Employment Specialist City Star ACT

MHS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve people’s lives and instill hope by providing cost-effective community-based mental health, drug and alcohol recovery, and housing services. We continually seek new and improved ways of serving our clients and communities. MHS is an essential business. 

JOB SUMMARY

The Employment Specialist assist clients with training for, seeking, finding, and keeping viable jobs in an Integrated Services and Supported Housing with Assertive Community Treatment Team Services Program.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• While working primarily in the field, this position actively promotes an integrated, regional system of care by participating in committees, on interagency teams, and by attending meetings related to the field of employment. 
• Serves in a consultative capacity to other service providers, both intra-agency and interagency, to promote the supported employment model. 
• Provides information about the program to community agencies connected to the mental health services system to educate them about the program. 
• Serves as part of a multidisciplinary team, providing assessment of clients’ capacities and updates regarding work status, and provides expertise to the team in areas related to work trends, employment models, potential employer profiles, and demographic data as needed. 
• Carries a caseload, conducts groups, one on one coaching, and education. Serves as part of the on-call team. 
• Educates clients about competitive work opportunities, assessing interest/work needs as indicated and offers direct placement of clients in positions appropriate to skill level and personal needs, while advocating for clients, as needed, to ensure work success. 
• Serves as ongoing support to clients, including providing information and education to family members and other support persons. Provides long-term job coaching for clients to assist with work stability and retention. 
• Provides services after-hours as required by contract, maintains a daily log of client contacts, and collects necessary client demographic data, entering it in appropriate program software. 
• Must be able to engage culturally diverse populations and understand cultural competency relevant to community/communities served and possess the skills necessary to successfully work as a member of a treatment team and interact positively with persons of diverse socio-economic backgrounds and education. 
• Fosters excellent rapport with clients and builds trusting and motivating relationships, while maintaining the distinction between therapeutic and social relationships. 
• Create written documentation that is legible, clear, and concise. 
• Maintain the distinction between therapeutic and social relationships. 
• Maintain positive morale and unit cohesion as evidenced by maintaining a cooperative and flexible attitude toward coworkers, showing adaptability to change, exhibiting effective communication and interpersonal skills, and taking initiative to solve problems. 
• Comply with all MHS and program rules, policies and procedures including HIPAA standards.

QUALIFICATIONS

• For the bachelor’s level position: B.A./B.S. degree in social/human services field and two years’ experience providing employment services to psychiatric population OR
• For the master’s level position: M.A./M.S. degree in Vocational Rehabilitation or similar field and at least two years’ experience.
• One year of experience providing job-coaching, counseling, or placement, or two years’ experience in vocational rehabilitation, employment placement or sales.

• Training in Supported Employment and Assertive Community Treatment models.
• Proficient user of Microsoft Office Suite and EHR software.
• Ability to problem solve and react appropriately to emergency situations.
• Ability to work independently and effectively collaborate with a team.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

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 qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions.

☒ Seeing

☒ Hearing

☒ Speaking

☒ Stooping/Bending

☐ Working in cramped spaces

☒ Moving around office

☒ Moving between offices/clients

☒ Driving

☒ Climbing

☒ Lifting/carrying heavy items

☐ Pushing/pulling/dragging items

☒ Standing for long periods

☐ Working outside/underground

☒ Using hands/fingers

☐ Sitting for long periods of time

I can perform the above job duties:

☐ Without accommodation               ☐ With accommodation. If so, please specify: 

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

MHS is committed to Equal Opportunity Employment and to attracting and retaining the most qualified employees without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability or protected veteran status.