Employment and Education Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Expect Success at Bridgeway!

We make a difference in people’s lives by supporting their life goals - our employees and the people we serve alike.

We invest in our employees through competitive compensation and benefits, best practice training, and fostering a team-oriented culture that promotes career development. We nurture an environment that values diversity, where inclusivity, equity, and belonging thrive.

At Bridgeway, Everyone Learns and Grows together.

We give you our best, so you can unleash your full potential.

Make a Future at Bridgeway!

Who we are: Bridgeway values and promotes quality clinical and administrative practices to foster the best outcomes for persons who come to us for behavioral healthcare. We offer a work environment that supports teamwork, creativity, innovation, professional growth and dedication to the work. At Bridgeway, we never stop growing and innovating our vision of behavioral healthcare for the future.

Why you should apply: As an Employment and Education Specialist, you will join an evidence-based program and a dynamic team for the opportunity to learn and refine your clinical and engagement skills and accomplish your dream of helping people to make progress on their unique recovery journeys. The work is sometimes challenging and always rewarding by engaging with persons we serve and co-workers as we all learn, grow, and thrive.

Department: Supported Employment-Career Services-Union

Salary: $40,000- $48,000 (depending on experience)

Location: 373 Clermont Terr. Union, NJ

Work hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm

Position Overview: Under the direction of the Career Services Team Leader, provides SE and SED evidence-based services to persons with serious mental illnesses, uses best SED practices in supporting persons to meet their education goals; and SE best practices in helping persons served through the Choose, Get, Keep and Leave process, which includes Pre-placement assessment, career planning, job development, job seeking and job placement, job coaching and follow-along services.

Essential Job Functions:

Create and Maintain:

• A wellness and recovery-oriented environment by using person-first language, respectful documentation, and person-centered planning. All services provided will promote a wellness and recovery outcome.
• A culture of compliance with internal and external policies, regulations, laws and high ethical standards

Vocational Preparation Activities:

• Explores with person served vocational preferences, values and skills
• Conducts/arranges for Career assessment activities including interest and aptitude testing, research and informational interviews
• Conducts career planning to outline career goals
• Arranges work shadowing or volunteer work experiences to build work tolerance when necessary
• Provides job counseling as necessary for issues related to managing mental health while working

Job Coaching Activities:

• On the job training and assessment
• Assists with preparation of resumes, cover letters, job applications to include electronic versions
• On the job training and assessment
• Short term on-site job coaching
• Job site visits and interventions
• Off-site follow-along contact with persons served and employers

Employer Relations:

• Job development
• Facilitation of acceptance of workers with disabilities in the workplace
• Attends business expos, job fairs, and Chamber of Commerce meetings/events
• Consultation and education of employers, community stakeholders

Supported Employment:

• Utilizes the 8 practice principles of SED in service provision: access to an education program with positive/forward progress as a goal, eligibility based on personal choice, services begin soon after the person expresses interest, SED is integrated with treatment, individual educational services are offered for as long as they are needed, persons preferences guide the SED services, services are strengths based promoting growth and hope, and recovery is an ongoing process facilitated by meaningful roles.
• Provides Career Planning-vocational assessment, career exploration, development of an educational plan, course selection, instruction, support and supportive counseling.
• Assists individuals in building academic survival skills-information on college and training programs, disability rights and resources, tutoring and mentoring services, time and stress management and social supports.
• Provides direct assistance-help with enrollment, financial aid, education debt, and contingency funds
• Provides Outreach-contacts with campus resources, mental health treatment team, and other agencies such as DVR.

Case Management:

• Assumes all case management responsibilities for limited assigned caseload
• Communicates with other service providers regarding vocational and educational functioning and needs
• As required, provides evaluative and supportive interventions in response to mental and/or physical health urgent situations, and with permission, communicates with employers, collateral support agencies and family members as needed

Program Evaluation/Reports and Coordination:

• Completes monthly program reports
• Completes all reports and paperwork (written and electronic) required for compliance with funding regulations
• Participates in data collection for program evaluation of annual goals
• Coordination/evaluation of job sites
• Coordinates services and communicates with Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

Skills and Knowledge Requirements:

• Engagement and outreach, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Techniques, Supported Employment best practices, and trauma informed-recovery oriented approach to services.
• Participates in clinical and non-clinical team meetings including individual and team supervision. Actively seeks out monthly supervision from supervisor.

Requirements:

Education/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work or related area

Experience:

• 2 years post degree experience in the provision of MH vocational services preferred

Driver's License:

• Valid driver’s license required
• No more than one moving violation within the past 12 months
• Vehicle required

EXCELLENT BENEFITS:

• Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 403b, basic life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, EAP
• Eligible for medical benefits after 30 days of employment
• Flexible work schedules, clinical training series, leadership development program
• 10 paid holidays (an 11th after 2 years of employment), generous vacation and sick time

Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and workplace culture. We provide equal opportunity for employees and applicants in all aspects of the employment relationship, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, age, religion, or any other classification protected by law; and we strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, orientations, and communities to apply.