Position Summary: Carries out/provides the services of the PROS IPS (Individual Placement & Support) Employment program by engaging and establishing trusting, and collaborative relationships aimed at obtaining, and maintaining employment in competitive work setting, that is consistent with their vocational goals. Conduct community outreach, job development, and network with employers.

IPS Principles: Recovery-oriented, strength-based outcome focus. Individualized and person-centered foundation with a commitment to integration of services with treatment; with an emphasis on partnerships with community-based resources. Provision of services to participants at any point in the recovery process.

Essential Accountabilities:

-Performs 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.

-Performs employment outreach to establish trusting collaborative relationships with businesses in the community. Conduct weekly employer contacts. 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.

-Assists clients in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment in order to make good decisions about employment opportunities. Refers clients to benefits counseling, as needed. Helps clients report earnings, as needed.

-Assesses clients' vocational functioning on ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. Utilize suitable assessment tools (such as SDS - self-directed search) for employment to ascertain job matches that align with client skills, preferences, and employment choice. With the client's permission, provides education and support to family members. Discusses client's preference for disclosure of psychiatric status to employers.

- Develops an individual employment (and/or education) plan with clients and incorporating input from the mental health team and family members, with permission. Adjusts plan according to clients’ needs and preferences. Documents individualized progress towards employment goals.

-Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients, which may include negotiating job accommodations and on-going between the employment specialist and employer.

-Provide individualized ongoing (including short term job coaching) support to assist clients in maintaining employment.

-Provides outreach services as necessary to clients 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.

-Works as an integral part of the PROS interdisciplinary, strengths-focused, recovery-oriented team. Participate in weekly meetings with PROS mental health interdisciplinary treatment/recovery team and communicates individually with team members between meetings to coordinate and integrate vocational services into mental health recovery services.

-Spends 50-65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community. For example, meets clients at community locations such as home, workplace, coffee shop, meeting with potential employers, library, One-Stop, office, family home, etc. or assist clients to apply for jobs, prep for interviews, and investigate local GED or colleges, etc., if/as needed based on IPS requirements.

-Tracks outreach contacts, daily logs of duties, completes and submits required reporting to OMH for PROS IPS program.

-Data entry and upkeep of NYESS TTW system – client enrollment, and other required reporting.

-Provides supported education, using principles similar to supported employment, for clients who express interest in education to advance their employment goals.

-Match job openings to candidates and provide job development work with candidates to understand their skill set.  Administer skill tests to candidates as needed, conduct mock interviews, revise resumes to help the candidate find a job of their choosing in an integrated, competitive, community work settings.