• Provide service coordination (case management) for an assigned group of clients including coordinating and monitoring the activities of the individual treatment team; assume primary responsibility for developing, writing, implementing, evaluating, and revising overall treatment goals and plans in collaboration with the client and with the ITT; provide individual supportive therapy and symptom management; ensure immediate changes are made in treatment plans as clients’ needs change; educate and support clients’ families; and advocate for clients’ rights and preferences.
• Participate in client-centered comprehensive assessment of psychiatric history (e.g., onset, course and effect of illness, past treatment and responses, and risk behaviors), mental status, and diagnosis; physical health and dental health; use of drugs or alcohol; education and employment; social development and functioning; activities of daily living (e.g., self-care, living situation, nutrition, money management); and family structure and relationships.
• Consult with community agencies and families to maintain coordination in the treatment process.
• Provide on-call crisis intervention covering nighttime hours and serve as a backup to evening and weekend staff.
• Document client progress to maintain a permanent record of client activity according to established methods and procedures.
• Participate in daily staff organizational meetings and treatment planning review meetings.
• Provide individual vocational-supportive counseling to enable clients to identify vocational strengths and problems, establish vocational or career goals and plans to reach them, and recognize and target symptoms of mental illness that interfere with work.
• Engages clients and establishes trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goal of competitive employment in community job settings with other workers who do not necessarily have disabilities.
• Assists clients in obtaining individualized information about how entitlements (e.g., SSI, Medicaid, etc.) will be affected by employment so clients can make decisions about employment opportunities. Refers clients to benefits counseling, as needed. Helps clients report earnings, as needed.
• Assesses clients' vocational skills and preferences on an ongoing basis utilizing background information and work experiences. With the client's permission, provide information and support to family members. Discusses client's preference for disclosure of mental health status to employers.
• Helps clients learn about different jobs/careers by assisting with meetings with workers/managers to ask about positions that interest clients, meetings with academic advisors, observing workers (one day or less in duration), and job fairs to speak with employers about different types of jobs. 
• Conducts job development and job search activities directed toward positions that are individualized to the interests and uniqueness of the people on his/her caseload, following the principles and procedures of IPS supported employment.
• Conducts an average of six employer contacts per week. Employer contacts are designed to learn about the needs of the business, describe supports offered by the program, and describe client strengths that are relevant to the position.
• Provides individualized follow-along supports to assist clients in maintaining employment. Writes job support plans with clients and incorporates input from family members (with client permission) and the mental health team. Adjusts plan according to clients’ needs and preferences.
• Provides education and support to employers as agreed upon by clients. May negotiate job accommodations and follow-along contact by the IPS specialist with the employer.
• Provides outreach services as necessary to clients when they appear to disengage from the service. Uses a variety of methods to provide outreach.
• Provides timely interventions. Returns phone calls and reacts to situations in a timely manner. For example, returns client phone calls within 24 hours. Goes to see employers about job loss or job problems within 24 hours. Follows up on job leads within 48 hours. Meets with clients within one week prior to job starts and within three days after job starts.
• Participates in weekly meetings with mental health treatment team and communicates individually with team members between meetings to coordinate and integrate vocational services with mental health treatment.
• Maintains and submits proof of active auto liability insurance for privately-owned vehicles used to conduct agency business and/or transport agency clients. Employees must submit proof of insurance prior to employment and each time the policy is renewed thereafter. Failure to maintain active coverage and submit proof may result in disciplinary action.
• Transports clients as directed and follows Agency standards, rules, regulations, and all laws for safe transport.

Bachelor’s Degree in a behavioral science is required and at least one year work experience with adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses or co-occurring disorders. Must have a strong commitment to the right and ability of each person with a severe and persistent mental illness to live in normal community residences; work in market jobs; and have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services. Experience working with people with severe mental illness, experience providing

Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, Volunteers of America South Central Louisiana considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any legally protected status. We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.