Employment Specialist

Job Title: Employment Specialist

Grade: 17

Salary: $18,484-$20,483

The Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene is seeking an employment specialist (based in New York State or NYC metro area) to help people find and keep competitive employment using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model. This position is part of a grant-funded project that is studying IPS for individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder. The primary role will be to remotely provide employment services to individuals with OCD, working in collaboration with a CBT provider. The employment specialist will provide job supports to working people including meetings to talk about their jobs, symptoms management at work, and may negotiate accommodations with supervisor (with worker's permission). In some situations, may travel to working person's workplace to meet with worker and/or supervisor. The position is part-time, fully-remote, requiring approximately 12 hours a week with flexibility in scheduling.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Engages clients 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 clients in obtaining individualized information about how entitlements (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) will be affected by employment so clients can make decisions about employment opportunities. Refers clients to benefits counseling, as needed. Helps clients report earnings, as needed.
• Assesses clients' vocational skills and preferences on ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. With the client's permission, provides information and support to family members. Discusses client's preference for disclosure of mental health status to employers.
• Interacts with CBT clinician on a weekly basis while clients are receiving therapy
• Helps clients learn about different jobs/careers by assisting with meetings with workers/managers to ask about positions that interest clients, meetings with academic advisors, observing workers (one day or less in duration), and job fairs to speak with employers about different types of jobs.
• 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.
• Conducts an average 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 client strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Provides individualized follow-along supports to assist clients in maintaining employment. Writes job support plans with clients and incorporates input from family members (with client permission) and the mental health team. Adjusts plan according to clients' needs and preferences.
• Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients. May negotiate job accommodations and follow-along contact by the IPS specialist with the employer.
• Provides outreach services as necessary to clients when they appear to disengage from the service. Uses a variety of methods to provide outreach
• Participates in weekly meetings with mental health clinician and communicates individually with research team members
• Develops an individual employment and/or education plan with clients. Incorporates input from mental health clinician and family members, with client permission.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• 1 year of experience with IPS is required.
• Ability to meet with prospective employers, either in person in the community or remotely
• Valid NYS Driver's License

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5 years of experience with IPS

Work Location: 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032

To Apply: Submit an application through our website at https://nyspi.applicantpro.com/jobs/. Please note only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

The Mission of the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. (RFMH) is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. RFMH is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals, organizations, and communities. To this end, RFMH is focused on implementing activities and initiatives to reduce disparities in access, quality, and treatment outcomes for underserved populations. A critical component of these efforts is ensuring that RFMH is a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees' unique attributes and skills are valued and utilized to support the mission of the Agency. RFMH is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

The Research Foundation is a private not-for-profit corporation and is not an agency or instrumentality of the State of New York. Employees of the Research Foundation are not state employees, do not participate in any state retirement system, and do not receive state fringe benefits. Excellent Benefits Package. Employer/Minority/Women/Disabled/Veteran Employer. VEVRAA 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) compliant.

Salary : $18,484 - $20,483