabilities in roles and relationships within the community and, acquire skills to support self-determination and self-management of the symptoms or challenges related to their illness. HUD funding allows LVACT to respond to the residential needs of participants who have been diagnosed with serious, persistent mental illnesses and have histories of homelessness.

Resources for Human Development is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, veteran, or disability status.