Career Center

Supported Employment Specialist
Full-Time
Baltimore, MD

Come elevate your skills and experience by working with a world class 800-bed, Magnet designated Academic Medical Center.
We are looking for talented professionals to join our team at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

As a Team Member at UMMC, you'll experience:

• A supportive and collaborative work environment
• A comprehensive benefits package including health, vision and dental coverage including prescription drug coverage, Tax-Free Savings Plans and more!
• A highly competitive wage scale: Annual merit increases and a base wage scale that is measured against to market standards.
• Generous tuition reimbursement of up to $5,000 per year for your graduate degree.

Located in downtown Baltimore near the Inner Harbor and Camden Yards, you won't find a more vibrant place to work!

General Summary
Under the supervision of the Program Coordinator, -the Employment Specialist will provide vocational rehabilitation for people with serious mental illnesses that emphasizes helping them obtain competitive work in the community and providing the supports necessary to ensure their success in the workplace. SE will help consumers find jobs that pay competitive wages in integrated settings (i.e., with other people who don't necessarily have disabilities) in the community.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks
The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

1. Performs supported employment services for clients in the community in accordance with departmental procedures and in line with the State of Maryland EBP certification requirements.

• Engages consumers and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in integrated job settings
• Uses motivational interviewing and counseling skills to assist consumers to develop individual employment goals by exploring their own interests defining potential work experience that is consistent with their recovery goals.
• Develops Individual Vocational Plans (IVPs) every six months that include consumer focused, consumer determined SMART goals (six months), short term objectives, and on-site and off-site employment specialist services. Team involvement in plan development including case manager, individual therapist and other important members of the consumer's network.
• Following SE principles and procedures, helps consumers in job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are consistent with consumers' needs and interests
• Provides individualized, time-unlimited, follow-along services to help consumers sustain employment
• Based on agreement with consumers, provides education and support to employers, which may include negotiating job accommodations and follow-along contact with employers
• Once actively employed, assesses consumers' vocational functioning on ongoing basis, preferably through job visits and interactions with employer given consumer permission.
• Provides outreach services to consumers, as necessary, when they appear to disengage from SE services. If necessary, maintains some contact with consumers even without a vocational focus to sustain engagement
• Meets regularly with treatment team members to coordinate and integrate vocational services into mental health treatment
• Spends at least 60 percent of direct service time in the community to engage and support consumers, family members, and employers

2. Job Development is performed and begins as soon as the client expresses a desire to work. Develops activities that integrate the client with non-psychiatrically disabled co-workers, such as, company sponsored recreational activities, job fairs

• Employer Contacts are based on consumer job preferences and jobs are developed in different settings and there are a diversity of job types.
• Individualized, follow -along supports are provided to employers and consumers on a time unlimited basis.
• Keeps in contact with employers to monitor client performance including job completion, acceptance of supervision, interaction with co-workers and attendance and punctuality.
• Conducts discussion groups for clients eager to find employment or interested in working together to discuss work issues/concerns. Provides weekly reports to Supervisor regarding attendance

3. Assists in providing outreach services that may include, phone/home visits, transportation of clients to and from program and on the job coaching/support as needed and at the consumer's request.

4. Provides Clinical Coordination Services as defined by the EBP guidelines to integrate supported employment efforts with the mental health treatment.

5. Completes all daily visit, monthly summary and semi-annual documentation as required by EBP and program guidelines.