IPS Employment Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title

IPS Employment Specialist

Reports to

IPS Manager

FLSA / WAGE

Non-Exempt / $26.41 per hour

Original Date : July 2022

Revised : May 2024

JOB SUMMARY

The IPS Employment Specialist works directly with members to find competitive employment and exhibits a strong commitment and passion to making competitive employment an attainable goal for all members of Park Center. The Employment Specialist implements the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment, the most researched and best described model of supported employment. IPS promotes a “recovery through work” philosophy whereby members diagnosed with mental illness (and both mental illness and substance misuse) achieve competitive, integrated employment when assisted with ongoing support services. Employment Specialists receive specific IPS training and work towards partnering with up to 20 Park Center members at any given time to conduct a rapid job search and development approach with each member (instead of providing lengthy pre-employment assessment, training, and counseling). Employment specialists also provide time-unlimited and individualized support for as long as the member wants and needs the support.

This position will cover Montgomery, Robertson, and Cheatham counties.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Responsible for implementing the Intentional Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment with high fidelity to the IPS model.

• Actively implement and communicates the eight evidence base principles of IPS clearly and uses those principles to engage Park Center members in job search, job development, and ongoing support, while emphasizing member choice and preferences, “zero exclusion” from IPS services, and integration of IPS with mental health treatment teams in the community.
• Exhibits a command of the IPS fidelity scale and uses the scale to assess performance regularly and to implement continuous improvement strategies.
• Acts as an agent of hope believing that members want to work and can work.
• Believes that stigma is not an insurmountable barrier to competitive employment.
• Collaborates with external mental health treatment teams to help integrate IPS in mental health services. Attends and participates in external treatment team meetings to review progress of Park Center members.
• Builds an employer network with the IPS team by making systematic contacts with local employers and attending to those relationships.
• Partners with the Social Security Administration, Benefits Counselor’s and local organizations that provide benefits counseling to guide members in navigating work and TennCare, Medicaid, and other government payments.
• Completes intake and required documentation upon intake such as the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, members rights and responsibilities, release of information, disclosure.
• Conduct motivational interviewing with members to assist with preparing for employment.

2. Lives out the principle of “recovery through work” and member choice.

3. Integrates IPS and other services at Park Center

4. Builds and maintains relationships with IPS community stakeholders

5. Other Duties

6. Values cultural competence and diversity

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

WORKING CONDITIONS

This job operates in a professional office environment with remote office flexibility. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally life or move up to 10 pounds. Visual ability to detect errors.

DIRECT REPORTS

None.

SCHEDULE

Monday-Friday 7 : 30 am - 3 : 30 pm, 8 : 00 am - 4 : 00 pm or 8 : 30 am - 4 : 30 pm.

WORK LOCATION

Hybrid - This position will cover Montgomery, Robertson, and Cheatham counties.