Employment Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Full Time

$18.50 - $23.70

Monday Friday

9 : 00am 5 : 00pm

Pierce County’s first Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic :

Comprehensive Life Resources is looking for a qualified Employment Specialist to join our Outreach team in Tacoma, WA.

We offer : Medical, dental, and vision with 100% paid premiums for employees, 11 paid holidays, Mileage reimbursement, 403(b)-retirement plan, and Tuition Assistance, Continuing education programs, and Health club reimbursement, Paid Sick Leave

Function : This position carries out the community-based case management and support services of the Foundational Community Support (FCS) program by assisting individuals experiencing employment barriers due to chronic homelessness, substance use, mental illness, and / or chronic physical illness to obtain and maintain employment that is consistent with their vocational goals.

The FCS Supported Employment Specialist serves as a member of the organization that welcomes, engages, and serves individuals with complex wellness needs, as well as builds strong relationships in the community with employers, local businesses, social service agencies, and other partners.

Key roles of this position include : negotiating with employers; generating leads; managing participant / employer relations;

and providing job development, skill building, and vocational support. Serves as a member of the organization that welcomes, engages, and serves individuals with complex wellness needs.

Responsibilities :

• Engages participants and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers who do not necessarily have disabilities.
• Assists participants in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment in order for participants to make good decisions about employment opportunities.

Refers participants to benefits counseling, as needed. Helps participants report earnings, as needed.

Complete vocational assessments and develop individual employment (and / or education) plan with participants; coordinate with treatment teams regarding goals.

Adjust plan according to participants’ needs and preferences. Incorporates input from mental health team and family members, with permission.

Assesses participants' vocational functioning on ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. With the participant's permission, provides education and support to family members.

Discusses participant's preference for disclosure of psychiatric status to employers.

• 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 IPS supported employment and the values of the agency.
• Conducts a minimum of six employer contacts per week. Employer contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business, describe supports offered by the program and describe participant strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Provides individualized follow-along supports to assist participants in maintaining employment (i.e. life skills building, coaching, on-site mentoring, support services).

Writes job support plans with participants and incorporating input from the mental health team. Adjusts plan according to participants’ needs and preferences.

• Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by participants, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact by the employment specialist with the employer.
• Provides outreach services as necessary to participants when they appear to disengage from the service. Uses a variety of methods to provide outreach.
• Provides timely interventions. Returns phone calls and reacts to situations in a timely manner. For example : returns participant phone calls within 24 hours;

goes to see employers about job loss / job problems within 24 hours; follows up on job leads within 48 hours; meets with participants within one week prior to job starts and within three days after job starts.

• Participates in weekly meetings with mental health treatment team and communicates individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational services into mental health treatment.
• Participates in face-to-face meetings with vocational rehabilitation counselors at least once a month to coordinate services for participants.
• Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community. For example, meets participants at community locations such as home, workplace, coffee shop, meeting with potential employers, library, VR office, family home, etc.

or takes participants to apply for jobs, investigate local GED or colleges, etc.

• Provides supported education, using principles similar to supported employment, for participants who express interest in education to advance their employment goals.
• Complete all required documentation in a timely manner - including, but not limited to, progress notes, participant eligibility, enrollment, and tracking.

Maintain clinical records in accordance with company policies and procedures, as well as FCS fidelity criterion.

• Develop employment placement opportunities in public and private business communities by networking and developing relationships.
• Demonstrate both knowledge and promotion of person-centered approach and trauma-informed care to all consumers.
• Be an active participant with the CLR interdisciplinary team and ensure ethical and professional standards of care.
• Demonstrate and be responsible with accountability to FCS fidelity criterion, contracts, productivity expectations, budget, and applicable quality improvement processing.
• Actively participate in vocational trainings, consultations, meetings, and activities as required by the program. Have up-to-date knowledge of employment and disability laws.
• Maintain confidentiality in all work and ensure that ethical and professional standards of practice are maintained.
• In addition to the above, perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services (Psychology, Behavioral Science, Sociology, Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, etc.).
• 1+ years’ experience working in the human services or related field (providing housing / homeless services preferred). Mental health and sales experience preferred but not necessary.

Knowledge of educational processes and housing opportunities are also preferred.

• Washington State credential / license, or ability to obtain an agency affiliated counselor registration.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license; proof of insurance. Must have access to a vehicle and be willing / able to travel frequently throughout the community to meet and transport participants.

Comprehensive Life Resources is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, veteran status, disability status, and any other applicable legally protected characteristics and or class.

Company Description

We are a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic with a team of therapists, doctors, peers and technicians who provide counseling, medical, dental, and life skills support to provide the people we serve tools to create their own paths toward mental wellness.

Company Description

We are a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic with a team of therapists, doctors, peers and technicians who provide counseling, medical, dental, and life skills support to provide the people we serve tools to create their own paths toward mental wellness.