ACT IPS Employment Specialist - Brooklyn/Queens

$70,200 - $87,700/Yr

Visiting Nurse Service of New York

Full-time - Entry Level

Ambulatory Health Care Services

About the position

The Individualized Placement Support (IPS) Employment Specialist plays a crucial role in providing integrated, evidence-based vocational services to individuals in recovery, focusing on job readiness and vocational engagement. This position involves evaluating clients' work readiness, providing case management, and facilitating job development and placement activities, all while working under general supervision.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate clients' work readiness and vocational needs through testing, observation, and interviews.
• Provide case management and outreach-based services to clients with mental health disorders.
• Refer clients to appropriate vocational services and support them during job training and follow-up appointments.
• Work with team members to understand psychological, medical, social, and emotional factors influencing clients' vocational preparation.
• Participate in discharge planning, case conferences, and staff meetings as necessary.
• Offer vocational counseling and community resource planning.
• Facilitate and develop vocational workshops and group curriculums to enhance client engagement.
• Assist with direct job development, placement activities, and post-placement support.
• Provide job retention support and develop plans for sustained employment.
• Coordinate with ongoing service providers and monitor clients' appointments with treatment programs and vocational providers.
• Maintain an up-to-date vocational/educational resource manual and submit required data for reporting.
• Manage a caseload from vocational assessment to discharge, tracking client progress and maintaining accurate case notes.
• Develop partnerships with local employers through systematic job development and networking.
• Utilize NYESS to provide job-related support, including benefits management and resume building.
• Commit to ongoing training and attend required trainings and off-site events.
• Review case activity/chart documentation for employed clients to ensure adequate job retention services are provided.
• Follow up with employed clients to ensure job retention and connection to necessary support services.
• Work closely with rehabilitation and vocational staff across the organization.
• Encourage development of agency-wide strategies to engage individuals around competitive integrative employment.
• Provide individualized follow-along support as necessary to address mental health barriers related to employment.
• Engage in a person-centered planning process to identify individual job preferences.
• Participate in ACT staff meetings, daily team meetings, and treatment plan reviews.
• Spend at least 65% of work hours off-site in the community, including various locations such as Access-VR offices and training sites.
• Document progress updates with the ACT team during meetings and service plan reviews.
• Participate in special projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, or other Human Services field required.
• Minimum of two years' experience in a human/social services or vocational rehabilitation setting required.
• Valid Driver's License required.
• Proficient with personal computers, including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills required.
• Bilingual skills preferred.
• Knowledge of vocational rehabilitation preferred.
• Ability to travel independently in the community and outreach with local employers required.

Nice-to-haves

• Bilingual skills preferred.
• Knowledge of vocational rehabilitation preferred.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $70,200.00 - $87,700.00 annually.