Supported Employment Specialist – Residential Addiction Services

UPMC Chautauqua is seeking a Supported Employment Specialist to join their team in our Residential Addiction Services Department.  This is a full-time position, primarily working DAYS from 9am – 5pm with the potential to work some weekends.  Flexibility with scheduling is essential.  

Our ideal candidate will have some experience working in Mental Health or Addiction Services.  

The position would be primarily responsible for carrying out the services of the supported employment program by assisting individuals in obtaining and maintaining employment that is consistent with their vocational goals and recovery.

Responsibilities:

• Partners with consumers in job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are consistent with the needs and interests of consumers on his/her caseload, following the principles and procedures of recovery and evidenced-based supported employment.
• Spends direct service time in the community to engage and support consumers, family members, and current and/or potential employers.
• Completes and maintains all required program documentation, meeting requirements of all payors, including but not limited to Pennsylvania State guidelines for DHS, OVR, Ticket-to-Work, etc.
• Provides assistance to other employment specialists in training consumers to perform the tasks required of the job.
• Provides individualized, follow-along services to assist consumers in sustaining employment.
• Assesses consumers vocational functioning on an ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences.
• Provides education and support to employer, as agreed upon by the consumer, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow along contact with the employer.
• Engages consumers and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in integrated job settings.
• Meets regularly with treatment team members (SCU, OVR, Clinical, Psych Rehab, consumer, and family member(s) if requested by consumer), to integrate vocational services into mental health treatment.
• Supports a caseload of vocational service participants and develops the individual vocational service plan with the consumer and other treatment team providers with monthly updates.
• Accompany consumers to and from sites for Community Based Work Assessment, employment interviews, employment, and job development activities, as needed.
• Completion of 24 hours of staff development training, as approved by supervisor.
• Adheres to and supports UPMC’s mission and vision, guiding principles, and all related program, department, and agency policy and procedure.
• Facilitates and/or provides outreach services as necessary to consumers when they appear to disengage from the service. Maintains some contact with consumers even without a vocational focus if necessary to sustain engagement.
• Demonstrates the ability to identify consumers? interests, strengths, skills, abilities, and unique set of challenges, and match them with jobs.