Education and Employment Specialist

Job Description: An Education and Employment Specialist supports individuals within the AOT Program in achieving academic and career goals by providing guidance on educational pathways, job readiness, and employment opportunities. They collaborate with clients, employers, and educational institutions to develop personalized plans that enhance skills, increase employability, and promote long-term success

What you'll be doing:

• Engage individuals and establish trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in integrated community job settings with individuals without psychiatric disabilities. 
• Responsible for individualized assessment in the area of vocational skills/functioning on an ongoing basis utilizing background information, work experiences and preferences. 
• Responsible for building relationships with employers, business and educational institutions that have jobs and educational preferences consistent with the individual's choice. 
• Provide support education, using principles similar to supported employment, for individuals who express interest in education to advance their employment goals. 
• Conduct job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of clients, following principles and procedures of supported employment. 
• Assist individuals in obtaining information about their benefits and how they will be affected by employment in order to make good decisions about employment opportunities and refer to benefits counseling, as needed. 
• Provide education and support to family members/caregivers about vocational and educational pursuits. 
• Participate in weekly meetings with mental health treatment team and communicates individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational/educational services into mental health treatment. 
• Spends 60% or more of scheduled work hours in the community; this may include taking individuals to apply for jobs and investigating local GED or college options, etc. 
• Responsible for documentation in client records, completion of required data gathering and reports. 
• Complete other duties as assigned.

This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job and is not designed to be an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible duties, tasks, or responsibilities that are required of the employee as they may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

What we're looking for: 

• Bachelor’s degree in social science or related field 
• Experience working with people who have serious ongoing mental health problems preferred 
• Valid Alabama driver's license and a suitable automobile to permit the required travel 
• Ability to engage with vulnerable and hard to reach adults 
• Ability to promote recovery in people with psychosis 
• Ability to work with people and their care takers/family in an educational and therapeutic way 
• Ability to share skills and knowledge with others 
• Extensive knowledge of the community and available community resources 
• Knowledge of the legal and ethical issues relative to confidentiality of client records and the ability to interpret and apply them 
• Skills in interpersonal relationships and dynamics 
• Considerable written and expressive communication skills 
• Ability and willingness to documents activities and maintain records according to agency standards, competence in using JBS, Avatar (or similar) electronic medical record 
• Acquainted with the use and side effects of psychotropic medications 
• Demonstrable ability to work independently and to make sound judgements regarding client care 
• Experience of assessing and managing crisis in people with severe mental health problems 
• Ability to communicate effectively with a multi-disciplinary team 
• Ability to communicate effectively with multi-disciplinary team 
• Ability to work flexible hours due to the special needs of the target population and their families 

Benefits

What we offer:

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision premiums
• State Retirement participation through RSA plus an optional 457b plan with a company match
• Nine (9) paid holidays throughout the year
• Ability to continually accrue up to 15 days of PTO a year (unused rolls over)
• Company-paid Group Life and AD&D insurance and Long-Term Disability
• Licensure reimbursement
• Tuition discounts through learning partnerships with Athens State University and Capella University

We are compassionate towards those impacted by behavioral health disorders.

We are dedicated to one another through collaboration and teamwork.

We are optimistic problem-solvers who do what it takes to get the job done.