Summary
Under the supervision of the Program Manager and the IPS Supervisor, the IPS Employment Specialist will provide Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services to program participants and family members (if applicable) within the Adult and Older Adult (AOA) Full Service Partnership (FSP) programs, including ACT/FACT (Level 2) and FSP ICM (Level 1), serving participants with serious mental illness (SMI) and cooccurring conditions. This position delivers evidence-based supported employment and meaningful activity services in alignment with Medi-Cal, BHSA, and County requirements while maintaining fidelity to the IPS model and the ACT/FACT/FSP ICM framework, including a team-based shared caseload, in vivo community based services, and 24/7 service availability. The IPS Employment Specialist plays a key role in supporting engagement, stabilization, and long-term recovery outcomes in a culturally and linguistically competent, family centered, strength-based, and need-driven model of care.
Essential Functions
- Provide IPS services with fidelity to the eight core IPS principles, including zero exclusion, rapid job search, competitive integrated employment, consumer preference, community employer engagement, benefits counseling coordination, and ongoing follow-along supports.
- Develop, manage, and expand community-based supported employment and meaningful activity services for participants in the AOA FSP programs, including ACT/FACT (Level 2) and FSP ICM (Level 1).
- For adult participants: engage individuals quickly in a rapid job search process based on their preferences, strengths, and recovery goals; assist participants in obtaining and maintaining competitive employment in integrated community settings at or above minimum wage without artificial time limits.
- Complete comprehensive career and vocational profiles for each participant, gathering information from the participant, treatment team members, and (with consent) family members or past employers; update profiles with each new employment or education experience.
- Help adult participants explore long-term employment goals, work history, transferable strengths, personal and cultural values, justice involvement history, and other factors relevant to their current vocational goal.
- Systematically visit and develop relationships with community employers based on participant preferences; learn about employer business needs and hiring practices to facilitate individualized job matches and reduce barriers to employment.
- Provide education and support to employers, as agreed by the participant, including negotiating reasonable job accommodations, facilitating workplace communication, and following up to support job retention.
- Assist participants in accessing mainstream education, vocational training, and technical certification programs as pathways to advance their career goals.
- For older adult participants: assess individual interests, strengths, and life experience to develop personalized meaningful activity plans that may include volunteer roles, community engagement, civic participation, cultural activities, faith-based involvement, lifelong learning, and social connection in lieu of or in addition to employment.
- Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with volunteer sites, senior programs, community organizations, cultural centers, and other meaningful activity venues appropriate to the interests and goals of older adult participants.
- Support older adult participants in navigating transitions from employment to retirement-stage engagement, emphasizing purpose, social connectedness, and continued community contribution as key components of recovery and wellness.
- Collaborate actively as an integrated member of the ACT/FACT and FSP ICM treatment team; participate in daily team meetings, shared caseload planning, service plan reviews, and case conferences to coordinate IPS services with clinical, case management, and peer support team members.
- Work with program staff and participants to develop individualized service plans with specific employment or meaningful activity goals and objectives that reflect the participant’s strengths, needs, and recovery vision.
- Engage participants and establish trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment, volunteer engagement, or other meaningful community-based activity, consistent with recovery principles.
- Provide 24/7 services and crisis intervention to participants in the FSP program as part of the team-based on-call rotation, consistent with the ACT/FACT/FSP ICM model.
- Meet monthly minimum productivity requirements for billable hours (50-65% of FTE) and face-to-face service delivery in compliance with program and funder requirements; spend a minimum of 65% of work hours in community-based, off-site settings consistent with IPS fidelity standards.
- Provide comprehensive community support services including evaluation of service eligibility, care coordination, benefits counseling (Social Security, Medi-Cal, and other entitlements), and referrals for participants and their families, with attention to cultural relevance and competency.
- Collaborate with community organizations, County vocational rehabilitation services, educational institutions, employer partners, senior programs, and the full continuum of services to ensure continuity of care and culturally relevant referrals.
- Implement and maintain referral processes that encourage timely access to IPS and meaningful activity services across all FSP program levels.
- Maintain timely and accurate documentation of all service contacts in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) in accordance with Medi-Cal, BHSA, County, agency, and state guidelines and quality assurance standards.
- Participate in daily ACT/FACT team meetings, shared caseload planning, peer review, case conferences, staff meetings, trainings, and supervision sessions.
- Prepare reports and documentation to meet program, funder, and regulatory requirements, including DHCS and Orange County ADMH reporting.
- Support culturally and linguistically competent services for diverse populations, consistent with OCAPICA’s mission.
- May perform basic statistical research and writing projects involving data collection, summarization, analysis, and design.
- May coordinate development of mental health services data and information.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Manager, IPS Supervisor or Behavioral Health Director.
Minimum Qualifications – Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
- Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and at least 1–2 years of directly related experience in supported employment, vocational rehabilitation, or a behavioral health setting.
- Knowledge of the IPS (Individual Placement and Support) model of supported employment and its eight core principles, or demonstrated ability and commitment to learn and implement IPS fidelity standards.
- Demonstrated ability to engage and build trusting relationships with individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) in a recovery-oriented, strengths-based manner.
- Knowledge of and experience working with community organizations, social services, vocational rehabilitation agencies, employer networks, and public resources, including senior-serving and community engagement programs for older adults.
- Bicultural and bilingual in an Asian or Pacific Islander language (e.g., Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, Khmer) is required.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and sensitivity toward diverse cultures; ability to deliver services in a culturally and linguistically competent manner consistent with OCAPICA’s mission.
- Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team inclusive of internal and external staff, community agencies, participants, and family members.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong networking, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to keep accurate records, prepare reports, and maintain strong attention to detail; proficiency with Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems.
- Ability to provide case management and coordination services across different levels of care as required by participant and family needs.
- Must be committed to continuous improvement of service quality and adherence to evidence-based practices.
- Must possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain professional and ethical boundaries.
- Valid California Driver’s License, reliable personal transportation, and proof of automobile insurance; ability to travel throughout the community for employer visits, participant meetings, and field-based services.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings, weekends, and on-call hours as needed.
- Verification of employment eligibility and satisfactory background check required.
- Regular and consistent attendance required.
Desired Qualifications – Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Experience implementing IPS supported employment services within an ACT, FACT, or FSP program in a community mental health setting.
- Experience providing vocational or meaningful activity services to older adult populations, including knowledge of senior-serving resources, volunteer programs, and community engagement opportunities in Orange County.
- Familiarity with benefits counseling related to Social Security (SSI/SSDI), Medi-Cal, and work incentives programs for individuals with disabilities.
- Knowledge of Medi-Cal billing, BHSA requirements, ACT/FACT/FSP ICM models, and County behavioral health program standards.
- At least 1–2 years’ experience in case management within a behavioral health or social services setting.
- Ability to be flexible, take initiative, and adapt to a fast-paced, field-based, team-driven environment.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- No formal supervision of employees required at this time.
Environmental Conditions (Working Conditions)
- This position operates in a hybrid environment including an office setting (which may include shared workspace), community field-based locations, participant homes, employer sites, volunteer and community program sites, and other community settings. Per IPS fidelity standards, the IPS Employment Specialist spends a minimum of 65% of work hours in off-site, community-based locations. Incumbent may be exposed to weather conditions and varying noise levels when performing community-based duties, consistent with the in vivo service delivery model of ACT/FACT/FSP ICM programs.
Physical Requirement
- In the course of performing this job, the incumbent typically spends time sitting, standing, driving, walking, typing, filing, listening, and speaking. Regular travel throughout the community for employer visits, volunteer site development, and field-based participant services is required.
Mental Requirement
- The incumbent must be able to accommodate any/all of the following: tolerance for distractions and interruptions, uncontrollable changes in priorities and work schedules, and the ability to process information, think, and conceptualize clearly and in a timely manner in a dynamic, community-based environment.
Application Process
Application deadline: Until filled.
Please e-mail a resume and 3 professional references (past supervisors including e-mail address and phone number) to [email protected].
Please ensure that the email subject has the job title: IPS Employment Specialist
Agency Background:
The Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) is a nonprofit community-based organization serving over 80,000 community members on an annual basis in more than 20 different languages throughout Orange County. Program areas include health, mental health, workforce development, civic engagement and policy, youth leadership development and education, and housing. Founded in 1997 to serve low-income Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, OCAPICA has since evolved to serve all communities in need. OCAPICA is mainly grant funded through government and private foundation grants.
OCAPICA is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Pay: $30.00 - $30.88 per hour
Work Location: In person
