IPS Job Developer and Employment Specialist

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Engages clients and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers who do not necessarily have disabilities. 
• Assesses clients' vocational skills and preferences on an ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. With the client's permission, provides information and support to family members. Discusses client's preference for disclosure of mental health status to employers.
• Develops an individual employment and/or education plan with clients. Incorporates input from mental health team and family members, with client permission.
• Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community, for example, meets clients at their homes, workplaces, coffee shops, libraries, One-Stop offices, state VR office, family homes, helps clients follow up on job applications.
• Helps clients learn about different jobs/careers by facilitating meetings with workers/managers to ask about positions that interest clients, meetings with academic advisors, observing workers (one day or less in duration), and attending job fairs to speak with employers about different types of jobs. 
• Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on his/her caseload, following the principles and procedures of IPS supported employment. 
• Conducts a minimum of six employer contacts per week. Employer contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business, describe supports offered by the program, and describe client strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Provides individualized follow-along supports to assist clients in maintaining employment. Writes job support plans with clients and incorporates input from family members (with client permission) and the mental health team. Adjusts plan according to clients’ needs and preferences. 
• Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients. May negotiate job accommodations and follow-along contact by the IPS specialist with the employer. 
• Assists clients in obtaining individualized information about how entitlements (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) will be affected by employment so clients can make decisions about employment opportunities. Refers clients to benefits counseling. Helps clients report earnings, as needed.
• Provides outreach services as necessary to clients when they appear to disengage from the service. Uses a variety of methods to provide outreach. 
• Provides timely interventions. Returns phone calls and reacts to situations in a timely manner. For example, returns client phone calls within 24 hours. Goes to see employers about job loss or job problems within 24 hours. Follows up on job leads within 48 hours. Meets with clients within one week prior to job starts and within three days after job starts. 
• Participates in case conferencing at a cadence determined by client need, with meetings occurring at least monthly, and communicates individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational services with mental health treatment.
• Assists clients in learning about different education and vocational training programs related to client interests and academic aptitudes.

Documents all work and efforts with and on behalf of clients in the client management database.