Supported Employment Specialist

At Life Works NW, our work strengthens the health and wellbeing of individuals and families at every stage of life. Our mission is to promote a healthy community through high-quality, culturally responsive mental health, addiction, and prevention services that create real, lasting change. Guided by our values of recovery and resilience, relationships, and results, we partner closely with clients and communities to reduce stigma and build pathways to stability and hope.

If you want your work to make a meaningful difference beyond the walls of an office, we invite you to join us.

The Supported Employment Specialist assesses newly diagnosed and/or severe and persistent mentally ill adolescent and young adult client case load, and/or severe and persistent mentally ill adult client case load for employment capabilities, provides training assistance, offers continuing support, and assists clients target potential jobs, explore job possibilities in the community, and make job placements. Educates employers and community providers about Life Works NW’s Employment Services and how they operate as a successful community placement model for employing people with long term mental illnesses and encourages them to recognize clients’ abilities to be productive and successful.

Follows the supported employment fidelity model created by the IPS Employment Center. Services are primarily offered in a community based or home-based settings.

Location: This position is based out of Life Works NW's Sylvan site.

The posted salary range reflects the compensation potential for this role. Most candidates will be placed between the entry level and midpoint of the range, depending on their experience and qualifications. However, more seasoned professionals with extensive exact or similar experience may be considered for placement toward the higher end of the range. Final salary offers are made in alignment with internal compensation processes in accordance with Oregon Pay Equity laws.

• Interviews individuals and, if applicable, family members or team members in the client support system to complete the strengths based vocational assessment to identify clients' skills and strengths, interests, goals, dreams, aspirations and resources available to reach their goals.
• Counsels individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their vocational situations.
• Develops an employment focused service plans based on clients' interests, abilities, strengths and needs. Service plans will have measurable goals and objectives based on the diagnosis and will specify type, frequency, intensity, and duration of service. Service plans will be client driven and follow-ups will be completed on time, assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.
• Researches possible job openings and opportunities for clients by contacting employment services, newspaper want ads, previous contacts, cold calling, and any other means of reaching potential employers.
• Performs job analysis, matching potential openings with clients' needs, skills, and logistics of getting to the job site.
• Establishes and maintains connections with business offering employment opportunities.
• Monitors and tracks employment status. Provides accurate and timely written reports to the Vocational Rehabilitation Division. Ensures timely record maintenance of authorizations for purchase, billings, and completed releases of information. Maintains client records in compliance with agency and confidentiality guidelines. Completes documentation in an electronic health records system.
• Sets up interviews for clients, assist clients with application, resume preparation and interviewing skills.
• Locates barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, and transportation problems and works with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.
• Maintain close contact with clients during job training and placements to resolve problems and evaluate placement adequacy. Provide job coaching as determined by clients' needs and employer's wishes.
• Performs interventions as…