Supported Employment Specialist (Sherman County)

Working Title: Supported Employment Specialist
Program: Community Support Services
Pay Range:$23.39-25.79 Hourly
Location: Sherman County, Oregon (This position will serve all three counties: Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman County) 
All hours worked in Sherman County will receive an extra $3/hour!
FTE: 1.0 FTE (37.5 hours per Week)
FSLA Status: Non-Exempt

The Supported Employment Specialist provides direct services and assistance to clients in obtaining and maintaining employment that is consistent with their vocational goals.  This position interacts with clients in the community, at work sites, and in community partner agencies.

Responsibilities

Essential Responsibilities of the Classification:  The following list represents the essential functions of the position.  It does not, however, include all of the duties the position may be asked to perform.

• Perform outreach activity to engage clients in program services. Establish and maintain trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers who do not necessarily have disabilities.
• Collaborate with clients in developing job support plans. Consult with mental health team; adjust plans according to client needs and preferences.  Conduct job development and job search activities directed toward positions that relate to individual client interests. As approved and directed by clients, provide education and support to family members. Explore with clients their preferences for disclosing psychiatric status to employers.
• Ensure that optimal support is provided to clients who start new jobs; meet with clients both directly before and after new job starts; ensure that clients understand job expectations. Provide ongoing assessment of client vocational functioning utilizing background information and work experiences. Provide individualized follow-along support to assist clients in maintaining employment. Provide interventions as needed; ensure that interventions are timely and appropriate.  Provide education and support to employers as directed by clients, this may include evaluating and negotiating job accommodations.
• Establish and maintain regular contact with various employers in the community. Discuss current business needs; describe supports offered by the program; describe client strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Assist clients in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how regular employment might impact them; refer clients to benefits counseling, as indicated. Assist clients in reporting earnings, as needed.
• Perform a variety of outreach activities as necessary when established clients appear to disengage from program services. Transport clients in agency vehicles as needed throughout Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties.
• Regular and reliable attendance; timely and professional communication; confidentiality.
• Participates in regular meetings with mental health treatment team; communicate individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational services into mental health treatment. Interact with Community Support Services Team and act as liaison to Vocational Rehabilitation.

Qualifications

Job Specifications:  Incumbents in this classification must meet requirements as a Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA).  Any combination of experience and training equivalent to the following is qualifying:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant human services discipline and two (2) years’ experience in employment readiness, job development and retention; OR
• High school diploma or GED and five (5) years of equivalent training and work experience as noted above.
• Experience must include responsible case management and/or training work with individuals who have severe and persistent mental illness or developmental disabilities.
• Experience providing community support services, rehabilitative services, and/or work in the vocational rehabilitation field is preferred.
• Bilingual fluency Spanish/English is preferred.
• Must possess a valid Oregon or Washington Driver’s license and be insurable for client service purposes and for travel between business offices and to attend required meetings and/or trainings.
• Must pass all criminal history check requirements as required by ORS 181.536-181.537 and in accordance with OAR 407-007-0200 – 407-007-0370.

Job Benefits

Benefits (Note: subject to change annually)

• Affordable monthly medical premium through the PEBB
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement: Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• 11 Paid holidays a year (including one floating holiday)
• 7.5 hours of sick leave accrued each month
• Generous vacation accruals (up to 15 for years 1-3, based on date of hire and hours worked)

MCCFL provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. To request accommodation in the recruitment or selection process, please contact human resources at 541-288-4359 or email hr@mccfl.org.

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