IPS SPECIALIST

Socket.dev; Manhattan (KS); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Pawnee Mental Health is seeking a dedicated IPS specialist to help clients obtain competitive employment in community settings. You will conduct job development, employer outreach, and provide ongoing support aligned with IPS principles.

Travel to community locations will be a regular part of the role, with collaboration across a multidisciplinary team to integrate vocational services with mental health treatment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a human service field or equivalent work experience.
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English.
• Valid driver’s license and automobile liability insurance.

Responsibilities

• Meet direct service expectations based on fidelity review standards and BARS.
• Drive to community settings for the delivery of services.
• Enter and maintain clinical schedule in the agency electronic health record.
• Engage clients and establish trust toward competitive employment.
• Provide job development and employer contacts using IPS model.
• Collaborate with the Management Team and other staff to integrate vocational services with mental health treatment.

Skills

Strong oral and written communication

Valid driver’s license

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human services or equivalent

Job description

Who We Are

Pawnee Mental Health is proud of the high-quality services we offer and the positive outcomes our clients achieve. Our employees are the heart of our organization, and each person contributes to our mission. We’re looking for motivated, passionate individuals who want to use their skills to support others. We believe people facing mental health or substance use challenges deserve the chance to live meaningful, productive lives. If that mission resonates with you, we encourage you to explore this role and join us in making an impact.

What We Offer

At Pawnee Mental Health, we are committed to supporting our employees’ well-being by offering a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including:

• HRSA- Health Workforce: Loan Repayment Program for Health Careers
• Medical & Vision Insurance: Accessible plans to support your health needs offered through BCBS or Aetna.
• Dental Insurance: 100% covered by Pawnee for employees.
• Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS): Secure your future with KPERS retirement benefits, a lifetime pension program.
• Life Insurance: coverage up to 150% of your annual income and long-term disability insurance at no cost.
• Paid Holidays: Enjoy 8 paid holidays throughout the year.
• Generous PTO: Start earning 8 hours of PTO per month—equivalent to 12 days per year—with an increase to 24 days per year after your first anniversary.
• Paid Medical Leave: Receive a 40-hour bank of paid medical leave.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access support resources for your personal and professional life.
• Supplemental Benefits: Additional life insurance coverage, ambulance transportation, short term disability, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and more.

What You'll Do

Essential Responsibilities

1. Meet direct service expectations based on fidelity review standards and BARS expectations listed below in the Performance Evaluation Rubric.
2. Drive to community settings for the delivery of services.
3. Enter and maintain clinical schedule in the agency electronic health record.
4. Maintain and advance knowledge and skills related specifically to position or to field of work through regular review of pertinent materials or participation in training events as approved or directed by Manager.
5. Adhere to the standards, policies and instructions established by PMHS Policy and Procedure and any applicable ethical codes within field of employment.
6. Demonstrate sensitivity to all cultural and ethnic differences.
7. Review and comply with the Pawnee Code of Conduct outlined in the Employee Handbook.
8. Complete a state required training specific to the focus of the position. This is required at the first available opportunity.
9. Work cooperatively with the Management Team and other members of the staff in sharing resources and expertise in pursuit of the agency’s mission.
10. Perform all other reasonably related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor or other management personnel.
11. Engage clients and establish trust, and collaborative relationships directed towards the goals of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers who do not necessarily have disabilities.
12. Assist clients in obtaining individualized information about how entitlement (SSI, Medicaid, etc.) is affected by employment so clients can make decisions about employment opportunities. Refer clients to benefits counseling, as needed. Help clients report earnings, as needed.
13. Assess clients’ vocational skills and preferences on an ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. With client’s permission, provide information and support to family members. Discuss client’s preference for disclosure for mental health status to employers.
14. Help clients learn about different jobs/careers by assisting with meetings with workers/managers to ask about positions that interest clients, meeting with academic advisors, observing workers (one day or less in duration), and job fairs to speak with employers about different types of jobs.
15. Conducts job development and job search activities directed towards positions that are individualized to the interests of the uniqueness of the people of his/her caseload, following the principles and procedures of IPS supported employment. Staff services for the client should comprise at least 96% of their time. The remaining 4% can be in other service activities.
16. Conduct an average of 6 employer contacts per week. Employer contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business, describe support offered by the program, and describe client strengths that are relevant to the position.
17. Provide individual follow-along support to assist clients in maintaining employment. Write job support plan with clients and incorporates input from family members (with client’s permission) and mental health team. Adjust plan according to the clients’ needs and preferences.
18. Provide education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients. May negotiate job accommodations and follow-along contact by IPS specialist with the employer.
19. Provide outreach services as necessary to clients when they appear to disengage from the service. Use a variety of methods to provide outreach.
20. Provide timely interventions. Return phone calls and react to situations in a timely manner.
21. Participate in weekly meetings with mental health treatment team and communicate individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational services with mental health treatment.
22. Participate in face-to-face meetings with state Vocational Rehabilitation counselors at least once a month to coordinate services for clients. Collaborate with individual counselors between meetings to assist clients.
23. Develop an individual employment and or education plan with clients, Incorporates input from mental health team and family members, with client’s permission.
24. Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community, for example, meets clients at their homes, workplaces, coffee shops, libraries, office, VR office, family homes.
25. Assists clients in learning about different education and vocational training programs related to client interests and academic aptitudes. Focuses on mainstream education and certificate training programs only.

Requirements

Qualifications

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in a human service field or equivalent work experience, or a combination of work experience in the human services field and education with one year of experience substituting for one year of education.
• Strong oral and written communication skills using the English language.
• A valid driver’s license and automobile liability insurance is maintained in accordance with Pawnee policy and procedure.

Results of criminal and all other applicable background checks and drug screening must meet the approval of Pawnee Mental Health Services.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of the needs and challenges of consumers who experience serious symptoms or mental illness and their families.
• Basic personal computer skills which enable the entry, retrieval and use of electronic data required; experience with Microsoft Office software.