Individual Placement Support (IPS) Employment Specialist

Circare is a not-for-profit community based mental health agency located in Syracuse, New York. Circare programs are designed to help individuals and families, who have encountered certain obstacles develop the resources and supports to live a satisfying, naturally independent life.

The role of the Individual Placement Support (IPS) Employment Specialist is to support individuals with mental illness in meeting and sustaining their employment goals and working towards greater financial security. The IPS Employment Specialist incorporates the IPS evidence-based model with its key principles aligning with the recovery principles of Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment (CORE) Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) services. The IPS Employment Specialist’s caseload will consist of clients in the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program and the CORE program.

Pay Range: $23.50 per hour

• Spend at least 65% of work hours off-site, in the community and locations not limited to ACCES-VR, employment settings, libraires, schools/colleges etc.
• Work closely with colleagues to coordinate job development activities.
• Attend specific trainings to provide benefits counseling for clients in rehabilitation programs and supporting them with navigating work incentives, reporting income, etc.
• Link clients with employment supports.
• Provide clients with time-unlimited, individualized, follow-along support to address any mental health barriers related to sustained employment.
• Engage in person centered planning process to identify client’s preference related to jobs and employment.
• Attend scheduled staff meetings, services and treatment plan reviews and other clinical team meetings when appropriate for both ACT and CORE programs.
• Build strong working relationships with employers, develop employment opportunities for the client, provide job coaching and benefits counseling to the client.
• Ensure clients are placed in competitive and integrative employment.
• Complete timely and accurate record documentation.
• Always maintain a professional manner, adhering to Circare policy, procedures in keeping with the agency’s mission statement.
• Complete other related tasks as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in any field with at least six (6) months of personal or professional experience in human services or related field providing services to individuals diagnosed with a serious mental illness and/or a substance use disorder.
• IPS Certification is a plus.
• Community Partner Work Incentives Counselor Certification or Work Incentive Practitioner Credential is a plus.
• Knowledge of CORE and ACT program models is a plus.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and own transportation:
• • Circare’s insurance carrier requires that Circare employees who drive personal vehicles for work maintain minimum auto insurance coverage limits of at least $100,000/person; $300,000/accident and that employees provide HR with proof of current minimum insurance coverage (copy of Auto Liability Insurance Declaration Page) on their first day of employment. Employees are required to provide an updated Auto Liability Insurance Declaration Page to HR by expiration date on Declaration Page.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Good data management and utilization skills.
• Good communication skills.
• Multilingual a plus.

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance (with employer-funded HRA-Health Reimbursement Arrangement)
• Wellness Benefits
• Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Profit Sharing Plan and 401K option
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Training and Continuing Education Opportunities
• Student Loan Forgiveness
• Generous Paid Leave
• Paid and Optional Holidays
• Short and Long-Term Disability
• Paid Family Leave

Circare provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), parental status, religion, national origin, citizenship, status as a victim of domestic violence, age, military or veteran status, handicap or disability, family medical history or predisposing genetic characteristics or carrier status, marital status, family status, political affiliation, felony conviction record, status as a victim of a crime, or status as an employee who has complained about discrimination, filed a charge of discrimination, or participated in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit, or any other categories, status or activity protected by federal, state or local law.


Salary and hourly compensation ranges are provided in accordance with NYS law and are based on Circare’s good faith belief of what is accurate at the time of posting. Salary and hourly compensation offers are based on candidate's education level and experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager and program.