The Vocational Specialist will be a member of a mobile multi-disciplinary treatment team. The Vocational Specialist will work with the team to provide ongoing individualized care to individuals with mental health diagnosis, substance use disorders and/or physical disabilities. As a Vocational Specialist, you will assist individuals in securing employment, educational programs, or enrolling in vocational trainings. The Vocational Specialist will determine client’s readiness for employment, assess their skills, and collaborate on clients' cases with ACT Team specialist’s. The Vocational Specialist offers information as it relates to rehabilitation, pre-vocational and/or vocational counseling. The role of the Vocational Specialist will involve some direct care services that include client assessment, applying various therapeutic interventions, discharge planning, and health care management.

Clinical Skills

-Assumes lead responsibility within the multi-disciplinary team for integrating wellness goals, and services with the task of all team members and for providing wellness psycho-education individually and in groups, when clinically indicated.
-Provides clinical services that are client-centered, recovery-oriented, evidenced based, and independence, as well as community integration
-Advocates for the rights and preferences for individuals within the ACT program.
-Attends and participate in daily team meeting to discuss individual’s case management and clinical needs.
-Involves family and significant others in the individual’s treatment with the team.
-Assess the nature of vocational and educational interests, as well as design interventions required to promote progress towards community integration, independence, career and education goals and trainings.
-Lead a work readiness or similar group educating program participant about the job market.
-Responsible for integrating vocational goals and services with the tasks of all the ACT Team members.
-Completes vocation and education needs assessments by identifying history, supports, and immediate needs and recommend treatment objectives for the individual’s service.
-Support around job and education trainings, resumes, etc.

Data and Accountability

-Provides 80 percent of treatment contacts in the community, including leading groups when clinically indicated.
-Ensures all documentations are completed in a timely manner and remain in compliance with agency and OMH regulations.
-Ensures that all progress notes are completed within 24-48 hours of the delivery of service.
-Completes documentation including, but not limited to, initial comprehensive recovery-oriented treatment plans and 6 month review plan to show continued progress and/or barriers, -6 month comprehensive assessments, 30 day intake paperwork, and psychosocial.
-Provides 24-hour crisis intervention on-call services, on a rotating basis.
-Able to effectively collaborate with staff across the agency.
-Coordinate services with other specialist on the ACT Team, i.e. Psychiatrist, Substance Use Specialist, Employment Specialist, Nurse.
-Follows-up on any aftercare/recommendations for treatment. Escorts/ accompanies individual as needed on appointments (medical, psychiatric, substance abuse).
-Provide assistance through all phases of the vocational service.
-Perform initial vocational assessment on program participant within varying stages of their wellness within an ACT Team.
-Guide consumers in attaining and maintaining a professional image through mentorship and supportive counseling.
-Write resumes / Cover Letter’s with the program participant input.
-Refer consumers to employment programs and place program participant in jobs through job development.
-Assist program participants in maintaining their position through emotional support, advocacy, and regularly checking with the program participant to ensure that they are managing at their positions.
-Comprehensive ACT service activities include: Assessing and providing services to participants to address health and wellness, housing, income support, education, vocational training, employment and social supports.
-Provide ACT treatment services including: service planning and coordination; problem solving; support with obtaining housing; developing social connections; strengthening family and other relationships; developing independent living skills and obtaining necessary resources; accessing and accessing education and training; employment supports (job search, placement and support); entitlement and financial management; empowerment and self-help; wellness self-management with a focus on the development of coping skills; support with medications; and weekly groups.
-Responsibility for the recipients and for charting services.
-Responsible portion or all of creating the service plan.
-Responsible for ensuring revisions to the plan as the participant’s needs change.

Compliance

-Complete thorough, timely and accurate documentation (progress notes, treatment plans, and assessments), and adequate authorization records consistent with billing, regulatory, policy and contractual requirements.
-Remain current and updated on new regulations, policies, trainings, and best practices.

-Participates in team meetings, in-service trainings, and in compliance with all online required trainings.
-Maintains accurate and up-to-date records, including but not limited to, progress notes, service plans/6-month reviews, assessments, and contact logs- and remain in compliance with agency, OMH and AOT regulations.
-Maintains good status in regard to completion of in-service and online trainings.
-Communicate pertinent consumer and operational information to the Team Leader and Senior management
-Assists in the planning, developing and implementation of goals and training to further develop participants skills.
-Responsible for reporting and documenting all incidents to Team Leader within 24 hours.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

·         Bachelors and/or Master’s degree in social work, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, or a related field – degree is dependent on program credentials needed based on current ratio

·         Must have excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills

·         At least two years of experience in human services; clinical experience in crisis assessment and treatment

·         Experience working with individuals with serious mental illness, and/or co-occurring substance use disorders.

·         Must possess strong vocational assessment, individual and group vocational/job preparation skills. 

• Knowledge of work incentives and government benefits ( SSI, SSDI, Ticket to Work, PASS Plans, ACCESS-VR ) Experience understanding various evidence-based models and theories pertaining to psycho-education, motivational interviewing, serious mental illness and recovery.
• Must be reliable and able to work independently and understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

·         Proficient in computers, MS Word/Excel/teams, Zoom/Webex, as well as the ability to type at least 60 WMP.

·         Bilingual in any language is a plus, but not required.

·         Strong clinical skills and knowledge base of clinical care standards.

·         Strong organizational skills and timely follow-up to manage complex tasks associated with providing.

• Self-motivated while also being a team player.