What are the responsibilities and job description for the Employment Specialist position at Kenneth Young Center?
IPS Employment Specialist
Kenneth Young Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit dedicated to providing comprehensive outpatient behavioral health services to individuals of all walks of life. Located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, we offer a wide range of services including outpatient therapeutic care, recovery-oriented support, community prevention, LGBTQ outreach, older adult services, and crisis intervention. Our team welcomes and celebrates unique perspectives and represents the diversity and vitality of our local communities. Join our team to grow in your career while building stronger, healthier communities.
Kenneth Young Center offers a robust benefit package that is highly competitive to the market and offers all full-time employees the following:
Kenneth Young Center offers a robust benefit package that is highly competitive to the market and offers all full-time employees the following:
- 403(b) plan with organizational matching
- Medical Insurance (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois - BCBS)
- Dental (BCBS), and Vision Insurance (BCBS) with low employee premiums
- Long Term and Short Term Disability (BCBS), no cost to employee
- Flexible Spending Account (with annual rollover)
- Basic life insurance (50k) paid for by the organization and option for additional voluntary coverage for self, spouse, or dependents (BCBS)
- Incentive program with potential for quarterly bonuses
- Opportunity for annual bonus and salary increase (discretionary based on annual KYC financial audit)
- Eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
To further promote an active and healthy work/ life balance, KYC also offers a generous amount of paid time off and staff holidays.
- 4 weeks of Paid Time Off (With increases based on seniority)
- 8 Paid Organization-Wide Holidays
- 3 Personal Floating Holidays annually
Job Scope: Carries out the services of the IPS (Individual Placement and Support) Supported Employment program by assisting clients with serious health needs, to obtain and/or maintain employment that is consistent with their vocational goals. Provide a range of employment services to clients with goal of finding job placement and maintaining employment : develop vocational aspirations, skills, work placements and job-retention supports, as a supplemental part of a comprehensive treatment suite for our clients seeking support in managing mental health needs.
Primary Responsibilities
- Provide assessment, evaluation, job placement, support, and training services to program recipients. This will include providing training in basic job skills, habits, and attitudes; monitoring client progress; conducting staffing meetings and contributing to written rehabilitation service plans.
- Provision of a full range of vocational services to KYC and DRS clients while following IPS model. This will include community outreach and responsibility for developing comprehensive vocational plans that are reflective of client requests and needs, and insuring that needed services are being delivered.
- Outreach and relationship-building with prospective employers, including fostering connections via telephonic and on-site contacts with work sites or training programs. Conducts an average of six employer contacts per week. These contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business, describe support offered by our program, and describe client strengths that are relevant to the position.
- Familiarization with and utilization of external resources as needed to provide comprehensive services to clients.
- Provide support, education, and training with employers and potential employers. Also, engage in employer outreach, as often as weekly, to build and/or maintain relationships with prospective placement sites.
- Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the clients we serve, following the principles and procedures of IPS supported employment.
- Participate and provide input in program planning and development meetings. Interface with up to two mental health teams by engaging in their respective meetings weekly, and offering consultation from employment / IPS perspective, on existing and prospective clientele, to integrate vocational service with mental health treatment.
- Participate in consultation, as needed, with clients’ family, significant others, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
- Understand the policies, procedures, rules-and-regulations of Department of Human Services/Division of Rehabilitative Services (DHS/DRS), the funding body of Vocational Services.
- Observe and implement DHS/DRS policies and procedures in the day-today operations of vocational programming.
- Cultivate positive, cooperative relationships with DRS counselors.
- Maintain a cooperative relationship with other Center units and programs to assure continuity of care and smooth transition between programs.
- Maintain knowledge of external resources and ensure clients can access needed services.
- Provide, document, and report clinical services consistent in quality and quantity with published standards and policies of the Center. This includes learning documentation requirements for DRS and Medicaid.
- Participate in team meetings and other Agency activities and projects.
- Participate in supervision as required and regular performance evaluations
- Receive administrative input from manager and team lead and provide feedback regarding administrative issues.
- Interpret and communicate, at the service delivery level, Center policies and procedures.
- Participate in Agency orientations and training programs.
- Promote a positive image of KYC services with clients, referral sources, and any contacts with the community at large
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology or a related discipline with clinical mental health experience. Preferred Master’s Degree.
- Previous experience in the vocational rehabilitation or employment services field
- Preferred experience working with individuals with serious and persistent mental illness providing a variety of clinical interventions including therapy, case management and community support.
- Ability to network and engage with potential employers
- Mastery of basic technology such as smartphones and text messaging, computer and typing proficiency, web-based team communication tools (ex. Microsoft online tools such as Teams and Outlook) and web-based research skills, use of confidential electronic health record keeping systems.
- Applicant must have a valid IL Driver’s License and daily access to a well maintained and insured vehicle.
Schedule/Timekeeping
- Full Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt, 37.5 hours per week
- Hours are typically weekdays, daytime, and early evening. Must be able to work a flexible schedule in response to the needs of the target population served, including occasional evening and/or Saturday hours.
Kenneth Young Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer
