IPS Employment Specialist

Position Title:

IPS Employment Specialist

Lead Case Manager of Supportive Housing

Non-Exempt; ;
Full-Time(40 hours/week)

IPS (Individual Placement and Support) Employment Specialist works with transition-age youth (TAY) (ages 18- 24) with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) to facilitate their movement towards greater self-sufficiency and successful achievement of their goals, one of which will be to obtain and maintain employment. The Individual Placement & Employment (IPS) Employment Specialist will engage referred TAY in an individualized process, engaging them in their own futures planning process to achieve their vocational goals.

VOA Alaska is a youth-serving organization providing prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery supports to youth and families struggling with mental illness and addiction. We are honored to walk with families during these times and provide support and hope through recovery. Our core values are connection, responsibility, courage, innovation, hope, and joy. We are looking for individuals who espouse these core values and align with this mission of services to the community.

Engages youth assigned to caseload through relationship development, person-centered

planning and focusing on their futures using a strength-based approach.

Implements the TIP (Transition to Independence Process) and IPS Evidence Based Practices to ensure positive outcomes.

Works primarily in the community connecting clients to competitive employment, necessary training, schooling and to assist them in becoming self-sufficient.

Assesses clients' work skills and interest on reviewing background information and work experiences. Communicates client's preference for disclosure of mental health status to employers.

Provides support for clients to learn about different jobs/careers by attending meetings with workers/managers to ask about positions that interest clients, meetings with academic advisors, observing workers and job fairs to speak with employers about various jobs.

Responsible for job development and job search activities based on positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on his/her/their caseload.

Makes an average of six employer contacts per week. Employer contacts are to research the needs of the business, describe support offered by the VOA IPS program, and share client strengths that are relevant and beneficial to the position.

Provides regular, ongoing support to assist clients in maintaining employment. Develops job support plans with clients and includes feedback from family members /natural supports and the VOA Supportive Housing team. Modify plan according to clients’ needs and preferences.

Educates and supports employers as agreed upon by clients. Negotiates job accommodations by the IPS specialist with the employer. Conducts outreach services as necessary to clients when they appear to disengage from the service.

Participates in weekly meetings with VOA Alaska Supportive Housing team and communicates individually with team members between meetings in order to coordinate and integrate vocational services with behavioral health services.

Regularly meets with Department Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) counselors to coordinate services for clients. Works closely with individual counselors between meetings to assist clients. Responsible for a certain number of job starts per year or maintaining certain % employment on caseload.

Develops an individual employment and/or education plan with clients, incorporating input from the Supportive Housing team and natural support, with client permission.

Spends 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community (i.e.,…