Department : Community Based Services (CBS) Job Status : Full-Time
FLSA Status : Hourly Reports to : IPS Supervisor
Positions Supervised : None
Amount of Travel Required : 65% Plus
Work Schedule : Monday - Friday, Occasional Weekend hours, Flexible Schedule
Position Summary
Carries out the services of the IPS (Individual Placement & Support) supported employment program by
assisting clients to obtain and maintain employment that is consistent with their vocational goals.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Engages persons served and establish trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers who do not necessarily have disabilities.
- Assists persons served in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment in order for persons served to make good decisions about employment opportunities. Refers persons served to benefits counseling, as needed. Helps persons served report earnings, as needed.
- Assesses persons served vocational functioning on ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. With the persons served permission, provides education and support to family members. Discusses persons served 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 their caseload, following the
principles and procedures of IPS supported employment.
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 persons served strengths that are relevant to the position.Provides individualized follow-along supports to assist persons served in maintaining employment. Writes job support plans with persons served incorporating input from the mental health team. Adjusts plan according to the persons served needs and preferences.Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by persons served, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact by the IPS specialist with the employer.Provides outreach services as necessary to persons served 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 persons served phone calls within 24 hours. Goes to see employers about job loss or job problems within 24 hours. Follows up on job leads within 48 hours. Meets with persons served within one week prior to job starts and within three days after job starts.Participates in weekly meeting 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 persons served.Develops an individual employment (and / or education) plan with persons served. Incorporates input from mental health team and family members, with permission.Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community. For example, meets persons served at community locations such as home, workplace, coffee shop, meeting with potential employers, library, One-Stop, VR office, family home, etc., or takes persons served to apply for jobs, investigate local GED or colleges, etc.Provides supported education, using principles similar to supported employment, for persons served who express interest in education to advance their employment goals.Responsible for a minimum of 15 job starts per year or maintaining 15 job starts within a 90-day period.Responsible for IPS fidelity persons served employment measures.Other duties as assigned.POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
Education / Licensure :
Education and / or experience equivalent to undergraduate degree in mental health, social services, business, or related field.Must successfully pass the KBI, DCF Central Registry and all background investigations.Must possess a valid state of Kansas Driver's license, a good driving record, current auto insurance and reliable transportation.Experience :
Minimum 1 year experience working with people with severe mental illness.Minimum of 1 year experience providing employment services preferred.Sales background preferred.Experience navigating workplace dynamics and employment fundamentals.Commitment to interdisciplinary and community mental health center / Health Home approaches.Energetic and positive approach to the rapidly evolving changes and challenges of a complex work place.Knowledge / Skills / Abilities :
Effective communication skills (verbal and written)Strong interpersonal skills in working with diverse publics.Ability to work as an effective team player is essential.Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others.Strong organizational skills.Flexibility in assigned working hours.Demonstrated use of electronic medical record software through timely and accurate clinical documentation within 6 months of employment is required.Customer focused (internal and external)Leadership skillsExcellent listening skillsAccountabilityReliabilityTrust / IntegrityAdaptability / FlexibilityTime ManagementProficiency in MS Office Suite with ability to learn other software programs as necessaryRelationship buildingProblem SolvingAttention to detail and accuracy in workCollaborationPHYSICAL DEMANDS
N (Not Applicable) Activity is not applicable to this position.
O (Occasionally) Position requires this activity up to 33% of the time (0 - 2.5 hrs / day)
F (Frequently) Position requires this activity from 33% - 66% of the time (2.5 - 5.5 hrs / day)
C (Constantly) Position requires this activity more than 66% of the time (5.5 hrs / day)
Physical Demands Lift / Carry
Stand (F) 10 lbs. or less (F)
Walk (F) 11 - 20 lbs. (F)
Sit (F) 21 - 50 lbs. (O)
Manually Manipulate (O) 51 - 100 lbs. (N)
Reach Outward (O) Over 100 lbs. (N)
Reach Above Shoulder (O)
Climb (N) Push / Pull
Crawl (N) 12 lbs. or less (O)
Squat or Kneel (O) 26- 40 lbs. (O)
Bend (O) 41 - 100 lbs. (N)
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Office and Community-Based working environment; requires flexible schedule; frequent interruptions occur; expected to deal with individuals in crisis; risk of exposure to aggressive and / or acting out (verbal and physical) youth and young adults, and exposure to low socioeconomic homes and neighborhoods.
BREAKS
Personnel must take a 30-minute break after six hours of work.
