Supported Employment Specialist - IPS, Certified Peer

Adult Outpatient Programs provide the least restrictive level of care where adults may receive clinical interventions aimed at decreasing existing signs and symptoms. Outpatient treatment focuses on recovery, problem resolution, symptom reduction, stabilization and/or prevention of movement to a higher level of care. Treatment varies widely and depends upon the consumer’s presenting symptoms.

The IPS Supported Employment Certified Peer Specialists are responsible for supporting consumers in their goals of obtaining employment by attending meetings with consumers, promoting self-determination and recovery, and modeling self-advocacy skills.

This is a valuable role on the Employment team –

• →Participates in early engagement and relationship building with consumers interested in working
• →Shares lived experience with mental illness and reminds consumers that recovery is possible

• Assist -  navigating mental health system
• Recruit – referrals from clinicians, families, consumers
• Reduce – barriers to services; fear
• Retain – support and coach participants on a group and individual basis on matters regarding employment
• Provide – job development and job coaching to support Employment Specialists on the team

• Promoting self-determination, recovery, self-advocacy, and self-direction; assisting individuals in identifying strengths; wellness goals; setting objectives, and identifying barriers;
• Attending treatment team meetings with the individual to promote the individual's use of self-directed advocacy tools; assisting the individual in goal planning and participating with the individual and the Employment Specialist in the development of PCP/Career Profile; assisting the individual in learning how to ask for appropriate services in community;
• Assisting individuals in obtaining information about their benefits (SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, etc.)
• Engaging individuals in other programs and services to encourage employment;
• Modeling self-advocacy skills for addressing disclosure issues or requesting job accommodations;
• Teaching wellness management strategies and helping individuals develop their own self-management plans/tools to use in the workplace and in their personal lives; using manualized strategies such as IMR/WMR, WRAP, and others;
• Connecting to support groups in the community to learn from other peers, to promote hope, to problem-solve through work situations, and to decrease social isolation;
• Providing education to other members of the IPS Supported Employment and Treatment Teams to increase their understanding of self-advocacy and peer support roles, and to promote a culture in which an individuals’ points of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into service delivery;
• Providing resources and teaching transportation skills (teaching bus routes, etc.) for work;
• Sharing his or her own personal story of lived experience to model how to choose, obtain, and keep employment;
• Supporting individuals in making informed decisions about supported employment and building community connections;
• Supporting the individuals in the vocational choices  they make and supporting them in overcoming job-related concerns;
• Building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure;
• Assisting in overcoming barriers to employment and addressing workplace challenges;
• Assisting in obtaining the proper documentation necessary for employment;
• Researching with the individual businesses and/or industries in which the person is interested;
• Assisting the individual in completing applications, resumes, cover letters, etc.;
• Exploring career and educational aspirations with the individual;
• Assisting in teaching skills related to job-seeking, such as using the computer;
• Attending recovery support groups and NA/AA meetings with the job seeker if appropriate; and
• Assisting with financial wellness using tools for money management and asset development
• Providing outreach services as necessary to individuals when they appear to disengage from the IPS Supported Employment Program
• Spending 65% or more of scheduled work hours in the community meeting with the individuals seeking employment, mental health treatment teams, VRS, etc.

• High School Diploma required. 
• Must be in recovery from a mental illness; be willing to share recovery story; and have an understanding of the mental health system.
• Must have and maintain a valid Alabama driver licens, vehicle insurance, and driving record.
• Must be at least 23 years old.