Current Openings:
Employment Coordinator/Job Developer
Employment Specialist

 

Employment Coordinator/Job Developer, I-WORK Program

Job Type: Full-time

Reports To: Director of Programs

Overall Function: Oversees the I-WORK program by supervising I-WORK employment specialists, providing I-WORK programs services and providing administrative liaison to other coordinators within Housing Options.

Responsibilities:

1. Coordinates and monitors referrals to the I-WORK program and ensures that each employment specialist is assigned to work with residents from the caseloads of specified case managers.
2. Hires, trains, and evaluates employment specialists.
3. Provides weekly individual supervision to employment specialists and ensures that employment specialists learn the skills necessary to complete their jobs. For example, goes into the field with new employment specialists to conduct job development activities and also provides field mentoring if an employment specialist is having difficulty with job development. Also, shadows employment specialists while meeting with residents in order to help each specialist develop good client interviewing skills.
4. Monitors the employment specialist’s role and participation on the mental health treatment teams to enhance integrated, seamless services at the delivery level.
5. Acts as liaison to other coordinators at Housing Options. Communicates regularly with director of programs to ensure that services are integrated, to problem-solve programmatic issues and to serve as a champion for employment.
6. Identifies, outreaches, and develops relationships with local businesses that could serve as I-WORK employers.
7. Arranges regular in-service training to all staff about principles and practices of evidence-based supported employment.
8. Tracks employment outcomes, on a monthly basis and by employment specialist, including job dates, hours worked, wages earned, and quality of job match. Reviews outcomes with employment specialists. Helps specialists to set goals for improved performance.
9. Participates in development of I-WORK Advisory Committee that meets regularly to oversee the implementation of I-WORK.
10. Arranges for I-WORK fidelity reviews to ensure agency is implementing the critical components of evidence-based supported employment. Assists with the development of the I-WORK fidelity action plan, based on recommendations from the I-WORK fidelity review report.
11. Meets with the management team at least quarterly to discuss facilitators and barriers to the SE program.

Qualifications: Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling or related field. Previous experience as an employment specialist assisting residents with serious mental illness in obtaining and maintaining competitive employment is desired. Previous supervisory experience required. Ability to accomplish program goals, build and maintain community relationships, and integrate services in to overall resident goals. Must have excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to problem solve, handle multiple tasks, and have attention to detail.

To Apply: Send resume and cover letter to dbretag@housingopt.org by September 23, 2010. No phone calls please.

Housing Options provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals with regard to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, retention, and discipline. Housing Options will not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, age, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, unfavorable discharge from the military, or disability, provided that an individual is qualified and meets the requirements established by the agency for the job.

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Employment Specialist, I-WORK Program

Job Type: Full-time

Reports To: I-WORK Coordinator

Overall Function: Carries out the services of the I-WORK Supported Employment (SE) program by assisting residents in obtaining and maintaining competitive employment that is consistent with their vocational goals.

Responsibilities:

1. Engages residents and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings.
2. Assists residents in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment in order for residents to make good decisions about employment opportunities.
3. Helps residents to access benefits counseling when making changes in work hours and pay.
4. Assesses residents' vocational functioning on an ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. Completes vocational profile for each new client with information from the client, mental health practitioners, and with permission, family members or past employers. Updates the profile with each new job experience.
5. With the client's permission, provides education and support to family members about work and gathers input about skills, interests, strengths of the client and ideas for support.
6. Discusses client's preference for disclosure of psychiatric status to employers, including possible costs and benefits and specific information to be disclosed. Provides assistance with the job search regardless of client’s preferences regarding disclosure (i.e., support without employer contact when client chooses not to disclose).
7. Develops an individual employment plan with the client, mental health worker, other treatment team providers and updates it semi-annually or when warranted.
8. Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on his/her caseload, following the principles and procedures of supported employment.
9. Conducts at least six employer contacts each week to learn about local businesses and employer needs, to talk about specific residents who are looking for work and/or to talk about employer services offered by the I-WORK program.
10. Supports residents making employer contacts about job information and/or job interviews within 30 days of entry to I-WORK.
11. Provides individualized follow-along supports to assist residents in maintaining employment. Provides frequent face-to-face supports during the first month of a new job and at least monthly after working steadily and desired by residents.
12. Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by residents, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact with the employer.
13. Provides outreach services as necessary to residents when they appear to disengage from the service. Uses a variety of methods to provide outreach.
14. Participates in regular meetings with mental health treatment team and communicates individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational services with mental health treatment. Employment specialist helps the team think about employment for people who haven’t yet been referred to supported employment services.
15. Attends monthly meetings with Housing Options case managers to discuss possible referrals and shared residents.
16. Spends at least 75% or more of total scheduled work hours in the community engaging residents, contacting employers for job development, and providing follow-along supports.
17. Provides supported education, using principles similar to supportive employment, for residents who express interest in education to advance their employment goals.

Qualifications: Education and experience equivalent to undergraduate degree in mental health, social services, or business. Experience working with people with serious mental illness, experience providing employment services, and knowledge of the work world are preferred. Ability to work as an effective team player is essential. Must be an effective communicator, problem solver, and highly organized.

To Apply: Send resume and cover letter to dbretag@housingopt.org by October 1, 2010. No phone calls please.

Housing Options provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals with regard to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, retention, and discipline. Housing Options will not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, age, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, unfavorable discharge from the military, or disability, provided that an individual is qualified and meets the requirements established by the agency for the job.

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