Employment Specialist - Lewiston

Sweetser; Lewiston (ME); On-site; USD 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Paid time off and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Sweetser in Lewiston, Maine is seeking an Employment Specialist to provide vocational assessments, job readiness coaching, and placement services for adults with serious mental illness, promoting community integration.

You will build relationships with local employers, coordinate transportation, support clients in obtaining and maintaining competitive employment, and contribute to life goal achievement through community-based supports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification or Employment Specialist training approved by the Maine DBDS.

Responsibilities

• Provide vocational assessment, vocational goal setting/planning, job placement, and follow-up support.
• Assess rehabilitation readiness, perform functional assessments, and help determine client strengths and interests.
• Help develop employment-search related skills (resume writing, interviewing, applications, calls to employers).
• Assist clients in identifying options for jobs, volunteer, and training opportunities.
• Achieve vocational placements by locating best fit placements and creating accommodations in the workplace.
• Support clients in maintaining employment, training, education and volunteer activities.
• Facilitate transportation to and from interviews, training, education, job, volunteer activities.
• Establish relationships with local employers and act as liaison for work opportunities.
• Provide psycho-education regarding employing people with mental illness.

Skills

Vocational assessment

Job placement

Client support

Community outreach

Case management

Education

Bachelor's Degree with Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification

Job description

Employment Specialist - Brunswick CCBHC

Becoming part of the Sweetser family means you can make a difference in the lives of Maine children, adults, and families every day. As a nationally recognized and accredited leader, we offer competitive salaries, a wide range of benefits and the opportunity to join a passionate team of more than 700 employees.

Job Code: 13378

Location: Lewiston 04240

Department: Other

FT/PT Status: Full Time

Hourly Rate: $22-$25, dependent on experience

Summary

Provides specialized vocational assessment and support services, including promotion of job readiness, opportunities and placement, along with a variety of clinical and community support services to adults with serious mental illness in order to promote their integration into the community of their choice and to assist them in achieving their life goals.

Vocational/Employment Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide vocational assessment, vocational goal setting/planning, job placement, and follow-up support.


• Assess rehabilitation readiness, perform functional assessments, and help determine client strengths and interests in conjunction with client's psychosocial assessment.


• Help develop employment-search related skills (resume writing, interviewing, filling out applications, making calls to prospective employers).


• Assist clients in identifying options for jobs, volunteer, and training opportunities.


• Achieve vocational placements by locating best fit placements and helping to create reasonable accommodations in the workplace.


• Support clients in maintaining employment, training, education and volunteer activities.


• Facilitate transportation to and from interviews, training, education, job, volunteer activities.


• Facilitate utilization of employment and training services already available in the community.


• Establish relationships with local employers. Act as liaison/contact person to employers. Develop employment focused partnerships in support of work opportunities for clients in the cover area.


• Establish and maintain relationships with agencies that provide employment and training services.


• Provide psycho-education regarding employing people with mental illness.


• Research and develop new ways to increase opportunities for clients to work/volunteer/have generative activity (grants, new programs, existing programs)


• Collaborate with team members regarding vocational/educational goals, sharing specialized expertise vocational rehabilitation field.


• Provide collaborative support, in conjunction with adult community support workers and clinicians, in assisting clients to reach their vocational and educational goals ISP goals.

Clinical Duties And Responsibilities

• Complete comprehensive assessments and develop treatment plans in collaboration with client.


• Provide case management services to the clients, including:


• Street and community outreach.


• Housing location/stabilization.


• Assisting in provision and maintenance of basic needs (e.g. food, clothing, etc.).


• Linkage and support with other services such as vocational, educational, social/recreational, and transportation.


• Quarterly outcome report to the state on number of our clients working in competitive employment.


• Linkage with and advocacy for entitlements such as Medicaid and Social Security.


• Participating in discharge planning when clients are hospitalized.


• Coordinate with other service providers and/or family members involved with the client.


• Provide medication education and monitoring, as well as delivery of medication as needed.


• Transport clients, when needed.


• Identify and document unmet needs.


• Assist in skill development of independent living skills, hygiene, nutrition, exercise, general health maintenance.


• Provide supportive counseling and problem-solving assistance.


• Supervise student interns as appropriate and needed.


• Provide transportation to clients, exercising judgment consistent with clinically accepted standards of community practice in determining whether to transport a particular client.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's Degree with Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification or Employment Specialist Training approved by the Maine Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED

• Maintain a valid state driver's license.


• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification or designation as a Certified Employment Specialist under DBDS Section 17 regulations required.

Comprehensive Benefits Package Includes

• Medical/dental/vision insurance and HSA/FSA options with generous employer contributions


• Employer-paid life insurance and disability coverage


• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and household members


• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match


• Generous paid time off, paid holidays, and float day


• Paid Family and Medical Leave


• Employee discount program


• Milage reimbursement, applicable incentive and differential pay programs


• Eligibility for annual increases and referral bonuses


• Tuition reimbursement and educational partnership discounts


• 30% tuition discount for UNE's Online Graduate Programs


• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program


• Free professional development and training opportunities through the Sweetser Training Institute