Employment Specialist

Position Summary:

Employment Specialists work with clients, who have experienced mental health or substance abuse diagnoses, or developmental disabilities, with securing and maintaining employment. These Specialists work with these clients at various stages in their lives and assist them by exercising a number of strategies toward gainful employment such as career exploration, job skills assessments, interviewing skills, social skills, and improving problem solving skills. Employment Specialists may provide advice about entering a new career or develop specific plans with goals directed towards successfully transitioning to a career despite mental/behavioral health diagnoses.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Day to day duties of the Supported Employment Specialist may include:

• Assist clients with mental health or developmental disabilities diagnoses and/or alcohol and drug recovery goals secure and maintain employment
• Assist clients with developing a resume and completing job applications on paper and online
• Regularly communicate and/or collaborate with the Department of Labor, VR Services, Goodwill, and other job agencies in order to locate job fairs/opportunities for clients
• Regularly search for, communicate with and build relationships with businesses that could be prospective employers of ABHS clients
• Develop treatment plans/MICPs for all clients
• Provide job coaching which may include performing the job in order to successfully demonstrate and train clients on particular jobs
• Provide ongoing job support and coaching to assist the clients with maintaining successful job performances.
• Provide job readiness assessments and opportunities for career exploration, job seeking skills, interview skills, resume writing, and completing job applications
• Assist client with transportation needs by collaboration with ABHS or community linkages
• Accompany client(s) to their worksite and perform job training and assists with orienting the client to the position, job culture, and work duties
• Make assessments of any special accommodation needs due to physical, spiritual, cultural, ethnic, or gender related traits and discuss with staff in order to make efforts of assisting the client
• Prepare and submit vocational reports, monthly summaries and reports according to DBHDD regulations, and daily progress notes according to Agency standards
• Attend any required clinical supervision and departmental staff meetings
• Attend required Agency staff meetings and trainings
• Be available for consultation via telephone or text message 24 hours per day/every day
• May be shadowed by peers on the job

Minimum Qualifications:

Candidate must have at least 2 or more years providing services to clients in a mental health or DD setting or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge skills and abilities for this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

At least 2 years experience providing similar duties to clients within a MH or DD setting.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Must have a current valid Georgia drivers license.