Job Title: ACT Team Employment Specialist Department: Behavioral Services
Reports to: Director of ACT Team Revision Date: 4/3/2024
Grade Level: 24 Status: Non-Exempt
Job Summary:
Under the general direction of the Director and heir designee, in accordance with the objectives, policies and procedures of the ACT Team department and established professional standards, provide psychosocial rehabilitation, and community support services designed to promote recovery by improving psychiatric symptoms, preventing relapse, teaching skills, providing direct assistance and securing community resources necessary for successful functioning in work, school, home and social relationships. Effectively interacts with patients, families and healthcare members while maintaining standards of professionalism. Using the Individual Placement Support evidence based model the position will assist and support individuals with mental illness in meeting and sustaining their employment goals and working towards greater financial security.
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Provides support to those with chronic, persistent mental illness in the community on an outreach basis. Provide continuous coverage 24 hours a day, every day, including weekends and holidays.
- Teach empowerment/self-help. Encourage and assist consumers to participate in self-advocacy.
- Provide basic health and vocational education.
- Assist clients in finding competitive work opportunities.
- Teaches problem solving, coping and relationship skills to clients and their natural supports.
- Educate clients and their natural supports about mental illness.
- Teaches client to identify relapse triggers and develop and relapse plan.
- Demonstrates knowledge of safety plans and procedures.
- Assist with service planning: Develop with clients a comprehensive, individualized service plan that is goal oriented. Identify strengths and weaknesses, needs and goals. Identify risk factors regarding harm to self and/or others.
- Provide crisis counseling when necessary, including weekends and holidays.
- Engage clients in establishing trusting, collaborative relationships directed towards the goal of competitive employment in community settings.
- Assist clients in learning how benefits will be affected by earned income.
- Encourage clients to think about long term employment goals, work history, strengths, justice involvement and other factors that are related to and may affect vocational goals.
- Provide support to clients in connecting to, engaging with and following through with education, volunteer, and/or employment opportunities.
- Assist clients with identification of symptoms of mental illness that could interfere with employment and work with them to develop skills to cope with them.
- Plan and provide work related supportive services such as assistance with grooming, and personal hygiene.
- Develop relationships with as many potential employers as possible. Aim for at least 25; opportunities vary depending on the size of the community.
- Develop partnerships with trade and service organizations such as Chambers of Commerce, Rotary, etc.
- Conduct community awareness events for potential employers.
- Use social networking platforms.
- Communicates effectively and appropriately with other agencies and staff in an effort to deliver quality service to customers.
- Attend daily ACT Team meeting and monthly staff meetings.
- Participate in department quality monitoring. Required Skills/Abilities:
- Ability to use computer programs including order entry per policy as assigned.
- Complete all department documentation accurately as assigned.
- Accurately identifies all information before filing, collating, or reporting data.
- Maintain charts and files in a systematic order.
- Prepare and process routine correspondence as assigned.
- Process incoming and outgoing mail.
- Schedule patient appointments to meet the needs of customers.
- Assist with discharge planning by making appointments with other agencies and Out-Treatment.
- Complete release of information by obtaining data from discharge releases and other agencies.
- Complete reports as assigned. (monthly county reporting)
- Prepare information packets and discharge packets as assigned.
- Complete special ordering through purchasing as needed.
- Maintain unit calendar of appointments.
- Strong communication skills.
- Complete employment required trainings.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience:
- High school diploma or GED.
- Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Six months of personal or professional experience in human services.
- Ability to travel independently or with reasonable accommodations, throughout the community and outreach with local employers Physical Requirements Ability to sit, stand and walk frequently. Ability to type frequently, ability to drive often. Ability to utilize proper technique of body mechanics for personal and patient/client safety. Ability to climb flights of stairs, ability to lift 40 pounds or more.
Working Conditions:
- Position requires the ability to drive frequently and the use of a personal vehicle.
- Requires the ability to sit and type at a computer frequently.
- Ability to sit, stand, and walk frequently.
- Ability to climb flights of stairs, ability to lift a minimum of 40 pounds (or more) using proper body mechanics for personal and patient/client safety.
- Requires cross-training to other specialty roles in the ACT team to best support clients.
- Actively participate in-service programs, Quality Assurance and QAIP; attend all mandatory classes, meetings and committees as required; complete department-specific requirements/competencies.
- Complies with DOH requirements for annual health assessments and required immunizations.
Pay Range: $23.61-$24.65/hr
Employee salary is based on commensurate experience and other qualifications.
About Oswego Health:
The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents throughout Oswego County. As a nonprofit healthcare system established in 1881, Oswego Health is proud to be Oswego County’s largest private employer. More than 1,300 employees spread throughout its 18 locations, work for the Oswego Health system, which includes the 132-bed community Oswego Hospital, a 32-bed psychiatric acute-care facility with multiple outpatient behavioral health service locations, The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility, and Springside at Seneca Hill, an independent retirement community. The health system also operates Oswego Health Home Care, the only hospital-based certified home healthcare agency in the County, as well as two outpatient centers, including the Fulton Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, physical therapy, and occupational health services, and the Central Square Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, and physical therapy services. In addition, the healthcare system includes Oswego Health Medical Practice, a multi-specialty medical group offering the community accessible, high-quality healthcare. 100+ physicians and advanced practice providers offer an extensive array of services across CNY, including primary care and specialty care in the areas of orthopedics, cardiology, ENT, gastroenterology, breast care, general surgery, urology, and bariatrics.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Oswego Health is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment-related matters, without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race), creed, color, religion, sex/gender, national origin, age, marital or familial status, disability, pregnancy-related condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, citizenship status, ancestry, arrest/conviction record, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, reproductive health decision making, relationship or association with a member of a protected category, or any other legally protected characteristic. Decisions affecting your position including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, training, tuition assistance, leaves of absence, disciplinary action, layoff/recall, and terminations will be made in accordance with this policy.
