Vocational Specialist for our Providence Location

Vocational Specialist

Full Time - Non Exempt

Thrive Behavioral Health, the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic for Kent County, has been delivering mental health and substance use services since 1976. Thrive Behavioral Health understands the benefits of delivering high quality, low-cost care for Rhode Islanders. Thrive's unique programs and services are built on evidence based, person-centric care models. Our programs include: Adult Mental Health, Youth and Family, Substance Use, Housing, Teen and Young Adult, Court Ordered, and Crisis Behavioral Health. With more than a dozen locations across Rhode Island and more than 300 employees, Thrive is continuing to grow and meet the needs of the community.

General Summary: Provide assessment, coordination, advocacy, and direct support to the clients of the ACTI/ACTII program(s) for the purpose of assisting clients to achieve full community integration as determined by the client and supported by the team. Carries out the services of supported employment, education, and community engagement to include obtaining and maintaining competitive employment, enrolling into and completing community based educational programs, supporting volunteerism, civic engagement, social outlets, psychosocial rehabilitation, and meaningful avocations. Assist in identifying and overcoming barriers to full community integration.

Schedule: Mon-Fri, First Shift

Location: Warwick, RI

Essential Responsibilities/Tasks

• Engages clients and establish trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of person-centered recovery-oriented community inclusion.
• Work with individual job seekers to provide career counseling, job development, and on-going job support to maintain successful employment. Provide on-site job coaching as appropriate.
• Assist clients in obtaining information about their benefits (e.g. SSI, Medicaid, etc.) and how they will be affected by employment in order for clients to make good decisions about employment opportunities. Refer individuals to benefits counseling, as needed. Assist individuals to report earnings to appropriate authorities as needed.
• Develop relationships with community resources, to include business and industry, educational institutions and programs, training programs, Clubhouses, civic organizations, and others to meet the interest and needs of the clients served.
• Conduct job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on their caseload.
• Provide outreach services as necessary to clients that become disengaged from vocational services. Implement a variety of engagement strategies and outreach methods, including collaboration with mental health team, mobile outreach, letters, phone calls, as appropriate. Adjust engagement strategies to meet the individual's needs and to increase likelihood of service engagement.
• Participate in weekly meetings with mental health treatment team members and communicate directly with team members between meetings to coordinate and integrate vocational services and community integration into mental health treatment.
• Participates in direct communication with State vocational rehabilitation (ORS) counselors actively working with the individual on a regular basis and at least once per month to coordinate services. Complete referrals to ORS as appropriate and complete ORS contracted services in a timely manner.
• Develop an individualized employment and/or education plan with individuals. Incorporate input from the mental health team. As appropriate, and with permission of the individual, engage other stakeholders and supports in the development and implementation of the plan, including family, friends, colleagues and other natural supports.
• Collaborate with a team of vocational specialists to share job leads, community resources and target needed employment positions.
• Promote community integration and vocational services as an important part of mental health recovery, identify and develop solutions to issues and obstacles that might interfere with an individual's mental health recovery success.
• Develop and maintain contacts and relationships with collateral community agencies or organizations that may assist in the fulfillment of community integration goals.
• Produce billing forms, logs, data collection, and clinical documentation in accordance with Thrive Behavioral Health standards and State and Federal licensing regulations.
• Promote vocational and community integration services by providing individual, group, or family informational sessions/workshops to develop interest, address concerns, and overcome barriers.
• Complete IPS employment specialist training and attain IPS employment specialist credential. Maintain on-going IPS continuing education requirements and IPS employment specialist credential.
• Other duties as assigned.

Additional Responsibilities:

* Attend all agency/department required training and meetings within the prescribed period.

* Attend all Safety Training programs and be able to describe his/her responsibilities related to the general safety, department safety, and specific job-related hazards and responsibilities.

* Demonstrate respect and regard for the dignity of all clients, families, visitors and fellow employees to ensure a professional, responsible and courteous environment.

* Embrace Thrive's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mission Statement and Definitions.

* Present a neat appearance in proper attire and identification as required by the position, department and agency policies and procedures.

* Work the hours and/or shifts assigned, and begin and end on time.

* Carry and enliven a positive Thrive image consistent with the Thrive's Guiding Principles and professional code of ethics

* Function, as member of a team, i.e., be a "Team Player".

Education, Experience and Competencies:

* Bachelor's Degree in the human services, business or a related field with an equivalent combination of related experience.

* Two years' full-time experience in a program or environment providing supported employment or related services for individuals with a physical or mental disability.

Certifications, Licenses Requirements:

* Supported Employment Professional Certification may replace one (1) year of experience in education or experience.

* Valid driver's license and automobile insurance which meets Rhode Island minimum standards required, or the ability to obtain necessary transportation in order to perform the responsibilities/tasks of the job.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to assist individuals with disabilities in meeting the expectations of the position.

EEO/VET/LGBTQ+ Employer

Benefits:

• 3 weeks' vacation to start, increases to 4 weeks after 2 years of employment
• 10 sick days per year
• 1 Float day
• Birthday off
• 11 paid holidays
• Paid lunch
• Low-deductible medical insurance plan
• Dental insurance as low as $0/month
• Vision Insurance
• Company-paid life insurance worth 2x your annual salary + Long Term Disability
• 401k with 2% company match
• Optional Aflac, additional life insurance, and pet insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Healthtrax Gym Discount
• Employee referral bonuses

All employees are considered benefit eligible if their schedule is 20 hours per week or more. Time-off balances are pro-rated for part-time employees.

Thrive believes in healthy work/life balance and a friendly/family working environment, whose values include Dignity, Respect, Teamwork and Professional Support and Development.