A staff member who, in addition to performing routine team duties, has lead responsibility for sharing knowledge and expertise, and integrating employment goals with services and tasks of team members. Vocational specialists assess the effect of the individual’s mental health on employment and implement an employment strategy to enable individuals to get and keep a job. Vocational specialists help individuals seeking employment, to find the best match for their work interests and skills and preferred work environment.

Essential Accountabilities:

• Assess the educational strengths, weaknesses and needs of program participants in order to ensure individualized service planning.
• Counsel program participants in individual and group settings in facilitating vocational development.
• Contact potential employers by mail, telephone and/or field visit for the purpose of generating competitive employment opportunities.
• Provide direct care vocational and educational services to individuals including vocational counseling, group facilitation, service plan development, report generation and progress noting.
• Develop employment resources, job leads, vocational curriculum and specific group activities.
• Network with businesses and Mental Health community to solicit leads and educate, community regarding available services (i.e., Business Advisory Council, Chamber of Commerce, Associations, etc.)
• Maintain accurate employment data; identify competitive job opportunities for program participants and assist in preparing them for the transition.
• Monitor transitional employment activities to ensure program participant and site employer satisfaction.
• Visit sites and advocate on behalf of participants and monitor progress, if applicable.
• Provides networking and linkages between the programs, mental health providers, and alcohol and drug treatment communities, requires both telephone and face-to-face contact;
• Develop treatment plans with the input of other members of the ACT team and the consumers.
• Coordinate case management services in order to ensure comprehensive development of an individual’s service plan.
• Coordinate services with other specialist on the ACT Team, i.e. family specialist, substance abuse specialist, nurse, case manager.
• Provides networking and linkages between the programs, mental health providers, requires both telephone and face-to-face contact;
• Attend and participate in all team meetings.
• Responsible for input into CAIRS upon admission, bi-annually and discharge.
• Act as a clinical liaison between the team and outside entities.
• Document any progress notes in EHR within 48 hours of all client and collateral contacts.
• Ensure all documentation is completed in a timely fashion and remain in compliance with agency, OMH, and AOT regulations.
• Communicate pertinent consumer and operational information to the Team Leader, Deputy Director, Division Director and Regulatory bodies.
• Participates in weekly supervision with Team Leader; attends all scheduled staff meetings, mandatory in-service training sessions, represents the ACT Team at meetings, trainings not otherwise specified.
• Participate/Organize case conferences and case consultation to ensure a high standard of service provision.
• Conduct field based visits in the community. The ACT Program requires 85% of their services in the community.
• Participate in OMH approved/required ACT Orientations and Trainings.
• Assists in the planning, developing and implementation of goals and training to further develop participants’ skills, including but not limited to:
  • Budgeting
  • Grooming
  • Nutritional planning
  • Use of public transportation
  • Use of community resources
  • Shopping
  • Housekeeping
  • Physical health & development
  • Adaptive behavior/independent living
  • Nutrition
  • Vocational development
  • Social development
• Acts as a role model for participants; furthers participants in researching and obtaining community resources appropriate and applicable to their needs and goals; follows-up on any aftercare/recommendations for treatment. Escorts/ accompanies participant as needed on appointments (medical, psychiatric, substance abuse).
• Provide crisis intervention and mental health counseling as needed.
• Input all visits and data into Vellohealth software.

Other Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate ability to: maintain required written documentations; communicate relevant information to other staff and supervisor(s), verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work flexible schedules as work schedules, trainings and location are subject to change
• Ability to operate an agency vehicle.
• Attend all required training’s and any relevant to the position or deemed necessary by Team Leader.
• Participate in activities of other staff members in their absence or during periods of staff shortage.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• This does not limit the assignment of duties or exclude the performance of other duties not mentioned as assigned by supervisor, the Team Leader, Deputy Director, Director, and/or Senior Management.
• Responsible for reporting and documenting all incidents to immediate supervisor within 24 hours.
• Provide 24-hour/seven day a week emergency coverage via emergency cell phone to provide crisis intervention services after program hours on a rotating basis.

• Must hold an associate’s degree in a related human service field.
• One year of training and/or experience in vocational assessment, job exploration, and skills development in choosing, getting, and maintaining employment, employment counseling or vocational rehabilitation.
• Experience working with behavioral health population preferred.
• Computer proficiency, including the ability to use email, navigate and enter all documentation into electronic medical record.
• Valid New York State driver’s license and vehicle required – candidates are subject to regulatory background checks and must be willing to utilize own vehicle for home visits.